PSALM 23:4

“I will fear no evil”

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT

This is the 4th verse of Psalm 23, the most popular Psalm in the Bible. In this verse the “valley of the shadow of death” refers to the Kidron Valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives which is also a cemetery since biblical times and where many tombs continue to be added still today.

To get what Psalm 23:4 means in detail, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.

Verse Picture

Verse with Popularity

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Very high popularity: 14,800 searches a month
Popularity relative to other verses in Psalm chapter 23 using average monthly Google searches.

Psalm 23:4 Translation & Meaning

What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].

KJV Verse Original Hebrew Meaning/ Definition
This is a simplified translation of the original Hebrew word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail.
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Use the buttons below to get details on the Hebrew word and view related Bible verses that use the same root word.
Yea, גַּ֤ם Properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and Yea
though כִּֽי (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed though
I walk אֵלֵ֨ךְ To walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) walk
through the valley בְּגֵ֪יא A gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) through valley
of the shadow of death, צַלְמָ֡וֶת Shade of death, i.e., the grave (figuratively, calamity) shadow death
I will fear אִ֘ירָ֤א To fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten fear
no לֹא Not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles no
evil: רָ֗ע Bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) evil
for כִּי (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed for
thou אַתָּ֥ה Thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you thou
art (No Hebrew definition. English implied.)
with עִמָּדִ֑י Along with with
me; thy rod שִׁבְטְךָ֥ A scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan rod
and thy staff וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ Support (abstractly), i.e., (figuratively) sustenance or (concretely) a walking-stick staff
they הֵ֣מָּה They (only used when emphatic) they
comfort יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ Properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself) comfort
me. יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ Properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself) me

Verse Context

See Psalm 23:4 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.

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

  • 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

  • 4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  • 5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

  • 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.




Sources:

The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.


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