Psalm 23: The shepherd stays with His sheep
The LORD provides, guides and protects His servant, who trusts His goodness through danger and into His presence.
Where Psalm 23 sits
- In the story
- Act IV, Israel: Exodus–Malachi · The Kingdom, c. 1050–930 BC
- In the Bible
- Old Testament · Wisdom & Poetry · chapter 23 of 150 in Psalms
- In Psalms
- Book I: the way of faith and the praying king, 1–41
- Before
- Psalm 22: From forsaken anguish to worldwide praise
- After
- Psalm 24: The King of Glory enters
Psalm 23 summary
The LORD provides rest and directs His servant in righteous paths (1–3). His presence and protection give courage in the darkest valley (4). God honors His servant amid enemies and promises continuing goodness and fellowship (5–6).
Psalm 23 in context
- Speaking
- David, as named in the superscription.
- Written for
- Hearers of David’s confession, with the LORD directly addressed as present Shepherd and Host.
- Around it
- After Psalm 22's anguish, this song confesses the LORD's care without denying enemies or the valley of death. The shepherd and host images describe His faithful provision.
The sections of Psalm 23
Read Psalm 23
The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for the sake of His name.
4Even 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.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Berean Standard Bible, 6 verses. The BSB is in the public domain.
Around Psalm 23
Near it in Book I: the way of faith and the praying king
- Psalm 17
- Psalm 18
- Psalm 19
- Psalm 20
- Psalm 21
- Psalm 22
- Psalm 24
- Psalm 25
- Psalm 26
- Psalm 27
- Psalm 28
- Psalm 29
Read alongside
- John 10
Chapters that point here
- Mark 6
Questions on Psalm 23
What changes when the shepherd becomes the host?
The answers are in TheoMaps Challenges.
Plus What TheoMaps holds for Psalm 23
- How Psalm 23 points to Christ
- What each of its 3 sections says, and how one leads into the next
- Why that chapter belongs beside it
- The answers to its questions, in Challenges
TheoMaps Plus opens every book the way Genesis is open, on the map, with Challenges to help you remember it.