2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.
Around Psalm 23
Chapter context
Psalms 23Editorial observation
The psalm uses two images: the LORD as shepherd (verses 1–4) and a welcoming host (verses 5–6). Read the comfort of verse 4 alongside its valley, rather than as a promise that hardship disappears. The source heading identifies this as a psalm by David.
Notes summarise their sources in our own words. Where Christians or scholars disagree, the note says so. Notes are not original-language evidence and do not replace the text.
AI explanationAI
Psalms 23 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader
This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.
What this chapter says
A shepherd, and then a host. Psalm 23 opens with a song of trust: “The LORD is my shepherd”. In verses 1 to 4 he feeds, leads, restores and protects. He makes his sheep lie down in green pastures, leads them beside still waters and guides them in paths of righteousness. In verses 5 and 6 the picture changes. Now God is a host who sets a table, anoints his guest’s head with oil and fills the cup until it runs over, and who gives more than enough.
Listen for the change of voice. The psalm begins by speaking about God: “He leads me”. In its darkest part, the valley of the shadow of death, it turns to speak to him: “you are with me.” The comfort does not come from the absence of danger. The valley and the enemies are still there. What changes things is who is present.
Background
David, according to 1 Samuel, kept sheep before he became king, and the heading in the Hebrew text links this psalm with him. In the ancient Near East kings were often called shepherds of their people, so calling the LORD “my shepherd” also says something about who truly rules and provides.
A shepherd’s rod and staff are usually explained as working tools: one to defend the flock, the other to guide it. Anointing a guest’s head with oil and filling the cup were signs of a generous welcome.
How Christians read it
Jews and Christians have prayed this psalm for centuries, at sickbeds and funerals and on ordinary days. Christians often read it alongside John 10, where Jesus calls himself the good shepherd. That link is made by later readers and by the New Testament; the psalm itself speaks of the LORD.
Readers also differ on the last line. Some take dwelling in the LORD’s house “forever” as life with God beyond death. Others note that the Hebrew phrase can mean for length of days: a long life lived near God’s presence in worship. Both hopes are found elsewhere in Scripture.
All three translate the same Hebrew name of God, which is written with four letters. The KJV and this edition of the WEB follow the old custom of writing LORD in capitals; the ASV of 1901 wrote the name out. WEB says “I shall lack nothing” where the older versions use want, a word that used to mean lack.
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.
King James Version
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
American Standard Version (1901)
Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me
The Hebrew word here describes loyal, committed love. No single English word covers it, which is why the translations choose different ones. WEB has “loving kindness”.
About this explanation
Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 30 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.
