What does Psalm 23:1 mean?
David, who spent his youth tending sheep, describes God as his personal shepherd. In the ancient world a shepherd guided, fed, protected, and searched for his flock, and sheep depended on him for everything. By saying "my shepherd," David turns a general truth into a personal relationship. "I shall not want" does not mean he will have everything he wishes for. It means that with God caring for him, he will lack nothing he truly needs. The opening line sets the tone for the whole psalm: quiet confidence that rests in who God is, not in what circumstances happen to provide.
Psalm 23:1 in the King James Version
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Context
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Psalm 23:1 mean?
David, who spent his youth tending sheep, describes God as his personal shepherd. In the ancient world a shepherd guided, fed, protected, and searched for his flock, and sheep depended on him for everything. By saying "my shepherd," David turns a general truth into a personal relationship. "I shall not want" does not mean he will have everything he wishes for. It means that with God caring for him, he will lack nothing he truly needs. The opening line sets the tone for the whole psalm: quiet confidence that rests in who God is, not in what circumstances happen to provide.
What does Psalm 23:1 say in the KJV?
Psalm 23:1 (KJV) reads: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”