English Standard Version
Psalms 23:4
4Even 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Context of Psalms 23:4
2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Read all of Psalms 23Psalms 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 broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.
- Job 3:5Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
- Job 10:21before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
- Job 24:17For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.
- Jeremiah 2:6They did not say, 'Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?'
- Luke 1:79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
- Psalms 3:6I will not be afraid of many thousands of people 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 stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- Psalms 118:6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
- Psalms 138:7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
- Isaiah 41:10fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
- 1 Corinthians 15:55"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
- Psalms 14:5There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
- Psalms 46:11The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Isaiah 8:9Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries