Read & explore together

The LORD Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23 is a song of trust in Yahweh. It uses rich pictures to describe his care, guidance and comfort, and it ends with confidence about life with him.

Psalms 23:1–6Read together with an adultPoetry and song

Sheep in green pasture beside still water, illustrating the imagery of Psalm 23

Understanding the passage

A song of trust

This passage is poetry and song, so its images should be read as poetic expressions in the psalm. The speaker begins by speaking about Yahweh, then addresses him directly in the dark valley, and closes with confidence about goodness, loving kindness and Yahweh’s house.

Psalms 23:1–6

Main takeaway

Psalm 23 presents the singer’s trust that Yahweh provides, guides, comforts and keeps him.

Explore the psalm’s images

Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.

01Yahweh the shepherdThe psalm opens with a personal confession: “Yahweh is my shepherd”. The result is, “I shall lack nothing”.

Explanation

The psalm opens with a personal confession: “Yahweh is my shepherd”. The result is, “I shall lack nothing”. The next line explains this image through Yahweh’s actions: he makes the singer lie down in green pastures and leads him beside still waters. The picture is of rest, leading and enough provision.

Psalms 23:1 Psalms 23:2

02Restored and guidedYahweh’s care is not only physical rest. The singer says, “He restores my soul”. He also “guides me in the paths of righteousness”, showing that Yahweh leads in a right way.

Explanation

Yahweh’s care is not only physical rest. The singer says, “He restores my soul”. He also “guides me in the paths of righteousness”, showing that Yahweh leads in a right way. The verse adds that he does this “for his name’s sake”, keeping the reason centred on Yahweh himself.

Psalms 23:3

03Confidence in the dark valleyThe psalm does not deny danger. It speaks of walking through “the valley of the shadow of death”.

Explanation

The psalm does not deny danger. It speaks of walking through “the valley of the shadow of death”. Yet the singer says, “I will fear no evil”, and gives the reason: “for you are with me”. Yahweh’s rod and staff are named as comfort, so the focus stays on his presence in fear.

Psalms 23:4

04A table, an overflowing cup, a lasting homeThe images now shift. Yahweh prepares a table before the singer in the presence of enemies, anoints his head with oil, and fills his cup until it runs over.

Explanation

The images now shift. Yahweh prepares a table before the singer in the presence of enemies, anoints his head with oil, and fills his cup until it runs over. The psalm ends with confidence that goodness and loving kindness will follow him, and that he will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

Psalms 23:5 Psalms 23:6