AncientWord

Footnotes

YHWH/YAHWEH/Jehovah also the LORD

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Psalms 23:1 Transliteration

מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: יְהוָה רֹעִי, לֹא אֶחְסָר׃ (Mizmor le-David: YHWH ro‘i, lo ’eḥsar.)

• מִזְמוֹר (mizmor) – psalm, melody, a song with instrumental music

• לְדָוִד (le-David) – to/of David

• יְהוָה (YHWH) – YHWH (the proper name of the God of Israel)

• רֹעִי (ro‘i) – my shepherd (shepherd of me)

• לֹא (lo) – not

• אֶחְסָר (’eḥsar) – I will lack / I shall want (from חסר – to lack, be deficient)

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Psalms 23:1 Translator Notes

• YHWH is retained rather than “the LORD,” as per your preference.

• The verb אֶחְסָר (’eḥsar) is imperfect, suggesting future or ongoing sense: “I will not lack” rather than simply “I do not lack.” It implies continual provision under YHWH's shepherding.

• The term רֹעִי (ro‘i) indicates both a pastoral shepherd and a metaphorical caretaker/guide. In the ancient Near Eastern context, kings were often called “shepherds” of their people.

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Psalms 23:2 Transliteration

בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי, עַל־מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי׃ (Bin'ot deshe yarbitzeini, ‘al-mei menuchot yenahaleini.)

• בִּנְאוֹת (bin'ot) – in pastures/meadows (pl. of נָוֶה, habitation, grazing place)

• דֶּשֶׁא (deshe) – tender grass, fresh grass, young shoots

• יַרְבִּיצֵנִי (yarbitzeini) – he causes me to lie down (Hiphil imperfect, with 1st person suffix – "me")

• עַל (‘al) – upon, by, beside

• מֵי (mei) – waters of

• מְנֻחוֹת (menuchot) – rests, resting places, stillness

• יְנַהֲלֵנִי (yenahaleini) – he leads/guides me (Hiphil imperfect, 1st person suffix)

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Psalms 23:2 Translator Notes

• נְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא (ne'ot deshe) – indicates not just “green pastures” (as many translations render) but fresh, tender, sprouting grass—emphasizing renewal and early growth, a sign of provision.

• יַרְבִּיצֵנִי (yarbitzeini) – a causative form: “he causes me to lie down,” implying active guidance to rest, not merely passive lying down.

• מְנֻחוֹת (menuchot) – from נוּחַ (to rest, settle), implies places of quiet rest, not just “still waters” but waters that give rest.

• The verse carries a shepherding image of nourishment and peace, both physical and spiritual.

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Psalms 23:3 Transliteration

נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב; יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק, לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ׃ (Nafshi yeshovev; yancheni bema‘g'lei-tzedek, lema‘an shemo.)

• נַפְשִׁי (nafshi) – my soul, my life, my inner being

• יְשׁוֹבֵב (yeshovev) – he restores/returns/refreshes (Piel imperfect)

• יַנְחֵנִי (yancheni) – he leads/guides me (Hiphil imperfect, 1st person suffix)

• בְמַעְגְּלֵי (bema‘g'lei) – in/along paths, tracks, circuits (from מעגל – path, track, cycle)

• צֶדֶק (tzedek) – righteousness, justice, rightness

• לְמַעַן (lema‘an) – for the sake of, on account of

• שְׁמוֹ (shemo) – his name

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Psalms 23:3 Translator Notes

• נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) here reflects the whole inner life, vitality, not merely “soul” in the Greek dualistic sense. It means life-breath, self, being.

• יְשׁוֹבֵב (yeshovev) – Piel form of שוב (shuv, to return), meaning “to bring back, to restore, to refresh.” It carries a sense of reviving life or turning it back to vitality.

• מַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק (ma‘g'lei-tzedek) – literally “circuits/paths of righteousness.” It can imply well-worn, established tracks of what is right—not arbitrary paths.

• The phrase לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ (lema‘an shemo) shows that this guidance is rooted in God’s own reputation, covenantal faithfulness, and honor, not merely for the psalmist’s benefit.

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Heb. צַלְמָוֶת (tzalmavet) – literally “shadow of death,” often understood also as “deep darkness” or “deadly gloom.”

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Psalms 23:4 Transliteration

גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת, לֹא־אִירָא רָע, כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִי; שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ, הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי׃ (Gam ki-’elekh begei tzalmavet, lo-’ira ra, ki-atah ‘immadi; shivtekha umish‘antekha, hemah yenachamuni.)

• גַּם (gam) – also, even, though

• כִּי (ki) – though, when, because

• אֵלֵךְ (’elekh) – I walk/go (imperfect, 1st person)

• בְּגֵיא (begei) – in the valley of

• צַלְמָוֶת (tzalmavet) – deep darkness, shadow of death (compound of צֵל shadow + מָוֶת death)

• לֹא (lo) – not

• אִירָא (’ira) – I will fear (imperfect)

• רָע (ra) – evil, harm, bad

• כִּי (ki) – for, because

• אַתָּה (atah) – you

• עִמָּדִי (‘immadi) – with me

• שִׁבְטְךָ (shivtekha) – your rod (disciplinary staff, authority staff)

• וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ (umish‘antekha) – and your staff (supporting staff)

• הֵמָּה (hemah) – they

• יְנַחֲמֻנִי (yenachamuni) – they comfort me (Piel imperfect, 1st person suffix)

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Psalms 23:4 Translator Notes

• צַלְמָוֶת (tzalmavet) – traditionally rendered “shadow of death,” but it more precisely means a very deep or deadly darkness, not necessarily only the moment of dying.

• The structure גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ (gam ki-’elekh) expresses hypothetical or extreme condition: “even though I walk.”

• שֵׁבֶט (shevet) often symbolizes discipline, authority, or defense, while מִשְׁעֶנֶת (mish‘enet) is a staff of support or walking stick—together representing protection and guidance.

• The shift in pronouns is significant: in verses 1–3, God is referred to as “He”; here, in crisis, it becomes direct address: “You are with me.”

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Psalms 23:5 Transliteration

תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן, נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי; דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי, כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה׃ (Ta‘arokh lefanai shulchan, neged tzorerai; dishanta vashemen roshi, kosi revayah.)

• תַּעֲרֹךְ (ta‘arokh) – you arrange/set in order/prepare (imperfect, 2nd person)

• לְפָנַי (lefanai) – before me, in my presence

• שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan) – table, spread

• נֶגֶד (neged) – opposite, in front of, in the presence of

• צֹרְרָי (tzorerai) – my adversaries, oppressors, enemies (from צָרַר – to bind, to be hostile)

• דִּשַּׁנְתָּ (dishanta) – you fattened/anointed (Piel perfect, 2nd person)

• בַשֶּׁמֶן (vashemen) – with oil

• רֹאשִׁי (roshi) – my head

• כּוֹסִי (kosi) – my cup

• רְוָיָה (revayah) – abundance, overflowing, saturation

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Psalms 23:5 Translator Notes

• שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan) here symbolizes more than a table for food: it is a banquet setting prepared by a host, a sign of favor and covenantal hospitality.

• נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי (neged tzorerai) – the table is not hidden from enemies but prepared in their presence, displaying divine vindication.

• דִּשַּׁנְתָּ (dishanta) – literally means “you made fat” or “enriched,” here in the idiom of pouring oil on the head—an ancient sign of refreshment, honor, and consecration.

• כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה (kosi revayah) – literally “my cup saturation,” meaning filled to the point of overflowing.

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Psalms 23:6 Transliteration

אַךְ, טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי– כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּי;
וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהוָה, לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים׃

 (Akh, tov vaḥesed yirdephuni kol-yemei ḥayyai;
veshavti beveit-YHWH, le’orekh yamim.)

• אַךְ (akh) – surely, only, indeed

• טוֹב (tov) – good, goodness

• וָחֶסֶד (vaḥesed) – and covenantal kindness/steadfast love

• יִרְדְּפוּנִי (yirdephuni) – they will pursue/follow me (imperfect, 3rd person plural, with suffix “me”)

• כָּל־יְמֵי (kol-yemei) – all the days of

• חַיָּי (ḥayyai) – my life

• וְשַׁבְתִּי (veshavti) – and I will dwell/return/sit (Qal perfect with conversive meaning—can imply future)

• בְּבֵית־יְהוָה (beveit-YHWH) – in the house of YHWH

• לְאֹרֶךְ (le’orekh) – for length, for lengthening

• יָמִים (yamim) – days

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Psalms 23:6 Translator Notes

• אַךְ (akh) emphasizes certainty: “only” or “surely,” stressing unwavering assurance.

• חֶסֶד (ḥesed) is richer than “mercy”; it conveys steadfast covenantal love, loyal kindness, and favor.

• יִרְדְּפוּנִי (yirdephuni) literally means “will pursue me,” often used of enemies chasing—here it’s goodness and mercy that “hunt down” the psalmist, a reversal of imagery.

• וְשַׁבְתִּי (veshavti) can mean “I will return” or “I will dwell.” The traditional rendering is “dwell,” but some ancient traditions read “return,” implying continual coming back to God’s presence.

• לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים (le’orekh yamim) – literally “for length of days,” meaning an extended, possibly indefinite period, not strictly “forever,” but in Hebrew idiom, it can imply a lifelong or eternal perspective.

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