Psalm 23

Illustration from ”The Sunday at Home”, 1880

In the 23rd Psalm (Greek numbering: Psalm 22) in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the writer (supposedly David) describes God as his Shepherd. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, is often alluded to in popular media and has been set to music.

The shepherd theme

Psalm 23 portrays God as a shepherd, feeding (verse 1) and leading (verse 3) his flock. The "rod and staff" (verse 4) are also the implements of a shepherd. Some commentators see the shepherd imagery pervading the entire psalm. J. Douglas MacMillan argues that "you prepare a table for me" in verse 5 refers to the "old oriental shepherding practice" of using little raised tables to feed sheep. Similarly, "you anoint my head with oil" may refer to an ancient form of backliner—the oil is poured on wounds, and repels flies. MacMillan also notes that "Goodness and mercy" in verse 6 remind him of two sheepdogs coming behind the flock.

In Jewish tradition

A long tradition ascribes authorship of the psalm to King David, said in the Hebrew Scriptures to have been a field shepherd himself as a youth.

Psalm 23 is traditionally sung by Jews in Hebrew at the third Shabbat meal on Saturday afternoon. It is also sung during the Yizkor service. Sephardic and some Hassidic Jews also sing during Friday afternoon services and as part of the Sabbath night and day meals. It is read at a cemetery funeral service instead of the traditional prayer during Jewish holidays.

The standard Hebrew text of the Bible used in Judaism is the Masoretic text standardized between the seventh and tenth centuries CE.

In Christian tradition

Psalm 23 is often referred to as the Shepherd's psalm.

For Christians the image of God as a shepherd evokes connections not only with David but with Jesus, described as "the Good Shepherd" in the Gospel of John. The phrase about "the valley of the shadow of death" is often taken as an allusion to the eternal life given by Jesus.

Orthodox Christians typically include the Psalm in the prayers of preparation for receiving the Eucharist.

The Reformation inspired widespread efforts in western Europe to make biblical texts available in vernacular languages. One of the most popular early English versions was the Geneva Bible (1557). The most widely recognized version of the psalm in English today is undoubtedly the one drawn from the King James Bible (1611).

The psalm is a popular passage for memorization and is often used in sermons.

Metrical versions

An early metrical version of the psalm in English was made in 1565 by Thomas Sternhold. Other metrical versions to emerge from the Reformation include those from The Bay Psalm Book (1640) and a version influenced by Sternholm published in the Scottish Psalter (1650). The latter version is still encountered, with modernized spelling, in many Protestant hymns. Other notable metrical versions include those by George Herbert and Isaac Watts.

A traditional pairing puts a metrical version of the psalm with the hymn tune Crimond, which is generally attributed to Jessie Seymour Irvine. This version, with its opening words "The Lord's My Shepherd", is probably the best-known amongst English-speaking congregations. Other melodies, such as Brother James' Air or Amazing Grace, are also used. Other tunes sometimes used include Belmont, Evan, Martyrdom, Orlington, and Wiltshire.

Use in funerals

All traditions in Christianity feature the psalm prominently in funeral services. The Book of Common Prayer (1662) ensured its place in the memorial rituals of English-speaking cultures.

In the twentieth century, Psalm 23 became particularly associated with funeral liturgies in the English-speaking world. Films with funeral scenes often depict a graveside recitation of the psalm, though the official liturgies of English-speaking churches were slow to adopt this practice.

Musical settings

Liturgical and classical

• Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata No.112 Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt BWV 112 (opening chorus)
• James Leith Macbeth Bain—hymn tune Brother James' Air
• Leonard Bernstein—Chichester Psalms (Hebrew, in Part 2, together with Psalm 2)
• Paul Creston—Psalm XXIII (1945)
• Herbert Howells—Hymnus Paradisi
• Jessie Seymour Irvine—hymn tune Crimond
• Albert Hay Malotte
• Clément Marot (Latin)
• Kirke Mechem
• George Rochberg
• Miklós Rózsa
• John Rutter—Requiem
• Franz Schubert—version by Moses Mendelssohn (German)
• Randall Thompson
• Virgil Thomson
• Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Charles Villiers Stanford
• Alexander Zemlinsky Op. 14, (1910) for chorus and orchestra.

Song

• Garnet Silk—"Splashing Dashing" from the album Give I Strength
• Jonathan Elias—"Forgiveness" from the album The Prayer Cycle
• Duke Ellington—album Black, Brown and Beige with Mahalia Jackson, 1958
• Keith Green—"The Lord is My Shepherd" from the album Songs For The Shepherd
• Howard Goodall—theme to The Vicar of Dibley, later covered by Katherine Jenkins and The Choirboys
• Group 1 Crew—"Forgive Me" from the album Group 1 Crew
• Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.)—"You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)" from the album Life After Death
• Bobby McFerrin—"The 23rd Psalm" from the album Medicine Music
• Dennis Brown—"Here I Come" from the album Wolves and Leopards
• E Nomine—"Psalm 23" from the album Das Testament
• Dave Cousins—"Lay Down" from the album Bursting at the Seams, 1972
• Pink Floyd—"Sheep" from the album Animals, 1977
• Patti Smith Group—"Privilege (Set Me Free)" from the album Easter, 1978
• Coolio feat. L.V.—"Gangsta's Paradise", 1995
• Colin Mawby—recording with Charlotte Church, 1998
• Marilyn Manson—"In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death" from the album Holy Wood, 2000
• Dan Nichols—"Psalm 23" from the album Be Strong, 2001
• Lucinda Williams—"Atonement" from the album World Without Tears, 2003
• Megadeth—"Shadow of Deth" from the album The System Has Failed, 2004
• OverClocked Remix—"Beneath the Surface (Aquatic Ambiance)" from Kong in Concert, 2004
• Jon Foreman—"The House of God Forever" from the album Summer (Jon Foreman EP) and compilation Limbs and Branches, 2008
• The Offspring—"Hammerhead" from the album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, 2008
• Tupac Shakur-"So Many Tears" (song) from the album " [Me Against The World]," 1995

Debbie Friedman-Psalm 23

Media

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Use in Media

• In Van Helsing (film), the creature of Dr. Frankenstein recites parts of the psalm when brought to the vampires' Masquerade Ball.

External links

• Hebrew text, translation, transliteration, recorded melodies from The Zemirot Database
• Tehillim - Psalm 23 (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary.
• Psalm 23 recited in Hebrew