Psalms 23:4

Psalms 23:4 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Even 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yea, 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.

Context of Psalms 23:4

2He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. 3He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

Psalms 23:4 word by word

גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Yea, though I walkיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• through the valleyגַּיְאgay' gay · valleyH1516
• of the shadow of deathצַלְמָ֫וֶתtsalmâveth · shadowH6757
• I will fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• no evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• with me; thy rodשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribe: staffH7626
• and thy staffמִשְׁעֶ֫נֶתmish‛ênâh mish‛eneth · staffH4938
• they comfortנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: comfortH5162

Cross-references for Psalms 23:4

• Psalms 44:19Yet You have [distressingly] crushed us in the place of jackals And covered us with [the deep darkness of] the shadow of death.
• Job 3:5Let darkness and gloom claim it for their own; Let a cloud settle upon it; Let all that blackens the day terrify it (the day that I was born).
• Job 10:21Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death],
• Job 24:17For the morning is the same to him as the thick darkness [of midnight]; For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.
• Jeremiah 2:6They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of the deep darkness [of the shadow of death], Through a land that no man passed through And where no man lived?’
• Luke 1:79To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”
• Psalms 3:6I will not be intimidated or afraid of the ten thousands Who have set themselves against me all around.
• Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread?
• Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
• Psalms 118:6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can [mere] man do to me?
• Psalms 138:7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
• Isaiah 41:10Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’
• 1 Corinthians 15:55O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
• Psalms 14:5There they tremble with great fear, For God is with the [consistently] righteous generation.
• Psalms 46:11The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
• Isaiah 8:9“Be broken [in pieces], O peoples, and be shattered! Listen, all you [our enemies from the] far countries. Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered; Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered.

Commentaries on Psalms 23:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - The reference is still to the shepherd. Though I, as one of the flock, should walk through the most dismal valley, in the dead of the night, exposed to pitfalls, precipices, devouring beasts, etc., I should fear no evil under the guidance and protection of such a Shepherd. He knows all the passes, dangerous defiles, hidden pits, and abrupt precipices in the way; and he will guide me around…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - The meaning of this in the connection in which it occurs is this: “God will lead and guide me in the path of righteousness, even though that path lies through the darkest and most gloomy vale - through deep and dismal shades - in regions where there is no light, as if death had cast his dark and baleful shadow there. It is still a right path; it is a path of safety; and it will conduct me to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The shepherd used his rod and staff to protect against danger.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near. the valley of the shadow of death--is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest. thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a…Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 23:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Assurance
• Death
• Faith
• Testimony

In the dictionaries

• Shadow of Death
• Anoint
• Cup
• Fear
• Lead
• Poetry
• Rod
• Thou
• Agriculture
• Armor; Arms

Commentaries on Psalms 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings