WHAT IT MEANS
The Shepherd Who Provides
David pictures the Lord as a shepherd whose care is personal, sufficient, and steady.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Psalm 23:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
Psalm 23 moves through provision, rest, guidance, danger, hospitality, and the hope of dwelling with God.
APPLY IT
For today
Bring today’s needs to God and practice trusting His care one step at a time.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
WEB World English Bible
A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
ASV American Standard Version
A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my shepherd, I do not lack,
Surrounding context — Psalm 23
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Philippians 4:19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.John 10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.Isaiah 40:11He 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.John 10:27-30My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:John 10:14I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.Revelation 7:17For 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.Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.1 Peter 2:25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.Ezekiel 34:11-12For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.Hebrews 13:5-6[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.Psalm 34:9-10O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.1 Peter 5:4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.Ezekiel 34:23-24And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, [even] my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.Psalm 84:11For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.Romans 8:32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?Luke 12:30-32For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.Hebrews 13:20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,Micah 5:4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Psalm 23:1
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
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