God’s Word Translation
Psalms 23:2
2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters.
Psalms 23:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
- New International Version (NIV)He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
- English Standard Version (ESV)He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Context of Psalms 23:2
1The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. 3He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. 4Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. Your rod and your staff give me courage.
Read all of Psalms 23Psalms 23:2 word by word
בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 23:2
- Isaiah 30:23The Lord will give you rain for the seed that you plant in the ground, and the food that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. When that day comes, your cattle will graze in large pastures.
- Ezekiel 34:13I will bring them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own land. I will take care of them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.
- Psalms 46:4There is a river whose streams bring joy to the city of God, the holy place where the Most High lives.
- Isaiah 49:9You will say to the prisoners, “Come out,” and to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.” They will graze along every path, and they will find pastures on every bare hill.
- Revelation 7:17The lamb in the center near the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
- Revelation 21:7Everyone who wins the victory will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my children.
- Revelation 22:1The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb.
- Job 34:29If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him whether it is a nation or a single person?
- Isaiah 8:6“These people have rejected the gently flowing water of Shiloah and find joy in Rezin and Remaliah’s son.”
Commentaries on Psalms 23:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - דשא בנאות binoth deshe, not green pastures, but cottages of turf or sods, such as the shepherds had in open champaign countries; places in which themselves could repose safely; and pens thus constructed where the flock might be safe all the night. They were enclosures, and enclosures where they had grass or provender to eat. Beside the still waters - Deep waters, that the strongest heat could not exhale; not by…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - Margin, “Pastures of tender grass.” The Hebrew word rendered “pastures” means usually “dwellings,” or “habitations.” It is applied here properly to “pastures,” as places where flocks and herds lie down for repose. The word rendered in the margin “tender grass” - דשׁא deshe' - refers to the first shoots of vegetation from the earth - young herbage - tender grass - as clothing the meadows, and as delicate food…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Sheep rest after they have eaten enough (Zephaniah 3:13; see Isaiah 11:7; compare Isaiah 13:20; 27:10). The Lord guides the sheep for their benefit (see Psalm 5:8). Sheep drink only from still water, so the shepherd finds peaceful streams for them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest. the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 23:2
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
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