Psalm 23/Notes/Lexical.V. 2.2763

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  • The prepositional phrase בִּנְאֹ֣ות דֶּ֭שֶׁא ("in pastures of green vegetation" >> "in green pastures") refers to the rich and verdant pastures where the sheep can graze and rest; i.e., they have enough food having no need to move from place to place to be satisfied.[1]
  • The verb רבץ refers to a "causative action by which humans cause animals to assume a horizontal position in order to rest -- to make lie down."[2] The causative form of the verb 'to lie down' does not have the sense of 'he forces me to lie down' . . . The idea is that the shepherd finds a place (green pastures) where the sheep can lie down and rest."[3]
  • On to water where I can rest (עַל מֵי מְנֻחוֹת), see Grammar notes.
  • The verb נהל ("to lead, guide"[4]) refers to a "causative action by which humans or deities help (other) humans or animals to journey from one place to the other by accompanying them and providing them with resources and protection whenever necessary."[5] In this case, YHWH leads the psalmist to a place of rest where he will not hunger or thirst (Isa 49:10).
For the verb נהל, the Greek text and Jerome’s translation (Psalmi Iuxta Hebr.) interpret it as "to nourish, nurture, rear" (LXX: ἐξέθρεψέν με - "He nourished, reared me"; Jerome's Iuxta Hebr.: enutrivit me - "He nurtured, reared me"). The idea is that YHWH reared the psalmist by fresh water. When considering the Hebrew Bible, on only one occasion נהל has the meaning "to refresh, provide (with food)" (in Gen. 47:17).[6] This verb is "more often used for God leading Israel or individual Israelites. God led (nāhal) Israel out of its Egyptian bondage (e.g., Exod 15:13). Isaiah 40:11 portrays God caring for his people after the exile in Babylon as a shepherd (רֹעֶה, rōʿeh) tending (רָעָה, rāʿâ) his flock (עֵדֶר, ʿēder) and leading (nāhal) the nursing ewes among them."[7] Therefore, the LXX and Jerome's interpretation of נהל for Ps 23:2 is unlikely, and it lacks the support of both ancient and modern versions.
  1. VanGemeren 2008, 253. Cf. also Ezek 34:14.
  2. SDBH.
  3. Bratcher and Reyburn 1991, 232.
  4. BDB, DCH, HALOT, SDBH.
  5. SDBH.
  6. Cf. HALOT, BDB.
  7. LTW.