God’s Word Translation
Psalms 23:4
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.
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 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. Even 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. 5You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. 6Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the Lord’s house for days without end.
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 crushed us in a place for jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.
- Job 3:5Let the darkness and long shadows claim it as their own. Let a dark cloud hang over it. Let the gloom terrify it.
- Job 10:21before I go away to a land of darkness and gloom,
- Job 24:17because morning and deep darkness are the same to them, because they are familiar with the terrors of deep darkness.
- Jeremiah 2:6They didn’t ask, “Where is the Lord, who brought us from Egypt? He led us through the desert, through a wasteland and its pits, a land of drought and the shadow of death. No one lives there or travels there.”
- Luke 1:79He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death’s shadow. He will guide us into the way of peace.”
- Psalms 3:6I am not afraid of the tens of thousands who have taken positions against me on all sides.
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation. Who is there to fear? The Lord is my life’s fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Psalms 118:6The Lord is on my side. I am not afraid. What can mortals do to me?
- Psalms 138:7Even though I walk into the middle of trouble, you guard my life against the anger of my enemies. You stretch out your hand, and your right hand saves me.
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.
- 1 Corinthians 15:55Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
- Psalms 14:5There they are—panic-stricken because God is with the person who is righteous.
- Psalms 46:11The Lord of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
- Isaiah 8:9Be broken, you people. Be terrified. Listen, all you distant parts of the earth. Prepare for battle, but be terrified. Prepare for battle, but be terrified.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries