Psalms 23:4
in Psalms 23Even 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Psalms 23
Commentary
6 notes on this verseTo walk in the midst of the shadow of death is not the same as to sit in the shadow of death; one who sits in the shadow of death is firmly fixed in that shadow and strengthened in evil. On account of this, he is in darkness and lacks mercy so that the light may rise for him. He who does not sit, but who passes or walks through the midst of the shadow of death, not standing and hurrying across, does not walk alone because the Lord goes through with him.
This site's exposition
the valley of the shadow of death
The Hebrew tsalmaveth is read as the shadow of death and as deep darkness. The valley is walked through, and You are with me. The rod beats off a wild animal and the staff hooks a straying sheep back.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
on Psalms 23:2-4
God's ordinances are the green pastures in which food is provided for all believers; the word of life is the nourishment of the new man. It is milk for babes, pasture for sheep, never barren, never eaten bare, never parched, but always a green pasture for faith to feed in.
The gospel is called the rod of Christ's strength ( Ps. cx. 2 ), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms. From the good gifts of God's bounty to him now he infers the constancy and perpetuity of his mercy,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Do you know I had laid this text by? I meant that this choice promise should be kept in store and stock till I came near the Jordan and I hoped that then, in my last hours, I might be privileged to enjoy its sweetness and sing with joyful lips— "Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale, Yet will I fear no ill; For You are with me, and Your rod And staff me comfort still." The other day I found that I needed to eat this heavenly loaf at once and I did so.
"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." This unspeakably delightful verse has been sung on many a dying bed, and has helped to make the dark valley bright times out of mind. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. "Yea, though I walk," as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
He restores my soul My spirit, which has been weakened by troubles and haste, He will restore to its previous status.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
You anointed my head with oil I have already been anointed king by Your orders.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| גַּ֤ם | gam | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אֵלֵ֨ךְ | ʾelekh | I will go | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| בְּגֵ֪יא | begei' | in a valley of | H1516 → | |
| צַלְמָ֡וֶת | tzalmavet | deep darkness | H6757 → | 18 times |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אִ֘ירָ֤א | ʾira' | I will fear | H3372 → | 315 times |
| רָ֗ע | ra' | harm | H7451 → | 662 times |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אַתָּ֥ה | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| עִמָּדִ֑י | ʾimadi | [are] with me | H5978 → | 42 times |
| שִׁבְטְךָ֥ | shivtekha | rod your | H7626 → | 190 times |
| וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ | umishantekha | and staff your | H4938 → | |
| הֵ֣מָּה | hemah | they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ | yenachamuni | they comfort me | H5162 → | 108 times |
גַּ֤םalso
gamH1571 →769 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
אֵלֵ֨ךְI will go
ʾelekhH1980 →1546 times
בְּגֵ֪יאin a valley of
begei'H1516 →
צַלְמָ֡וֶתdeep darkness
tzalmavetH6757 →18 times
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
אִ֘ירָ֤אI will fear
ʾira'H3372 →315 times
רָ֗עharm
ra'H7451 →662 times
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
אַתָּ֥הyou
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
עִמָּדִ֑י[are] with me
ʾimadiH5978 →42 times
שִׁבְטְךָ֥rod your
shivtekhaH7626 →190 times
וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָand staff your
umishantekhaH4938 →
הֵ֣מָּהthey
hemahH1992 →553 times
יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃they comfort me
yenachamuniH5162 →108 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
it leads to
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Romans 8:31
Through
Psalms 118:6The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- Psalms 56:4
In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Hebrews 13:6
Through
Psalms 138:7If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Isaiah 41:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1595: “The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, SELECTIONS FROM THE PSALMS 23:4.