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.
• 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.
• 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 quiet waters, 3he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 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. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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 44:19But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.
• Job 3:5May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it.
• Job 10:21before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and utter darkness,
• Job 24:17For all of them, midnight is their morning; they make friends with the terrors of darkness.
• Jeremiah 2:6They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
• Luke 1:79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
• Psalms 3:6I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
• 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, an ever-present help in trouble.
• Psalms 118:6The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
• Psalms 138:7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.
• Isaiah 41:10So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• 1 Corinthians 15:55“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
• Psalms 14:5But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
• Psalms 46:11The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
• Isaiah 8:9Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, 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