Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

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.

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.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Commentary

The image of the Lord as shepherd is a frequent one in both the Old Testament (Is. 40:11; Jer. 31:10) and the New Testament (John 10:11-16; Heb. 13:20). Believers are never pictured in Scripture as mighty lions, independent and self-sufficient; rather, they are sheep who are dependent on their Shepherd for His provision and protection.

King James Version study Bible . 1997, c1988 (electronic ed.) (Ps 23:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Rod / Staff

Ancient shepherds used the rod and staff to rescue, protect, and guide the sheep. Thus, they become symbols of the Good Shepherd's loving care over His flock. The sheep are not alone, their Shepherd is standing over them, guiding them into safety-just as the Lord stands over us and protects us.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ps 23:4). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

John 10:11 - I AM the Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 10:11

Commentary

Jesus is the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (3:16; 1 John 3:16), as opposed to the wicked thief who takes their lives. While life in v. 10 refers to eternal life, life here refers to physical life. Jesus laid down His physical life in order to give us eternal life.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 10:11). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Shepard / Sheep

A shepherd fed sheep, led them to water, guarded them lest they wander off and get lost, protected them from predators (usually wolves), carried them when they were sick or weak, and constantly cared for them. The job of shepherding was a tiring and dangerous one. Often the shepherd spent years with a particular herd of sheep and called each sheep by its own descriptive name. The sheep knew and followed the voice of their shepherd, but they would not respond to a stranger's voice. The shepherd went "before them" to make sure the path was safe for the sheep (v. 4). The "door" referred to the entrance of the sheepfold (v. 2). Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd, a metaphor the people of His day would have understood clearly.


Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Jn 10:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.