Psalms 23:1–3
The shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me by quiet waters
Study it word by word1A psalm of David. YHWH is my shepherd; I will lack nothing.
2In pastures of grass he makes me lie down; beside waters of rest he leads me.
3He brings back my soul; he guides me along tracks of righteousness for the sake of his name.
In its context
…
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5You lay out before me a table in front of my adversaries; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Its words in the original
- מִזְמוֹרmizmor· psalm
Psalm: a song sung with instruments. It is the title of many of the poems in the book of Psalms.
- דָוִדdavid· David
David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- רֹעִroi· shepherd, feed
Shepherd: tend and feed a flock; of animals, graze. Figuratively, lead a people. As a noun, "shepherd".
- אֶחְסָרechsar· lack, be lacking
Lack, be short of; decrease.
- נְאוֹתneot· pasture, dwelling
Pasture, meadow: the place where the flock feeds and rests; also a quiet dwelling.
- דֶּשֶׁאdeshe· vegetation
Tender vegetation that sprouts: new grass, green growth.
- יַרְבִּיצֵyarbitse· lie down, crouch
Lie down, crouch, like an animal at rest or lying in wait.
- מֵיme· water
Water. In Hebrew it is always plural ("waters").
- מְנֻחוֹתmenuchot· rest, resting place
Rest, a place of rest.
- יְנַהֲלֵyenahale· lead gently
Lead gently, guide with care; bring to a resting place; provide for.
- נַפְשִׁnafshi· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.
- יְשׁוֹבֵבyeshovev· return, turn back
Turn back, return. Also turn away; in the causative form, bring back, give back, answer. Figuratively, turn back to God (change course). Often adverbial: "again".
- יַנְחֵyanche· lead, guide
Lead, guide along the way; bring someone to a place.
- מַעְגְּלֵיmagle· track, encampment
Track or path marked by wheels; also the ring around a camp, perhaps formed by the wagons.
- צֶדֶקtsedek· righteousness, what is right
Righteousness: what is right, what is as it should be; just (weights, judgment).
- שְׁמshem· name
Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.