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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 23:1 - 23:1
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The poet calls Jahve רֹעִי, as He who uniformly and graciously provides for and guides him and all who are His. Later prophecy announces the visible appearing of this Shepherd, Isa 40:11, Eze 34:23, and other passages. If this has taken place, the רֹעִי ה from the mouth of man finds its cordial response in the words ἐγὼ εἰμὶ ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός. He who has Jahve, the possessor of all things, himself has all things, he lacks nothing; viz., כָּ־טֹוב, whatever is good in itself and would be good for him, Psa 34:11; Psa 84:12. נְאֹות דֶּשֶׁא are the pastures of fresh and tender grass, where one lies at ease, and rest and enjoyment are combined. נָאָה (נָוָה), according to its primary meaning, is a resting-or dwelling-place, specifically an oasis, i.e., a verdant spot in the desert. מֵי מְנוּחֹת are waters, where the weary finds a most pleasant resting-place (according to Hitzig, it is a plural brought in by the plural of the governing word, but it is at any rate a superlative plural), and can at the same time refresh himself. נִהֵל is suited to this as being a pastoral word used of gentle leading, and more especially of guiding the herds to the watering-places, just as הִרְבִּיץ is used of making them to rest, especially at noon-tide, Son 1:7; cf. ὁδηγεῖν, Rev 7:17. שֹׁובֵב נֶפֶשׁ (elsewhere הֵשִׁיב) signifies to bring back the soul that is as it were flown away, so that it comes to itself again, therefore to impart new life, recreare. This He does to the soul, by causing it amidst the dryness and heat of temptation and trouble, to taste the very essence of life which refreshes and strengthens it. The Hiph. הִנְחָה (Arabic: to put on one side, as perhaps in Job 12:23) is, as in Psa 143:10 the intensive of נָחָה (Ps 77:21). The poet glories that Jahve leads him carefully and without risk or wandering in מַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק, straight paths and leading to the right goal, and this לְמַעַן שְׁמֹו (for His Name's sake). He has revealed Himself as the gracious One, and as such He will prove and glorify Himself even in the need of him who submits to His guidance.