Psalm 23:1-4 Text
King James Version (KJV)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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.
World English Bible (WEB)
Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
What Psalm 23:1-4 Means
David pictures God as a shepherd and himself as a sheep, and the image carries a lot. A shepherd provides food and water (green pastures, still waters), restores strength, and guides along right paths. The phrase "I shall not want" means lacking nothing that is truly needed, not having every desire met. The valley of the shadow of death is probably a steep, dark ravine on the way to better pastures, and many modern versions render it "darkest valley" because the Hebrew word can mean deep darkness. The turning point is a change of pronoun: God is spoken of as "he" in the first verses, and then in the valley the psalm turns and says "you are with me." The rod and staff are a shepherd's tools for defending and guiding. Comfort comes from presence, not from avoiding danger. The WEB uses "Yahweh" where the KJV has "the LORD."
Context of Psalm 23:1-4
This is one of the psalms traditionally attributed to David, who worked as a shepherd as a young man before becoming king of Israel, around 1000 BC. The psalm is a song of trust, and it is not tied to a single known event. It is used at funerals and in times of fear. Psalm 22 just before it is a cry of anguish, and Psalm 24 just after is a call to welcome the King of glory into the gates. To read the whole book, see random verse from Psalms.
How to Apply Psalm 23:1-4
Read this when you are anxious, and notice that the psalm does not remove the dark valley; it says you walk through it, not stay in it. Name one thing you need and one fear, and bring both to God. If a friend is going through a hard stretch, simply being present is a faithful imitation of the Shepherd.
Related Verses
- Psalm 23:5-6 – Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 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.
- John 10:11 – I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
- Isaiah 43:2 – When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
- Ezekiel 34:11-12 – For thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Peace, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the valley of the shadow of death mean?
It likely refers to a dark, dangerous ravine, a picture of the hardest and scariest times in life, including death itself. The psalm says God stays with you there and that you need not be ruled by fear.
Who wrote Psalm 23?
The title attributes it to David, and tradition has long held that he wrote it, drawing on his early life as a shepherd. Scholars cannot confirm the exact setting, but the shepherd imagery fits his background well.
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