King James Version

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is a psalm of David that pictures the LORD as a shepherd who provides, guides and protects. It moves from green pastures and still waters, through the valley of the shadow of death, to a table spread before enemies, and ends with the hope of dwelling "in the house of the LORD for ever."

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Psalm 23 (KJV)

The LORD is my shepherd v. 1-3

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Through the valley of the shadow of death v. 4

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

A table in the presence of enemies v. 5

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Goodness, mercy and the house of the LORD v. 6

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

What Psalm 23 means

The whole psalm hangs on its first line: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." David had kept sheep himself, so he knew what a shepherd did. Because the LORD is the shepherd, the sheep lacks nothing it truly needs.

Verses 2-3 show what the shepherd provides. He makes the sheep lie down in green pastures and leads it beside the still waters, which is food, water and rest. He restores the soul and leads in the paths of righteousness, and he does it for his name's sake, because his own reputation is bound up with caring for his flock.

Verse 4 is the turn. The way leads through the valley of the shadow of death, and here the psalm stops talking about the LORD and starts talking to him: "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." The rod (for defence) and the staff (for guiding) are the shepherd's tools, and the sheep finds them a comfort.

Verse 5 changes the picture from shepherd to host. God prepares a table in front of the very enemies who threaten, anoints the guest's head with oil, and fills the cup until it runs over. These were marks of honour shown to a welcome guest.

Verse 6 looks forward. Goodness and mercy shall follow (the idea is close to pursue) all the days of life, and the psalm ends with the hope of dwelling in the house of the LORD for ever. That is why Psalm 23 is read at so many funerals: it walks with the reader right up to death and beyond it.

Background and context

The King James Version heads it A Psalm of David. David was a shepherd before he was a king, keeping his father Jesse's sheep near Bethlehem, and he speaks of fighting a lion and a bear to protect them (1 Samuel 17:34-35).

Psalm 23 sits between Psalm 22, which begins with a cry of being forsaken, and Psalm 24, which celebrates the King of glory. Many readers see the three as a sequence. It is only six verses long and is probably the most memorised chapter in the Bible.

Key verses

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1 · KJV

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 · KJV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23:6 · KJV

Cross references

John 10:11 Jesus: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14 The good shepherd knows his sheep and is known of them.I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Isaiah 40:11 The LORD will feed his flock like a shepherd and carry the lambs in his bosom.He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Ezekiel 34:15 God promises to feed his flock and cause them to lie down himself.I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Psalm 100:3 We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
1 Peter 2:25 Believers have returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Revelation 7:17 The Lamb shall feed them and lead them unto living fountains of waters.For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

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Common questions

What does Psalm 23 mean?

It means the LORD cares for his people the way a good shepherd cares for sheep: he provides, leads, restores, protects through danger and brings them home. The psalm ends with the hope of dwelling in the house of the LORD for ever.

Who wrote Psalm 23?

Its title in the KJV is A Psalm of David. David was a shepherd in his youth before he became king of Israel.

What do the rod and staff mean in Psalm 23?

They were a shepherd's tools. The rod was a club for driving off wild animals, and the staff was a long stick for guiding and steadying the sheep, so together they stand for protection and guidance.

Why is Psalm 23 read at funerals?

Because it speaks directly to death without fear: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." It ends with the hope of the house of the LORD for ever.

How does Psalm 23 connect to Jesus?

In John 10, Jesus calls himself the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. Christians have long read Psalm 23 in the light of that saying.