Psalms 23:1 · Bible study
Psalms 23:1 Commentary: Yahweh My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want
Hebrew · 12 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of Psalm 23:1: How can believers claim 'I shall not want' amid suffering? A deep study of the shepherd metaphor and divine provision.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Trust in Yahweh’s complete provision for those He shepherds.
- Key words: Shepherd (H7462), Yahweh (H3068), lack (H2637).
- Main debate: Whether the promise guarantees material prosperity or primarily spiritual sufficiency, and the authorship (Davidic or post-exilic).
- Theological theme: God’s covenant faithfulness and care for His people.
- Best use: As a personal declaration of trust in times of need, and as pastoral comfort.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
WEB World English Bible 2000
A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
KJV King James Version 1769
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my shepherd, I do not lack,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
On the first day of the week, a psalm for David. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Salmo de David. JEHOVÁ es mi pastor; nada me faltará.
O SENHOR é meu pastor, nada me faltará.
Cantique de David.
Ein Psalm Davids. Der HERR ist mein Hirte; mir wird nichts mangeln.
Een psalm van David. De HEERE is mijn Herder, mij zal niets ontbreken.
Salmo di Davide. L’Eterno è il mio pastore, nulla mi mancherà.
Psalm Dawidowy. Pan jest pasterzem moim, na niczem mi nie zejdzie.
Господня земля и что наполняет ее, вселенная и все живущее в ней,
（大衛的 詩。）耶和華 是我的牧者，我必不 致缺乏。
The Lord takes care of me as his sheep; I will not be without any good thing.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 23:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the central claim: Yahweh’s role as shepherd means the believer lacks nothing essential. Keil and Delitzsch state that “he who has Jahve, the possessor of all things, himself has all things, he lacks nothing.” Matthew Henry draws the same conclusion from the shepherd metaphor, noting God’s care extends to all that is good for believers. Calvin views the psalm as a thanksgiving, grounded in God’s past provision and continued faithfulness. Barnes observes that the language expresses “partly experience … partly confidence for the future.” The word translated “want” (H2637, חָסֵר) describes a genuine need or defect, not mere desire. So the verse promises that God, as Shepherd, supplies what is truly necessary, spiritually and often materially, though not always in the form we might expect. The unanimous voice of these commentators: the verse is a declaration of trust, not a blanket guarantee of earthly riches.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Material Provision View: God will supply all temporal needs for those who follow Him, supported by Psalms 34:9-10 and 84:11.
- Spiritual Sufficiency View: The promise primarily addresses spiritual needs and eternal salvation, not a guarantee against earthly poverty; see Matthew 6:33 and Philippians 4:19.
What is clear: The verse expresses confident trust that God cares for His people in a deeply personal way and will provide what is truly necessary for life and godliness.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the Shepherd (Yahweh or Christ?) | Christians agree that God is the Shepherd who cares for His people. The metaphor points to a personal, protective relationship. | Some interpret the Lord directly as Yahweh, while others see a reference to Christ as the Good Shepherd (John 10). Both traditions affirm the verse speaks of divine care. |
| Scope of 'lack' | God supplies what is truly necessary for life and sanctification. | Some see a promise of material provision for those in covenant; others emphasize spiritual sufficiency, noting that believers may experience physical want but never lack Christ. |
| Authorship and Setting | The psalm expresses confident trust in God, regardless of the author’s circumstances. | Davidic authorship is traditional, but some (e.g., Clarke) argue for a post-exilic setting based on language and themes. Barnes finds the evidence inconclusive. |
| Time Frame of the Promise | The statement has both present and future aspects. | Some emphasize immediate experience of God’s provision; others stress eschatological fulfillment, where all lack is finally erased in God’s presence. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The shepherd metaphor runs deep in Israel’s story. David himself had been a shepherd from boyhood (1 Samuel 16:11), and the image would have been natural for him. In the ancient Near East, kings called themselves shepherds of their people. But here the psalmist goes further: Yahweh himself takes the role. The covenant name “Yahweh” (H3068) is used, the God who revealed himself to Moses and led Israel out of Egypt. Later scriptures identify God as the Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 80:1, Isaiah 40:11) and who guided his people like a flock in the wilderness (Psalm 78:52).
The phrase “I shall not want” echoes Israel’s experience in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:7: “you have lacked nothing”) and their expectation of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:9: “you shall not lack anything in it”). Clarke suggested the psalm may have been written after the Babylonian exile, when the returning captives saw God’s provision in their restoration. Barnes notes that the psalm has no clear historical setting, making it timeless. Whether David composed it during a season of peace (Calvin) or threat, the psalm grounds hope in the character of God rather than changing circumstances.
The shepherd metaphor sets up the rest of the psalm: green pastures, still waters, restoration, guidance, and finally a table prepared in the presence of enemies. The one who declares “Yahweh is my shepherd” is also the one who will later say “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The opening line is the foundation for everything that follows.
Textual Notes
The text of Psalm 23:1 is stable across major manuscripts and versions. The consulted sources note no significant textual variants. The Hebrew is consistent: יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗/י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר. The only variation is in the vocalization of the divine name across traditions (Yahweh vs. Adonai), reflected in English translations (LORD vs. Jehovah). The Aramaic Targum paraphrases the verse but does not suggest a different reading.
Reception History
Psalm 23 has been among the most beloved passages in both Jewish and Christian liturgy. Early Christian tradition, reflected in the Geneva Bible notes and Matthew Henry, identified the shepherd with Christ, drawing on John 10. The psalm has been used in times of suffering, particularly at funerals and in pastoral care. The Targum applied it to the wilderness wandering. Calvin saw it as David’s thanksgiving after achieving peace. Throughout history, believers have clung to the words “I shall not want” as a promise of God’s faithful provision, even when circumstances seemed to contradict it. The psalm’s imagery has inspired countless hymns and poems (e.g., “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”).
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Shepherd’s Identity: Yahweh, the covenant God, is the Shepherd. This grounds all provision in a personal relationship.
- The Shepherd’s Provision: “I shall not want”, God meets every genuine need, spiritual and temporal, though not always in the way we expect.
- The Believer’s Confidence: The statement is both a present experience and a future trust. It is a declaration that shapes how we face lack and suffering.
Five-point outline
- The title: Yahweh, the God who is, who acts, who keeps covenant.
- The metaphor: Shepherd, one who guides, feeds, protects, and restores.
- The personal claim: “My shepherd”, not a distant God, but mine, known by faith.
- The consequence: “I shall not want”, a promise that echoes through the psalm and through life.
- The scope: Nothing that is truly good will be withheld (see Psalm 84:11).
Illustration hooks
- A sheep cannot survive without the shepherd. It does not worry about where its next meal is or which path is safe. The sheep simply follows the shepherd’s voice. Our trust grows as we learn to follow instead of panic.
- A child on a long car trip may feel hunger or boredom, but she trusts that her parent will stop when needed. The feeling of lack does not contradict the parent’s care. Likewise, our present sense of need does not mean God has failed us.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, many believers found themselves suddenly unable to meet basic needs, yet prayer groups formed, food was shared. The psalm’s promise was tested in real time, and many experienced God’s provision through others.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does “I shall not want” mean Christians will never go hungry or suffer financially?
- If God is my shepherd, why do I still feel empty, lonely, or anxious?
- How do I trust this promise when my needs are not met in the way I hoped?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a declaration of trust. It invites us to examine our relationship with God as Shepherd and our understanding of need. As you talk together, let the psalm’s own progression, from shepherd to table, guide your conversation.
Discussion questions
- Read Psalm 23 slowly. What images stand out to you? How does the opening verse set the tone for the whole psalm?
- In what ways is “shepherd” a fitting description of God for your life right now? In what ways does it feel stretched?
- The word for “lack” (H2637) means to be without something necessary. What do you think is genuinely necessary for a person to thrive? How does God provide that?
- When have you experienced a tangible lack, material, emotional, or spiritual? How did that challenge or deepen your trust in God’s shepherding?
- Does “I shall not want” feel like a promise you can say with integrity? If not, what stands in the way?
- How does the shepherd metaphor address anxiety about the future? Compare the psalmist’s confidence with the worries that often occupy our hearts.
- This week, what would it look like for you to live as a sheep who trusts the Shepherd? Identify one specific area where you can surrender your sense of lack to God.
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 34:9 | Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. |
| Psalms 34:10 | The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing. |
| Psalms 78:52 | But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. |
| Psalms 79:13 | So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations. |
| Psalms 80:1 | For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out. |
| Psalms 84:11 | For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. |
| Isaiah 40:11 | He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. |
| Jeremiah 23:3 | “I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that Psalm 23 was likely written after the Babylonian exile, not by David. He reads it as a corporate thanksgiving from redeemed captives celebrating their liberty, God's guidance back to Judea, and their future security in his worship. The shepherd and feast allegories fit this restored-community context.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists that the psalm’s core claim is found in the opening words: because the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He stresses that this confidence is not limited to physical or temporary needs; it covers every genuine desire, spiritual and eternal, for time and for the life to come.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that David wrote this psalm not as a prayer for help but as a pure thanksgiving, composed when he was already prosperous and secure. Unlike worldly people who forget God in good times, David deliberately delights in God as the source of every blessing and trusts him to sustain that happiness so he can worship freely.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary emphasizes that the shepherding image would feel natural coming from David, a king from a pastoral land. The phrase "I shall not want" carries both past experience and future trust, just as Israel recalled lacking nothing in the wilderness while also expecting plenty in the Promised Land.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
A Psalme of David. The Lord is my shepheard, I shall not want.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies the shepherd as Christ, not the Father, emphasizing Christ's perfect qualifications through His omniscience and omnipotence. David's confession "my shepherd" expresses personal faith and assurance. From this he confidently concludes he will lack nothing temporal or spiritual and will not fail to reach eternal glory.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd ( Joh 10:14 ; Heb 13:20 ; 1 Pe 2:25 ; 1 Pe 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.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch see the psalmist calling Yahweh "my Shepherd" as a foretaste of the good Shepherd later revealed in Christ. The Hebrew pastoral language of gentle leading to fresh grass and still waters pictures God restoring the soul and guiding securely. For Keil-Delitzsch, this care flows from God's own revealed character and glory, not from human merit.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws out David's personal history as a shepherd to explain his confidence. David knew from his own work that a good shepherd provides everything the flock truly needs, so he trusts the Lord as his Shepherd to supply all that is good for him.
Spurgeon: Treasury of David Baptist 1869
Spurgeon insists that the whole psalm turns on the tiny word "my." The Lord is not merely a shepherd in general but the writer's personal shepherd, and that present-tense ownership makes the believer's confidence absolute. He also notes that this sweet pastoral comes only after the twenty-second psalm's agonies of the cross, so we must know the smitten Shepherd before we can enjoy the Shepherd's care.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads this as a prophecy David makes about the spread of the gospel, not about himself. He stresses that the seed mentioned are the apostles, carrying God's righteousness — meaning His mercy in Christ — from Jerusalem to the Gentiles. The passage declares this is God's work, not human effort, for future generations.