Psalm 23/Story Behind/Assumptions

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V. Text (Hebrew) Text (CBC) Proposition (Story Behind) common ground local ground playground
1 מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד A psalm by David.
1a יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י YHWH is my shepherd; YHWH is David's shepherd • To shepherd (רעה): "causative action by which humans lead domestic animals to places where they can feed on grass and other edible materials in the field, ≈ often extended to denote the way a king cares for his subjects or the way God cares for his people -- to pasture; to feed; to shepherd" (SDBH). In the ancient Near East, "kings were portrayed as shepherds (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:17; Jer. 23:1–4; Ezek. 34:1–10), and to portray God as shepherd is to portray God as a royal figure (cf. Ezek. 34:10–16)" (Jacobson and Tanner 2014, 240). Some of the shepherd's professional duties included leading, feeding, sheltering, and protecting the flock (e.g.: Ps 77:20; Ezek 34:11-20. Cf. Hossfeld and Zenger 2005, 313).

• God is often referred to as the shepherd of his people (e.g., Pss 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Isa 40:11). However, in Ps 23:1, YHWH is presented as David's personal shepherd. David, who had experience as a shepherd (1 Sam. 16:11; 17:34), declares: "YHWH is my shepherd"; i.e., YHWH is the one who rules, leads, and provides (food, water, protection, etc.) for me. • While David is a sheep in YHWH's flock, he also shepherds YHWH's people. Therefore, YHWH is a shepherd over both David and his people (cf. 1 Sam 17:34-36; 2 Sam 7:8-10; Ps 78:72). • 2 Sam 7:8-9: "Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went . . ." (ESV).

1b לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃ I will never lack [anything]. David lacks • YHWH fulfills his duties as a shepherd; i.e., he leads, feeds, and protects David. Hence, David lacks nothing.

The verb "to lack" is "most frequently used to express the sufficiency of God’s grace to meet the needs of his people" (TWOT). YHWH is my shepherd; therefore, I lack nothing. • The verb חסר also occurs in Neh 9:21 in reference to God's provision to Israel in the wilderness (וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֛ה כִּלְכַּלְתָּ֥ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר לֹ֣א חָסֵ֑רוּ - "Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing" [ESV]). The psalmist (Ps 23:1) along with those who trust (e.g. the widow in 1 Kgs 17:14), fear (Ps 34:10), seek (Ps 34:11), and worship (Isa 51:14) YHWH have no lack. "Conversely, the lack of bread or other blessings points to God’s disfavor because of lack of faith (Isa 32:6; Ezk 4:17)" (TWOT).

• David needs provision, guidance, and protection.
2 בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי He makes me lie down in green pastures. YHWH makes David lie down in green pastures • "To make lie down" refers to the shepherd finding a place (green pastures) where the sheep can lie down and rest" (Bratcher and Reyburn 1991, 232. Cf. Song 1:7; Isa 13:20; Ezek 34:15; Jer 33:12).

• YHWH leads his people to where he desires them to go. Exodus 15:13: "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode" (ESV). 

2a עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ He leads me to water where I can rest. YHWH leads David to water where David can rest • YHWH leads the psalmist to a place where he can drink water and rest (cf. Ezek 34:17-22; Ps 78:15-20, 52; Isa 40:11; Num 10:33-34).
3 נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב He restores my life. YHWH restores David's life • "To restore one's life" is associated with "feeling refreshed after a good meal" (SDBH; cf. Lam 1:16, 19).

• "By the rich provision for eating and drinking, He revives, strengthens, restores to full activity and enjoyment" (Briggs and Briggs 1906, 209).

• YHWH provides food, water, and rest for the psalmist.
3a יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃ He leads me in paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. YHWH leads David in paths of righteousness for the sake of YHWH's name. • "In the ancient world a shepherd’s reputation depended on his ability to lead the sheep in the right direction” (Ross 2011, 564).

• "For the sake of his name" means "to maintain his reputation, or character" (BDB; cf. also Pss 25:11; 31:4; 143:11; etc.). YHWH is a good shepherd who leads the psalmist to walk in right paths guiding him to a righteous life, which is in accordance to YHWH's character. • 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, David walks in a valley of darkness, • "To walk in a valley of darkness" is used to indicate the potential dangers the psalmist may face.

בְּגֵ֪יא ("in the valley"): The word "valley" occurs only here in the psalms. • "The imagery of the valley in the Old Testament represents a place of gloom (e.g. Deut. 21:6), danger (e.g. 1 Sam. 15:5; 2 Sam. 5:18-25; 2 Kgs 3:16) and decision making (e.g. Joel 3:14). This is intensified in the passage with the depiction of dark shadow, a presentation commonly associated with death in the Old Testament (e.g. Job 3:5, 10:21-22; Ps. 44:19; Isa. 9:2)" (Asumang 2010, 11). • "The hill country of Judah is broken up by narrow and precipitous ravines, or wadis, 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. • See "The Meaning of צלמות in Ps 23:4" for more details on the meaning of צלמות.

• YHWH protects David

• David is safe from all dangers.

4a לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע I will not fear harm, David fears harm. • YHWH promises to be with his people and exhorts them to be fearless (e.g., Isa 41:10; Deut 20:1).
4b כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י because you are with me. YHWH is with David. • David does not fear harm because YHWH is with him (cf. 2 Sam 7:3).

• YHWH protects David from anything and anyone that could harm him.

4c שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. YHWH's rod and staff comfort David. • A shepherd's rod and staff offer protection and guidance for the sheep.

• "The 'rod' was a clublike weapon used to defend a flock against predators; the same word is used for a royal 'scepter' [cf. Ps 2:9 - the Davidic ruler will crush the nations with a scepter]" (Walton 2009, 340). The staff was a crook which the shepherd could use to direct his sheep and to lean on for support (cf. Zech. 8:4; Walton 2009, 340). • The "staff" was "used for walking or as attribute of a ruler, shepherd, or prophet; gives support to the sick and elderly; ≈ associated with authority and support" (SDBH). The shepherd could also use the staff to "keep the sheep in order and knock down olives for them to eat" (Goldingay 2006, 351). • "Your rod and your staff": In Ps 23:6, the rod and staff symbolize YHWH's presence, protection, and guidance (cf. Craigie 2004, 207; VanGemeren 2008, 254). • The presence of YHWH "with rod and staff in hand ready for use in his [=psalmist] defense, assures him of safety, of true guidance, and of eventually, reaching his destination. Any tendencies to fear are at once checked, and any agitation or anxiety is soothed and calmed" (Briggs and Briggs 1906, 210).

• Even in the midst of danger, David is safe for YHWH is with him.
5 תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י You arrange a table before me in the presence of my adversaries. YHWH arranges a table before David in the presence of David's adversaries • "To 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). Kidner noted that "to eat and drink at someone's table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminating token of a covenant. It was in Exodus 24:8-12, when the elders of Israel 'beheld God, and ate and drank'; it was so again at the Last Supper, when Jesus announced 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood' (1 Cor 11:25)" (Kidner 1973, 112).

• David is described as a guest "being lavishly feasted and served by Yahweh, while his enemies look on astonished at such largesse. . . . The presence of enemies who would otherwise hurt the psalmist, but are now rendered as powerless onlookers witnessing the amazing outpouring of the Shepherd‘s graces" (Asumang 2010, 12). • "In the presence of David's adversaries" portrays YHWH acting in such a way that the adversaries may see and know that David receives YHWH's protection and provision as his guests (cf. Exod 34:10). It was the duty of the host to protect their guests from harm (cf. Gen 19:1-11; 23:7-9; Judg 19: 22-26; Josh 2:1—6; 2 Kgs 6:22—23). • The host was responsible for providing food, water, protection (cf. Josh 2:4; Gen 19:6-8; Judges 19:22) and lodging for the guests and their animals (cf. DBI 1378; Gen 24:23—25; 26:30; 31:1—33; etc.).

• David is YHWH's guest. Ps 39:12: "Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers" (ESV).

• YHWH prevents the enemies from harming David.

• YHWH protects David.
5a דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י You have anointed my head with oil. YHWH anoints David's head with oil • The anointing with oil was a customary expression of hospitality. Prior to entering the banqueting room, the host would anoint the guest's head with oil (Pss 45:7; 92:10; 133:2; Am 6:6; Lk 7:46).

• 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).

• YHWH welcomes David into his house as a honorable guest.
5b כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃ My cup is overflowing. David's cup overflows • The imagery of "one's cup is overflowing" depicts the abundant provision YHWH offers David.
6 אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י Surely goodness and loyalty will pursue me all the days of my life, Goodness and loyalty pursue David all the days of his life • YHWH's goodness and loyalty pursue David.

• The verb "to pursue" is often used with "hostile purpose" (BDB), with a sense of causing harm (e.g., Pss 7:2; 18:38; 69:27; 71:11; etc.) so the use of this verb with "goodness and loyalty" as the subject is surprising (Futato 2009, 101). Of all of the things that could pursue David such as disaster (Prov 13:21); the angel of the Lord (Ps 35:6); sword, famine, and pestilence (Jer 29:18); and adversaries (Ps 71:10-11), it is YHWH's goodness and loyalty that pursues David. • YHWH is abounding in loyalty and faithfulness (cf. Exod 34)

• David's enemies are unable to pursue him. Or, even if David's adversaries pursue him, YHWH's goodness and loyalty will also pursue David.
6a *וְשִבְתִּי* בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ and I will dwell in YHWH’s house for as long as I live. David dwells in YHWH's house for as long as he lives • 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 return to this special place of divine presence and provision" (Grosser 2023, 4). "Yahweh did not require a place of residence (cf. 2 Sam 7:1–7), nor could he be confined to such a limited structure; even heaven and earth could not contain him (Isa 66:1)" (NICOTTE). The "house of YHWH" was "the agreed upon place of meeting between God and humans. It represented in a continuing, visible way the divine presence in Israel. Here those seeking Yahweh could approach him to pay their vows, present their offerings, and engage in acts of sporadic or ongoing worship" (NICOTTE).

• See The Text of Ps. 23:6b for a detailed discussion on the MT text וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה. • Ps 84:4 "Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah" (ESV). • David desires to abide in the safety of YHWH's presence for as long as he lives. • For permanent staff of priests and Levites, "to dwell in YHWH's house" was often meant literally.