Passage
A Psalm of David. Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever.
Nearby Context
Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever.
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "green pastures", "valley of the shadow of death", "psalm", "david", "yahweh", "shepherd", "shall", and "want". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "green pastures" and "valley of the shadow of death", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The local LSB text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "green pastures" and "valley of the shadow of death" carries the first interpretive weight. In The LORD as Shepherd, the local focus is trust, covenant mercy, guidance, and worship.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "green pastures" and "valley of the shadow of death" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.