Psalms 23:5
in Psalms 23You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
KJV
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 23
Commentary
6 notes on this verse"You have prepared a banquet in my sight." This banquet consists of the living Bread, the Word of God. At this banquet there is the oil of sanctification, poured richly over the head of the just. This oil strengthens the inner senses. It does away with the oil of the sinner that fattens the head. In this banquet, too, you have the cup that inebriates: "how excellent" it is, or "how powerful," for the Greek has kratiston, meaning most mighty, strong or powerful. Surely it is a powerful cup that washes away every stain of sin.
This site's exposition
You prepare a table before me
The table is set in full view of the enemies, while they watch. Oil on the head and a cup filled past the brim are what a host gives a guest he honors. The picture has changed from shepherd to host.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
His table was not spread with any thing that came next to hand, but prepared, and prepared before him. (3.) That he was not stinted, was not straitened, but had abundance: " My cup runs over, enough for myself and my friends too." (4.) That he had not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight: Thou anointest my head with oil.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." The good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to God. Yet see the quietude of the godly man in spite of, and in the sight of, his enemies. How refreshing is his calm bravery! "Thou preparest a table before me."
THE Psalm culminates in this expression. The poet can mount no higher. He has endeavored to express the blessedness of his condition, in having the Lord for his Shepherd, but after all his efforts, he is conscious of failure. His sonnet has not reached the height of the great argument, nor has his soul, though enlarged with gratitude, been able to compass the immeasurable gifts of Grace. And therefore, in holy wonder at the lavish superfluities of mercy, he cries, "My cup runs over."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
By them he guides his sheep. Another figure expresses God's provided care. a table--or, "food," anointing oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
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
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ | taarokh | you arrange | H6186 → | 74 times |
| לְפָנַ֨י׀ | lefanai | <to> before me | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| שֻׁלְחָ֗ן | shulchan | a table | H7979 → | 71 times |
| נֶ֥גֶד | neged | before | H5048 → | 151 times |
| צֹרְרָ֑י | tzorerai | opposers my | H6887 → | 54 times |
| דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ | dishanta | you have refreshed | H1878 → | |
| בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן | vashemen | with <the> oil | H8081 → | 193 times |
| רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י | roshi | head my | H7218 → | 599 times |
| כּוֹסִ֥י | kosi | cup my | H3563 → | 34 times |
| רְוָיָֽה׃ | revayah | [is] saturation | H7310 → |
תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְyou arrange
taarokhH6186 →74 times
לְפָנַ֨י׀<to> before me
lefanaiH6440 →2123 times
שֻׁלְחָ֗ןa table
shulchanH7979 →71 times
נֶ֥גֶדbefore
negedH5048 →151 times
צֹרְרָ֑יopposers my
tzoreraiH6887 →54 times
דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּyou have refreshed
dishantaH1878 →
בַשֶּׁ֥מֶןwith <the> oil
vashemenH8081 →193 times
רֹ֝אשִׁ֗יhead my
roshiH7218 →599 times
כּוֹסִ֥יcup my
kosiH3563 →34 times
רְוָיָֽה׃[is] saturation
revayahH7310 →
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
Ephesians 3:20Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
- Romans 4:21
being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
- Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
Through
Psalms 45:7You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
it leads to
- Hebrews 1:9
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”
- Hebrews 1:9
Through
Psalms 16:5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
it leads to
- Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
- Psalms 73:26
Through
Psalms 92:10But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.
it leads to
- Psalms 89:17
For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.
- Psalms 89:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1222: “The Overflowing Cup” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.