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Contemporary English Version

Psalms 23:2

You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blessing;   Faith;   God Continued...;   Jesus Continued;   Shepherd;   Testimony;   Scofield Reference Index - Feasts;   Thompson Chain Reference - Attitudes of the Christian;   Guidance, Divine;   Promises, Divine;   Rest, Spiritual;   Rest-Unrest;   Seven;   Shepherd, Christ;   The Topic Concordance - Comfort;   Fear;   God;   Guidance;   Shepherds/pastors;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Christ, the Shepherd;   Sheep;   Shepherds;   Water;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Psalms, the Book of;   Shepherd;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Water;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Sheep;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Shepherd;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Grass;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - English Versions;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Psalms;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Rufus;   Sheep, Shepherd;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Feed;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Psalms the book of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Shepherd;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Agriculture;   Beside;   Color;   David;   God;   Heat;   Psalms, Book of;   Shepherd;   Still;   Targum;   Teach;   Tender;   Waters;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Cattle;   Shepherd;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 2;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 28;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He lets me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside quiet waters.
Hebrew Names Version
He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
King James Version
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
English Standard Version
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
New Century Version
He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water.
New English Translation
He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.
Amplified Bible
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
New American Standard Bible
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
World English Bible
He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters.
Legacy Standard Bible
He makes me lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside quiet waters.
Berean Standard Bible
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
Complete Jewish Bible
He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water,
Darby Translation
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters.
Easy-to-Read Version
He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water.
George Lamsa Translation
He makes me to rest in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters.
Good News Translation
He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
Lexham English Bible
In grassy pastures he makes me lie down; by quiet waters he leads me.
Literal Translation
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me to waters of rest;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He fedeth me in a grene pasture, ad ledeth me to a fresh water.
American Standard Version
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.
Bible in Basic English
He makes a resting-place for me in the green fields: he is my guide by the quiet waters.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.
King James Version (1611)
He maketh me to lie downe in greene pastures: he leadeth mee beside the still waters.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
he wyll cause me to repose my selfe in pasture full of grasse, and he wyll leade me vnto calme waters.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
In a place of green grass, there he has made me dwell: he has nourished me by the water of rest.
English Revised Version
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
in the place of pasture there he hath set me. He nurschide me on the watir of refreischyng;
Update Bible Version
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
Webster's Bible Translation
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
New King James Version
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
New Living Translation
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
New Life Bible
He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters.
New Revised Standard
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In pastures of tender grass, he maketh me lie down, Unto restful waters, he leadeth me;
Douay-Rheims Bible
(22-2) He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
Revised Standard Version
he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
Young's Literal Translation
In pastures of tender grass He causeth me to lie down, By quiet waters He doth lead me.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

Contextual Overview

1

(A psalm by David.)

You, Lord , are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. 4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe. 5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. 6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord .

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

maketh: Isaiah 30:23, Ezekiel 34:13, Ezekiel 34:14

green pastures: Heb. pastures of tender grass

leadeth: Psalms 46:4, Isaiah 49:9, Isaiah 49:10, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 21:6, Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:17

still waters: Heb. waters of quietness, Job 34:29, Isaiah 8:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:2 - there Psalms 31:3 - for thy Psalms 80:1 - O Shepherd Song of Solomon 1:7 - thou feedest Isaiah 57:18 - will lead Jeremiah 31:9 - I will Jeremiah 50:6 - have forgotten Ezekiel 34:15 - General Hosea 2:18 - and will Micah 5:4 - stand Zephaniah 3:13 - they John 10:3 - and leadeth

Cross-References

Genesis 13:18
Abram took down his tents and went to live near the sacred trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar in honor of the Lord .
Genesis 23:14
"But sir," the man replied, "the property is worth only four hundred pieces of silver. Why should we haggle over such a small amount? Take the land. It's yours."
Genesis 23:16
Abraham accepted Ephron's offer and paid him the four hundred pieces of silver in front of everyone at the city gate. That's how Abraham got Ephron's property east of Hebron, which included the field with all of its trees, as well as Machpelah Cave at the end of the field.
Genesis 23:19
So Abraham buried his wife Sarah in Machpelah Cave that was in the field
Genesis 27:41
Esau hated his brother Jacob because he had stolen the blessing that was supposed to be his. So he said to himself, "Just as soon as my father dies, I'll kill Jacob."
Genesis 50:10
After crossing the Jordan River and reaching Atad's threshing place, Joseph had everyone mourn and weep seven days for his father.
Numbers 13:22
As they went through the Southern Desert, they came to the town of Hebron, which was seven years older than the Egyptian town of Zoan. In Hebron, they saw the three Anakim clans of Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai.
Numbers 20:29
the people knew that Aaron had died, and they mourned his death for thirty days.
Deuteronomy 34:8
The people of Israel stayed in the lowlands of Moab, where they mourned and grieved thirty days for Moses, as was their custom.
Joshua 10:39
They captured the town, and its nearby villages. Then they destroyed Debir and killed its king, together with everyone else, just as they had done with Hebron and Libnah.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,.... Or "pastures of tender grass" t; this is one part of the shepherd's work, and which is performed by Christ, Ezekiel 34:14; by these "green pastures" may be meant the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises, where there is delicious feeding; likewise the fulness of grace in Christ, from whence grace for grace is received; also the flesh and blood, righteousness and sacrifice, of Christ, which faith is led unto and lives upon, and is refreshed and invigorated by; to which may be added the doctrines of the Gospel, with which Christ's under-shepherds feed his lambs and sheep, there being in them milk for babes and meat for strong men; and likewise the ordinances of the Gospel, the goodness and fatness of the Lord's house, the feast of fat things, and breasts of consolation: here Christ's sheep are made to "lie down", denoting their satiety and fulness; they having in these green pastures what is satisfying and replenishing; as also their rest and safety, these being sure dwellings and quiet resting places, even in the noon of temptation and persecution; see Song of Solomon 1:7;

he leadeth me beside the still waters, or "waters of rest and quietness" u; not to rapid torrents, which by reason of the noise they make, and the swiftness of their motion, the sheep are frightened, and not able to drink of them; but to still waters, pure and clear, and motionless, or that go softly, like the waters of Shiloah, Isaiah 8:6; and the "leading" to them is in a gentle way, easily, as they are able to bear it; so Jacob led his flock, Genesis 33:14; and Christ leads his,

Isaiah 40:11; by these "still waters" may be designed the everlasting love of God, which is like a river, the streams whereof make glad the hearts of his people; these are the waters of the sanctuary, which rise to the ankles, knees, and loins, and are as a broad river to swim in; the pure river of water of life Christ leads his sheep to, and gives them to drink freely of: also communion with God, which the saints pant after, as the hart pants after the water brooks, and Christ gives access unto; moreover he himself is the fountain of gardens, and well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon; and the graces of his Spirit are also as rivers of living water, all which he makes his people partakers of; to which may be added, that the Scriptures, and the truths of the Gospel, are like still, quiet, and refreshing waters to them, and are the waters to which those that are athirst are invited to come, Isaiah 55:1; and in the immortal state Christ will still be a shepherd, and will feed his people, and lead them to fountains of living water, where they shall solace themselves for ever, and shall know no more sorrow and sighing, Revelation 7:17.

t דשא "tenerae herbae", Piscator, Amama, Gejerus, Michaelis; "in folds of budding grass", Ainsworth. u מי מנוחת "aquas requietum", Pagninus, Montanus; "quietum", Vatablus, Michaelis; "vel quietis", Gejerus; so Ainsworth;

αμπαυματος, Apollinar.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - Margin, “Pastures of tender grass.” The Hebrew word rendered “pastures” means usually “dwellings,” or “habitations.” It is applied here properly to “pastures,” as places where flocks and herds lie down for repose. The word rendered in the margin “tender grass” - דשׁא deshe' - refers to the first shoots of vegetation from the earth - young herbage - tender grass - as clothing the meadows, and as delicate food for cattle, Job 6:5. It differs from ripe grass ready for mowing, which is expressed by a different word - חציר châtsı̂yr. The idea is that of calmness and repose, as suggested by the image of flocks “lying down on the grass.” But this is not the only idea. It is that of flocks that lie down on the grass “fully fed” or “satisfied,” their wants being completely supplied. The exact point of contemplation in the mind of the poet, I apprehend, is that of a flock in young and luxuriant grass, surrounded by abundance, and, having satisfied their wants, lying down amidst this luxuriance with calm contentment. It is not merely a flock enjoying repose; it is a flock whose wants are supplied, lying down in the midst of abundance. Applied to the psalmist himself, or to the people of God generally, the idea is, that the wants of the soul are met and satisfied, and that, in the full enjoyment of this, there is the conviction of abundance - the repose of the soul at present satisfied, and feeling that in such abundance want will always be unknown.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 23:2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures — בנאות דשא binoth deshe, not green pastures, but cottages of turf or sods, such as the shepherds had in open champaign countries; places in which themselves could repose safely; and pens thus constructed where the flock might be safe all the night. They were enclosures, and enclosures where they had grass or provender to eat.

Beside the still waters.Deep waters, that the strongest heat could not exhale; not by a rippling current, which argues a shallow stream. Or perhaps he may here refer to the waters of Siloam, or Shiloah, that go softly, Isaiah 8:6, compared with the strong current of the Euphrates. Thou hast brought us from the land of our captivity, from beyond this mighty and turbulent river, to our own country streams, wells, and fountains, where we enjoy peace, tranquillity, and rest.

The old Psalter gives this a beautiful turn: On the water of rehetyng forth he me broght. On the water of grace er we broght forth, that makes to recover our strengthe that we lost in syn. And reheteis (strengthens) us to do gude workes. My saule he turned, that es, of a synful wreche, he made it ryghtwis, and waxyng of luf in mekeness. First he turnes our sautes til hym; and then he ledes and fedes it. Ten graces he telles in this psalme, the qwilk God gyfs til his lufers, (i.e., them that love him.)


 
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