New Living Translation
Psalms 23:4
4Even 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.
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 rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 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. 5You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live 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 crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death.
- Job 3:5Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it.
- Job 10:21before I leave—never to return— for the land of darkness and utter gloom.
- Job 24:17The black night is their morning. They ally themselves with the terrors of the darkness.
- Jeremiah 2:6They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness— a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels?’
- Luke 1:79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
- Psalms 3:6I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
- Psalms 118:6The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?
- Psalms 138:7Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
- 1 Corinthians 15:55O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
- Psalms 14:5Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him.
- Psalms 46:11The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
- Isaiah 8:9“Huddle together, you nations, and be terrified. Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Yes, prepare for battle, but you will be crushed!
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
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