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Selected Verse: Psalms 23:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 23:1	Strong Concordance	A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. The LORD [03068] is my shepherd [07462]; I shall not want [02637].
	King James	A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. (Psa 23:1-6) Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25; Pe1 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Gen 48:15; Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. (Psa 23:1-6)

Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25; Pe1 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Gen 48:15; Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The Lord is my shepherd - Compare Gen 49:24, "From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel;" Psa 80:1, "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel." See also the notes at Joh 10:1-14. The comparison of the care which God extends over his people to that of a shepherd for his flock is one that would naturally occur to those who were accustomed to pastoral life. It would be natural that it should suggest itself to Jacob Gen 49:24, and to David, for both of them had been shepherds. David, in advanced years, would naturally remember the occupations of his early life; and the remembrance of the care of God over him would naturally recall the care which he had, in earlier years, extended over his flocks. The idea which the language suggests is that of tender care; protection; particular attention to the young and the feeble (compare Isa 40:11); and providing for their wants. All these things are found eminently in God in reference to his people. I shall not want - This is the main idea in the psalm, and this idea is derived from the fact that God is a shepherd. The meaning is, that, as a shepherd, he would make all needful provision for his flock, and evince all proper care for it. The words shall not want, as applied to the psalmist, would embrace everything that could be a proper object of desire, whether temporal or spiritual; whether pertaining to the body or the soul; whether having reference to time or to eternity. There is no reason for supposing that David limited this to his temporal necessities, or to the present life, but the idea manifestly is that God would provide all that was needful for him always. Compare Psa 34:9, "There is no want to them that fear him." This idea enters essentially into the conception of God as the shepherd of his people, that all their real wants shall be supplied.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The poet calls Jahve רעי, as He who uniformly and graciously provides for and guides him and all who are His. Later prophecy announces the visible appearing of this Shepherd, Isa 40:11, Eze 34:23, and other passages. If this has taken place, the רעי ה from the mouth of man finds its cordial response in the words ἐγὼ εἰμὶ ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός. He who has Jahve, the possessor of all things, himself has all things, he lacks nothing; viz., כּ־טוב, whatever is good in itself and would be good for him, Psa 34:11; Psa 84:12. נאות דּשׁא are the pastures of fresh and tender grass, where one lies at ease, and rest and enjoyment are combined. נאה (נוה), according to its primary meaning, is a resting-or dwelling-place, specifically an oasis, i.e., a verdant spot in the desert. מי מנוּחת are waters, where the weary finds a most pleasant resting-place (according to Hitzig, it is a plural brought in by the plural of the governing word, but it is at any rate a superlative plural), and can at the same time refresh himself. נהל is suited to this as being a pastoral word used of gentle leading, and more especially of guiding the herds to the watering-places, just as הרבּיץ is used of making them to rest, especially at noon-tide, Sol 1:7; cf. ὁδηγεῖν, Rev 7:17. שׁובב נפשׁ (elsewhere השׁיב) signifies to bring back the soul that is as it were flown away, so that it comes to itself again, therefore to impart new life, recreare. This He does to the soul, by causing it amidst the dryness and heat of temptation and trouble, to taste the very essence of life which refreshes and strengthens it. The Hiph. הנחה (Arabic: to put on one side, as perhaps in Job 12:23) is, as in Psa 143:10 the intensive of נחה (Ps 77:21). The poet glories that Jahve leads him carefully and without risk or wandering in מעגּלי־צדק, straight paths and leading to the right goal, and this למען שׁמו (for His Name's sake). He has revealed Himself as the gracious One, and as such He will prove and glorify Himself even in the need of him who submits to His guidance.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The Lord is my shepherd - There are two allegories in this Psalm which are admirably well adapted to the purpose for which they are produced, and supported both with art and elegance. The first is that of a shepherd; the second, that of a great feast, set out by a host the most kind and the most liberal. As a flock, they have the most excellent pasture; as guests, they have the most nutritive and abundant fare. God condescends to call himself the Shepherd of his people, and his followers are considered as a flock under his guidance and direction. 1. He leads them out and in, so that they find pasture and safety. 2. He knows where to feed them, and in the course of his grace and providence leads them in the way in which they should go. 3. He watches over them and keeps them from being destroyed by ravenous beasts. 4. If any have strayed, he brings them back. 5. He brings them to the shade in times of scorching heat; in times of persecution and affliction, he finds out an asylum for them. 6. He takes care that they shall lack no manner of thing that is good. But who are his flock? All real penitents, all true believers; all who obediently follow his example, abstaining from every appearance of evil, and in a holy life and conversation showing forth the virtues of Him who called them from darkness into his marvellous light. "My sheep hear my voice, and follow me." But who are not his flock! Neither the backslider in heart, nor the vile Antinomian, who thinks the more he sins, the more the grace of God shall be magnified in saving him; nor those who fondly suppose they are covered with the righteousness of Christ while living in sin; nor the crowd of the indifferent and the careless, nor the immense herd of Laodicean loiterers; nor the fiery bigots who would exclude all from heaven but themselves, and the party who believe as they do. These the Scripture resembles to swine, dogs, wandering stars, foxes, lions, wells without water, etc., etc. Let not any of these come forward to feed on this pasture, or take of the children's bread. Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd; the Shepherd who, to save his flock, laid down his own life. I shall not want - How can they? He who is their Shepherd has all power in heaven and earth; therefore he can protect them. The silver and gold are his, and the cattle on a thousand hills; and therefore he can sustain them. He has all that they need, and his heart is full of love to mankind; and therefore he will withhold from them no manner of thing that is good. The old Psalter both translates and paraphrases this clause well: Lord governs me, and nathing sal want to me. In stede of pastour thare he me sett. "The voice of a rightwis man: Lord Crist es my kyng, and for thi (therefore) nathyng sal me want: that es, in hym I sal be siker, and suffisand, for I hope in hymn gastly gude and endles. And he ledes me in stede of pastoure,that es, understandyng of his worde, and delyte in his luf. Qwar I am siker to be fild, thar in that stede (place) he sett me, to be nurysht til perfectioun." Who can say more, who need say less, than this?

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

The Lord is my shepherd - There are two allegories in this Psalm which are admirably well adapted to the purpose for which they are produced, and supported both with art and elegance. The first is that of a shepherd; the second, that of a great feast, set out by a host the most kind and the most liberal. As a flock, they have the most excellent pasture; as guests, they have the most nutritive and abundant fare. God condescends to call himself the Shepherd of his people, and his followers are considered as a flock under his guidance and direction.

1. He leads them out and in, so that they find pasture and safety.

2. He knows where to feed them, and in the course of his grace and providence leads them in the way in which they should go.

3. He watches over them and keeps them from being destroyed by ravenous beasts.

4. If any have strayed, he brings them back.

5. He brings them to the shade in times of scorching heat; in times of persecution and affliction, he finds out an asylum for them.

6. He takes care that they shall lack no manner of thing that is good.

But who are his flock? All real penitents, all true believers; all who obediently follow his example, abstaining from every appearance of evil, and in a holy life and conversation showing forth the virtues of Him who called them from darkness into his marvellous light. "My sheep hear my voice, and follow me."

But who are not his flock! Neither the backslider in heart, nor the vile Antinomian, who thinks the more he sins, the more the grace of God shall be magnified in saving him; nor those who fondly suppose they are covered with the righteousness of Christ while living in sin; nor the crowd of the indifferent and the careless, nor the immense herd of Laodicean loiterers; nor the fiery bigots who would exclude all from heaven but themselves, and the party who believe as they do. These the Scripture resembles to swine, dogs, wandering stars, foxes, lions, wells without water, etc., etc. Let not any of these come forward to feed on this pasture, or take of the children's bread. Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd; the Shepherd who, to save his flock, laid down his own life.

I shall not want - How can they? He who is their Shepherd has all power in heaven and earth; therefore he can protect them. The silver and gold are his, and the cattle on a thousand hills; and therefore he can sustain them. He has all that they need, and his heart is full of love to mankind; and therefore he will withhold from them no manner of thing that is good. The old Psalter both translates and paraphrases this clause well: Lord governs me, and nathing sal want to me. In stede of pastour thare he me sett. "The voice of a rightwis man: Lord Crist es my kyng, and for thi (therefore) nathyng sal me want: that es, in hym I sal be siker, and suffisand, for I hope in hymn gastly gude and endles. And he ledes me in stede of pastoure,that es, understandyng of his worde, and delyte in his luf. Qwar I am siker to be fild, thar in that stede (place) he sett me, to be nurysht til perfectioun." Who can say more, who need say less, than this?

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¹¹ He shall feed [07462] his flock [05739] like a shepherd [07462]: he shall gather [06908] the lambs [02922] with his arm [02220], and carry [05375] them in his bosom [02436], and shall gently lead [05095] those that are with young [05763].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329] upon Shoshannimeduth [07802], A Psalm [04210] of Asaph [0623]. Give ear [0238], O Shepherd [07462] of Israel [03478], thou that leadest [05090] Joseph [03130] like a flock [06629]; thou that dwellest [03427] between the cherubims [03742], shine forth [03313].

¹⁵ And he blessed [01288] Joseph [03130], and said [0559], God [0430], before [06440] whom my fathers [01] Abraham [085] and Isaac [03327] did walk [01980], the God [0430] which fed [07462] me all my life long [05750] unto this day [03117],

⁴ And [2532] when the chief Shepherd [750] shall appear [5319], ye shall receive [2865] a crown [4735] of glory [1391] that fadeth not away [262].

²⁵ For [1063] ye were [2258] as [5613] sheep [4263] going astray [4105]; but [235] are [1994] now [3568] returned [1994] unto [1909] the Shepherd [4166] and [2532] Bishop [1985] of your [5216] souls [5590].

²⁰ Now [1161] the God [2316] of peace [1515], that brought again [321] from [1537] the dead [3498] our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], that great [3173] shepherd [4166] of the sheep [4263], through [1722] the blood [129] of the everlasting [166] covenant [1242],

¹⁴ I [1473] am [1510] the good [2570] shepherd [4166], and [2532] know [1097] my [1699] sheep, and [2532] am known [1097] of [5259] mine [1699].

¹ A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. The LORD [03068] is my shepherd [07462]; I shall not want [02637].
² He maketh me to lie down [07257] in green [01877] pastures [04999]: he leadeth [05095] me beside the still [04496] waters [04325].
³ He restoreth [07725] my soul [05315]: he leadeth [05148] me in the paths [04570] of righteousness [06664] for his name's [08034] sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk [03212] through the valley [01516] of the shadow of death [06757], I will fear [03372] no evil [07451]: for thou art with me; thy rod [07626] and thy staff [04938] they comfort [05162] me.
⁵ Thou preparest [06186] a table [07979] before [06440] me in the presence of mine enemies [06887]: thou anointest [01878] my head [07218] with oil [08081]; my cup [03563] runneth over [07310].
⁶ Surely goodness [02896] and mercy [02617] shall follow [07291] me all the days [03117] of my life [02416]: and I will dwell [03427] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068] for ever [0753] [03117].

⁹ O fear [03372] the LORD [03068], ye his saints [06918]: for there is no want [04270] to them that fear [03373] him.

²⁴ But his bow [07198] abode [03427] in strength [0386], and the arms [02220] of his hands [03027] were made strong [06339] by the hands [03027] of the mighty [046] God of Jacob [03290]; (from thence is the shepherd [07462], the stone [068] of Israel [03478]:)

¹ Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], He that entereth [1525] not [3361] by [1223] the door [2374] into [1519] the sheepfold [4263] [833], but [235] climbeth up [305] some other way [237], the same [1565] is [2076] a thief [2812] and [2532] a robber [3027].
² But [1161] he that entereth in [1525] by [1223] the door [2374] is [2076] the shepherd [4166] of the sheep [4263].
³ To him [5129] the porter [2377] openeth [455]; and [2532] the sheep [4263] hear [191] his [846] voice [5456]: and [2532] he calleth [2564] his own [2398] sheep [4263] by [2596] name [3686], and [2532] leadeth [1806] them [846] out [1806].
⁴ And [2532] when [3752] he putteth forth [1544] his own [2398] sheep [4263], he goeth [4198] before [1715] them [846], and [2532] the sheep [4263] follow [190] him [846]: for [3754] they know [1492] his [846] voice [5456].
⁵ And [1161] a stranger [245] will they [190] not [3364] follow [190], but [235] will flee [5343] from [575] him [846]: for [3754] they know [1492] not [3756] the voice [5456] of strangers [245].
⁶ This [5026] parable [3942] spake [2036] Jesus [2424] unto them [846]: but [1161] they [1565] understood [1097] not [3756] what things [5101] they were [2258] which [3739] he spake [2980] unto them [846].
⁷ Then [3767] said [2036] Jesus [2424] unto them [846] again [3825], Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] I [1473] am [1510] the door [2374] of the sheep [4263].
⁸ All [3956] that ever [3745] came [2064] before [4253] me [1700] are [1526] thieves [2812] and [2532] robbers [3027]: but [235] the sheep [4263] did [191] not [3756] hear [191] them [846].
⁹ I [1473] am [1510] the door [2374]: by [1223] me [1700] if [1437] any man [5100] enter in [1525], he shall be saved [4982], and [2532] shall go in [1525] and [2532] out [1831], and [2532] find [2147] pasture [3542].
¹⁰ The thief [2812] cometh [2064] not [3756], but [1508] for to [2443] steal [2813], and [2532] to kill [2380], and [2532] to destroy [622]: I [1473] am come [2064] that [2443] they might have [2192] life [2222], and [2532] that they might have [2192] it more abundantly [4053].
¹¹ I [1473] am [1510] the good [2570] shepherd [4166]: the good [2570] shepherd [4166] giveth [5087] his [846] life [5590] for [5228] the sheep [4263].
¹² But [1161] he that is [5607] an hireling [3411], and [2532] not [3756] the shepherd [4166], whose [3739] own [2398] the sheep [4263] are [1526] not [3756], seeth [2334] the wolf [3074] coming [2064], and [2532] leaveth [863] the sheep [4263], and [2532] fleeth [5343]: and [2532] the wolf [3074] catcheth [726] them [846], and [2532] scattereth [4650] the sheep [4263].
¹³ [1161] The hireling [3411] fleeth [5343], because [3754] he is [2076] an hireling [3411], and [2532] [846] careth [3199] not [3756] for [4012] the sheep [4263].
¹⁴ I [1473] am [1510] the good [2570] shepherd [4166], and [2532] know [1097] my [1699] sheep, and [2532] am known [1097] of [5259] mine [1699].

¹⁰ Teach [03925] me to do [06213] thy will [07522]; for thou art my God [0430]: thy spirit [07307] is good [02896]; lead [05148] me into the land [0776] of uprightness [04334].

²³ He increaseth [07679] the nations [01471], and destroyeth [06] them: he enlargeth [07849] the nations [01471], and straiteneth [05148] them again.

⁷ Tell [05046] me, O thou whom my soul [05315] loveth [0157], where thou feedest [07462], where [0349] thou makest thy flock to rest [07257] at noon [06672]: for [04100] why should I be as one that turneth aside [05844] by the flocks [05739] of thy companions [02270]?

¹² O LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], blessed [0835] is the man [0120] that trusteth [0982] in thee.

¹¹ Come [03212], ye children [01121], hearken [08085] unto me: I will teach [03925] you the fear [03374] of the LORD [03068].

²³ And I will set up [06965] one [0259] shepherd [07462] over them, and he shall feed [07462] them, even my servant [05650] David [01732]; he shall feed [07462] them, and he shall be their shepherd [07462].