The Meaning of Psalms 23:2 Explained

Psalms 23:2

KJV: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

YLT: In pastures of tender grass He causeth me to lie down, By quiet waters He doth lead me.

Darby: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters.

ASV: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He maketh me to lie down  in green  pastures:  he leadeth  me beside the still  waters. 

What does Psalms 23:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As his shepherd, God provided David with spiritual rest and nourishment. Food for the soul is the Word of God ( Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2) that the Lord"s under-shepherds are responsible to give His people ( Ezekiel 34:1-10; John 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).

Context Summary

Psalms 23:1-6 - The Song Of The Good Shepherd
A sabbatic rest breathes through this psalm, the children's favorite; while the oldest and holiest confess that it touches an experience which still lies before them. Here is no strife, no fear, no denunciation, and no self-vindication.
Jehovah is represented as the Shepherd, the Guide, and the Host of His people. We are taught to think less of our attitude toward Him and more of His responsibility for us. The flock does not keep the shepherd, but the shepherd keeps the flock. Look away from yourself and trust Him with all, in all, and for all.
Let God see to your wants. You need nothing outside of Him. His pastures are "tender grass;" His waters, "waters of rest." He refreshes us when exhausted; heals when diseased; restores from wandering; leads in right paths, though steep; accompanies us into the valley with club for our foes and crook for the pits; spreads our table amid hatred; and protects our rear with the twin-angels, goodness and mercy! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 23

1  David's confidence in God's grace

What do the individual words in Psalms 23:2 mean?

In pastures green He makes me to lie down beside the waters still He leads me
בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־ מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי

בִּנְא֣וֹת  In  pastures 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: נָוָה  
Sense: .
דֶּ֭שֶׁא  green 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֶּשֶׁא  
Sense: grass, new grass, green herb, vegetation, young.
יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי  He  makes  me  to  lie  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: רָבַץ  
Sense: to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out.
עַל־  beside 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מֵ֖י  the  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מְנֻח֣וֹת  still 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מְנוּחָה 
Sense: resting place, rest.
יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי  He  leads  me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָהַל  
Sense: to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place or station, cause to rest, bring to a station or place of rest, guide, refresh.