Psalm 23 Emotional
YHWH is My Shepherd
Psalm 23
Emotional Analysis
Emotional Analysis Chart
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד | A psalm by David. | ||
| יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י | YHWH is my shepherd; | • Confident in YHWH's provision. | "The image of 'shepherd' aroused emotions of care, provision, and protection" (VanGemeren 2008, 253). | |
| לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃ | I will never lack [anything]. | |||
| 2 | בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי | He makes me lie down in green pastures. | • Secure under YHWH's care. | "The act of ""lying down"" is ""a symbol of peace and tranquility (Isa. 11:6-7; 14:30; Jer. 33:12; Ezek. 34:14-15) and frequently carries with it the additional claim 'and none shall make them afraid' (Job 11:19; Isa. 17:2; Zeph. 3:13; cf. Mic. 4:4)"" (Miller 1986, 114). Through the imageries ""in green pastures"" and ""by waters of resting places >> water where I can rest"", ""the psalmist evokes in the reader's mind feelings of security as well as sustenance through the peaceful, rich imagery of animals grazing and resting in a verdant watered meadow, to which they have been safely led by their shepherd"" (Miller 1986, 114)." |
| עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ | He leads me to water where I can rest. | |||
| 3 | נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב | He restores my life. | • Confident in YHWH's provision. • Refreshed." |
SDBH notes that נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב ("he restores my life") means "literally: to bring back (one's) self; hence: = causative process by which humans or deities restore a sense of well-being to (other) humans, which may extend from feeling refreshed after a good meal to feeling contented because of a major change in one's life situation -- to restore (someone's) life." Cf. Ps 19:8 מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ ("restoring life"). |
| יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃ | He leads me in paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. | See The Text and Meaning of Ps 23:3b for more details on the meaning of בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק ("paths of righteousness"). | ||
| 4 | גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת | Even when I walk in a valley of darkness, | • Confident in YHWH's presence and protection (your rod and your staff comfort me). • Confident that there is no cause for fear • Safe |
"""The hill country of Judah is broken up by narrow and precipitous ravines, or wadys, difficult to descend and ascend, dark, gloomy, and abounding in caves, the abode of wild beasts and robbers (v. 1 S. 24). To pass through these wadys was still more difficult than to find the right path over the hills"" (Briggs and Briggs 1907, 209). Therefore, the ""valley of darkness"" is a valley where the danger of death existed because of wild animals and robbers. David will fear no harm because YHWH is with him. Here the psalm shifts from talking about YHWH to talking directly to YHWH (""you are with me""). Since YHWH is omnipresent (cf. Ps 139:7-12), the statement ""you are with me"" may be meant to signify YHWH's action on David's behalf rather than his location (e.g., Isa 41:10). In other words, YHWH “intervenes in [David’s] life for protection as well as provision” (Ross 2011, 565. Cf. also Gen 28:15; Exod 3:12; Isa 7:14; Matt 28:20). ""Your rod and your staff"": In Ps 23:6, the rod and staff symbolize YHWH's care, protection, and guidance (cf. Craigie 2004, 207; VanGemeren 2008, 254)." |
| לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע | I will not fear harm, | |||
| כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י | because you are with me. | |||
| שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ | Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | |||
| 5 | תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י | You arrange a table before me in the presence of my adversaries. | • Confident in YHWH's provision and protection • Joy and honor to be YHWH's guest • Safe • Longing to be in YHWH's house • Satisfied |
"""You arrange"" a table means to set out food and drink for dining (cf. TWOT; Ross 2011, 566; VanGemeren 2008, 255). This was a gesture of hospitality (Gen 18:1–8; Exod 2:18–20. Cf. also Ps 78:19 in which לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן symbolizes YHWH's provision for Israel in the wilderness). ""in the presence of my adversaries"" - Although the psalmist is in the presence of his adversaries, he is safe and secure for YHWH is the host. ""In accordance with Oriental customs, the host is obliged to protect his guest from all enemies, at all costs"" (Briggs and Briggs 1906–1907, 210). Therefore, ""the presence of the psalmist’s enemies is no threat to him; he is under Yahweh’s protection and care. There may be a tone of derision, as the psalmist taunts his enemies by reminding them that they cannot harm him"" (Bratcher and Reyburn 1991, 234). The ""anointing with oil was a customary expression of hospitality"" (Futato 2009, 101). Prior to entering the banqueting room, it was customary for the host to ""anoint the honored guest with oil (45:7; 92:10; 133:2; Am 6:6; Lk 7:46) made by adding perfumes to olive oil"" (VanGemeren 2008, 255). Cf. Venn diagram for oil (שֶׁמֶן). The oil was associated with ""wealth, prosperity, happiness, and honor"" (Ross 2011, 567. Cf. also Ezek 16:19; Eccl 9:8; 2 Kgs 20:13; Hos 12:2). ""Overflowing, i.e., to run out a mass of fluid over a container (Ps 23:5) . . . [it is] a reference to having more than enough of something"" (DBL Hebrew). The imagery portrays YHWH as the host who provides in abundance for the psalmist." |
| דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י | You have anointed my head with oil. | |||
| כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃ | My cup is overflowing. | |||
| 6 | אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י | Surely goodness and loyalty will pursue me all the days of my life, | "Although the verb ""to pursue"" is often used with ""hostile purpose"" (BDB), with a sense of causing harm (e.g., Pss 7:1 [2]; 18:37 [38]; 69:26 [27]; 71:11; etc.), it can also refer to pursuing in a more positive sense such as in Ps 23:6 in which goodness and loyalty pursue the psalmist (cf. also Pss 34:14 [15] and 38:20 [21]. Cf. also Venn diagram for רדף). In Hebrew, ""'house' can refer to a human dwelling or a divine dwelling. Thus, in ancient Israelite context, the 'house of YHWH' is the temple, the place of YHWH’s dwelling on earth. The metaphor of God as Host in this psalm culminates in the psalmist’s confidence of continuing to dwell under YHWH's presence and provision. ""To dwell in YHWH's house"" is ""a figure for living in YHWH's presence"" (Buttenwieser 1969, 554. Cf. Ps 84:4). ** for revocalization see exegetical issue The Text of Ps. 23:6b (MT: וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י - waw consecutive + Qal perfect 1cs from שׁוּב - ""and I will return"")." | |
| *וְשִבְתִּי* בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ | and I will dwell in YHWH’s house for as long as I live. |
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