The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "I shall not want" isn't just about lacking things; it powerfully declares a profound contentment that arises from God's complete provision. David isn't saying he'll never desire anything, but rather that his deepest needs are so fully met by the Lord being his shepherd that he won't lack anything truly essential for his well-being, both now and eternally.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm opens with a profound declaration of personal trust, not in a nation or a king, but in the Lord himself. It sets the stage for a reflection on God's consistent, personal care, drawing on the familiar imagery of a shepherd tending his flock, a metaphor David understood deeply from his own life experience. The verses that follow will unfold the multifaceted ways God acts as this shepherd, providing, guiding, protecting, and comforting.
When David wrote, 'The LORD is my shepherd,' he wasn't just speaking about a general concept. He was declaring a deeply personal relationship. What does it mean for the Almighty to be your personal shepherd?
The opening of Psalm 23 immediately sets a tone of intimate trust. David doesn't say 'a shepherd' or 'the shepherds of Israel,' but 'The LORD is my shepherd.' This 'my' is crucial. It signifies a personal claim and a deep, individual relationship with God.
A Shepherd's Responsibilities
Throughout ancient Near Eastern culture, a shepherd's role was multifaceted and demanding. A good shepherd was responsible for:
When David declares the LORD is his shepherd, he’s entrusting himself to God’s direct, personal oversight and care in all these areas. It's a profound declaration of dependence and faith.
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The second half of the verse, 'I shall not want,' isn't a promise of endless riches or zero challenges. So, what exactly are we assured we won't lack?
The statement 'I shall not want' flows directly from the declaration 'The LORD is my shepherd.' It's not a wish or a hope, but a confident conclusion based on who God is.
What We Won't Lack
This doesn't mean we'll never experience hardship, loss, or difficult circumstances. Instead, it speaks to a deeper kind of sufficiency:
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature.
ro'eh · Hebrew Noun
One who tends, guides, protects, and provides for a flock, frequently used in Scripture to describe God’s relationship with His people and the role of spiritual leaders.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The inner person, life force, or whole being of an individual; it signifies the totality of human life, appetite, and emotional capacity.
tsedeq · Hebrew Noun
Rightness or conformity to a standard; in a biblical context, it refers to acting in accordance with God’s will, moral character, and covenantal requirements.
Jesus explicitly calls himself the 'good shepherd' who lays down his life for his sheep, directly echoing and expanding on the Psalmist's declaration of trust in the LORD as his shepherd.
Isaiah 40:11This passage describes God as a tender shepherd who gently guides his flock, gathers the lambs, and carries them, reinforcing the idea of the LORD's personal and protective care mentioned in Psalm 23:1.
Romans 8:32The reasoning here—that if God gave his Son, He will freely give all things—parallels the Psalmist's confidence that 'I shall not want' because the LORD, as his shepherd, possesses all things and is committed to his well-being.
1 Peter 5:7This verse exhorts believers to cast all their anxieties on God because He cares for them, which is a direct application of the principle behind 'The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want,' encouraging trust in God's provision and protection.
clarkePsalms 23:1: "A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
The Lord is my shepherd - There are two allegories in this Psalm which are admirably well adapted to the purpose for which they are produced, and supported both with art and elegance. The first is that of a shepherd; the second, that of a great feast, set out by a host the most kind and the most liberal. As a flock, they have the most excellent pasture; as guests, they have the most nutritive and abundant fare. God cond…
pulpitPsalms 23:1: "<> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Verse 1. - The Lord is my Shepherd. This metaphor, so frequent in the later Scriptures (Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 49:9, 10; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:6-19; John 10:11-19, 26-28; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 7:17), is perhaps implied in Genesis 48:15, but first appears, plainly and openly, in the Davidical psalms (see, besides the present passage, Psalm 74:1; Psalm 77:20; Psalm 78:53; 79:14; 80:1 - psalms which, if…
The phrase "I shall not want" isn't just about lacking things; it powerfully declares a profound contentment that arises from God's complete provision. David isn't saying he'll never desire anything, but rather that his deepest needs are so fully met by the Lord being his shepherd that he won't lack anything truly essential for his well-being, both now and eternally.
This psalm opens with a profound declaration of personal trust, not in a nation or a king, but in the Lord himself. It sets the stage for a reflection on God's consistent, personal care, drawing on the familiar imagery of a shepherd tending his flock, a metaphor David understood deeply from his own life experience. The verses that follow will unfold the multifaceted ways God acts as this shepherd, providing, guiding, protecting, and comforting.
This psalm opens with a profound declaration of personal trust, not in a nation or a king, but in the Lord himself. It sets the stage for a reflection on God's consistent, personal care, drawing on the familiar imagery of a shepherd tending his flock, a metaphor David understood deeply from his own life experience. The verses that follow will unfold the multifaceted ways God acts as this shepherd, providing, guiding, protecting, and comforting.
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake." — The phrase "I shall not want" isn't just about lacking things; it powerfully declares a profound contentment that arises from God's complete provision. David isn't saying he'll never desire anything,…
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Last reviewed October 2026