Psalms 23:4

The shadow of death. Heb. ṣalmaweth, by popular etymology from ṣel, “shadow,” and maweth, “death.” Both words are very common in the OT, ṣel being found 49 times, 45 times translated “shadow,” and maweth occurring 157 times, 128 times translated “death.” Some modern scholars derive ṣalmaweth from an Akkadian root ṣalamu, meaning “to grow black,” and hence translate ṣalmaweth “darkness.” The traditional derivation has the support of the LXX. The Ugaritic (see pp. 618, 619) sheds no light on ṣalmaweth. In the extant literature of that language the word occurs only once in an obscure passage. Bunyan has made the phrase “the shadow of death” especially precious to readers of his great allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress.

Thou art with me. This is enough. The Christian needs nothing more than the consciousness of God’s presence. “Only Thee, only Thee, none on earth but Thee.”

Rod. Heb. shebeṭ, used of a shepherd’s rod or staff (Lev. 27:32); of a teacher’s staff (2 Sam. 7:14; Prov. 13:24); and of a ruler’s scepter (Gen. 49:10; Isa. 14:5). It was sometimes used as a weapon (2 Sam. 23:21), and such a function is probably the thought in Ps. 23:4, the rod being used as a weapon to ward off ravenous beasts that infested the pasturelands.

Staff. Heb. mish‘eneth, “a staff,” “a support,” for example for the sick and aged to lean upon (Ex. 21:19; Zech. 8:4).

They comfort. “They” is emphatic, as if to say, “It is they that comfort me.” The rod and staff are tokens of the Shepherd’s presence, and show the Shepherd to be ready to succor at any instant.

The Shepherd provides rest, refreshment, nourishment, restoration, fellowship, guidance, deliverance from fear, comfort, security, victory over enemies. What more can the Christian ask? Nevertheless, the psalmist proceeds to emphasize these evidences of Jehovah’s goodness and adds to them by employing a different figure, that of the gracious Host.