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Psalms 23 Translations

Better Essays

The passage that is going to be examined is Psalms 23:1-6 from the Old Testament. This is the passage where David declares The Lord his shepherd. Though there aren’t a lot of big differences between different translations, there are some. The three translations that are going to be used are the American Standard Version (ASV), The New International Version (NIV), and the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Most of the differences are in the changing of how they said certain words. A couple of differences noticed were that in the ASV Psalms 23:1, it has “Jehovah is my shepherd” instead of “The Lord is my shepherd” like the other two translations. It also replaces the Lord’s name in the ASV in verse 6 where it says, “And I shall dwell in the house …show more content…

The rest of the psalm, “explains how God fulfills the role of a good shepherd”, unlike the kings in the past. (McCann 767). To some people verses 2-3 give off the image of peace, and to some, such as the writer of this commentary, it shows that God’s, “primary intent is to say that God keep the psalmist alive.” (McCann 767). These verses show how God is the shepherd and we are the sheep. He makes us lay in green land means to give us (the sheep) food from grass, and to lead us to waters so we can drink and stay replenished (McCann 768). In verses 3-4, it shows that God keeps us alive and guides us out of danger and into safety. In verse 4, the threat of death and darkness is there but we aren’t going in it alone, we have God to be our protector from it. The phrase “darkest valley” or “the valley of the shadow of death” as said in the NIV translation, comes from, “the historical setting of Isiah 40-55 that of exile”, in Israel. (McCann 768). Even in the darkest days such as in Israel, God will provide for you and guide you through it. The mentioning of the staff and the rod continue the metaphor because the shepherds carry a staff to help guide the sheep’s. The rod signifies power and authority over the sheep’s as it God’s power does over us. The metaphor of the rod or staff shows how God’s power and control comfort us by him being able to lead us against all power and evil. In verses 5-6, God is seen to be, “portrayed as a gracious host.” (McCann 768). …show more content…

God is in active pursuit of the psalmist!” (McCann 768). This tells us that God is in active pursuit to us to show and give us mercy and goodness, which is, “also reminiscent of God’s self-revelation to Moses”, which is told to be a reason for praising God. (McCann 768). Lastly, the mention of “the house of the Lord”, per the commentary, could “indicate the Temple, and along with the mention of ‘a table’ in v. 5, may be a clue to the psalm’s original cultic setting.” (McCann 769). This could be an indication that this psalm was used at a meal gathering from a worshiper (McCann 769). It could also mean that you are in God’s house and at his table and you are his guests that he is hosting. It could be a place where you are safe and that the Lord uses to protect you. You are there your whole life because the Lord is always with you and will always protect

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