Psalm 23

Verse 1-6 ESV

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prepare Before Memorizing and Digging Deeper 

• Read through Psalm 23 every day for 1 week
• Gather Background information:  Who wrote the Psalm, to who was it written, What kind of style is the book of Psalms.  When was it written?  
• Get the Context by asking the 5 W’s and H (Who, What, Where, Why, When and How)
• Who is speaking?
• Who are the recipients?
• Who is this about?
• What is the subject? 
• What is the setting?
• Can you identify repetitive phrases?
• Do you see any parallelism?  (Repeating structure or rhythm in successive lines Example: “He makes me lie down… He leads me… He restores…” (Psalm 23)
• Do you see any similes (use of LIKE or AS)
• Do you see any Metaphors being used (this is a direct comparison without using “like or as” 
• Do you identify any personification?  (giving human qualities to non human things
• Do you identify any hyperboles? Exaggeration for emphasis 
• Example: “My tears have been my food day and night.” Psalm 42:3 
• Identify Keywords (Click here to know how to mark Keywords for Psalm)
• Look up the word in a dictionary

Dig Deeper into keywords by looking up the word in its original form (Hebrew/Greek) by using the Blue Letter Bible Lexicon to get a better understanding of how the word is used. (Click here for instructional video)

Verse Map - Click here for an instructional video 

Choose a verse

Look up the verse in multiple translations - KJV, NIV, NASB, Amplified, Legacy are among a few options

Psalm 23 Memorization Plan

Week One - Memorize Psalm 23:1-2

Monday: Learn verse 1

Tuesday:  Review verse 1 

Wednesday: PRAY VERSE 1-2 (listen to podcast)

Thursday: Review verse 1

Friday: review verse 1 Add New Verse 23:2 then Review 1-2

Saturday: Move and Memorize (listen to podcast) Review All verses together 1-2

Sunday:  Review Verse 2 then Review All verses together 1-2

Week Two - Memorize Psalm 23:3-4

Monday:  Review Verse 1-2 then add New Verse 23:3  Review 1-3

Tuesday:  Review verse 3 then review all verses together 1-3

Wednesday: Pray verses 1-4 then review all verses together 1-3 (listen to podcast)

 Thursday:  Review verse 3 Review all verses together 1-3

Friday: review verse 3 Add New Verse 23:4  Review All verses together 1-4

Saturday: Move and Memorize  (listen to podcast) Review verses 1-4

Sunday:  Review All verses together 1-4

Week Three - Memorize Psalm 23:5-6

​Monday: Review verses 1-4, Add New Verse 23:5

Tuesday:  Review verse 5, review all verses together

Wednesday: PRAY (listen to podcast)​

Thursday: Review verse 5, review all verses

Friday: review verse 5 Add New Verse 23:6  then Review 1-6

Saturday: Move and Memorize  (listen to podcast) Review All verses together 1-6

Sunday:  Review Verse 6 then Review All verses together 1-6

How to mark the text of Psalm 23

I wanted to share a simple example of how to mark the text and create a list while studying Psalm 23. I haven’t completed every detail because part of the joy is discovering the truth for yourself.

When I mark the text, I use a few visual cues to help me slow down and soak in every word:

I mark “The Lord” with a purple triangle and fill it in with a yellow pencil.

I highlight David’s name in orange.

You can also underline, circle, or use symbols—whatever helps you engage more deeply.

Here’s an example using the ESV text:

23:1 A Psalm of David. The L‍ORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Create a list of what you learn about the Lord and David.  I provided you an example below. 

The Lord

v.1 – Is a Shepherd

v.2 – Makes David lie down in green pastures

v.2 – Leads beside still waters

v.3 – Restores the soul

David

v.1 – Author of the Psalm

v.1 – Is not in want

v.2 – Needs to be made to lie down

v.3 – Has his soul restored​

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Over at the podcast, we’re getting ready to memorize Psalm 23! Pop on over to Scripture Memory with Alicia Podcast to follow along if you’d like.

As you get ready to memorize any of the Psalms we’ll be working through, I want to suggest a great resource to use alongside your Scripture memory. I used it with both Psalm 19 and Psalm 23, and it made my time in the Word so much more fruitful. I’m sure you’ll find it helpful too.

Did you know Psalm 23 is one of the most quoted passages in the Bible? It often appears in movies during moments of reflection or crisis, and it’s commonly read at funerals. Most of you listening have probably memorized the entire psalm—or are at least familiar with it. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I haven’t memorized it yet. I’ve heard many sermons on it and studied it during a Bible class, but I’ve never truly meditated on its truths. That’s why I’m so excited to start memorizing this psalm with you!

Psalm 23 is only six verses long. That’s it, y’all—just six!

📖 As we begin learning Psalm 23, let me encourage you to:

• Read it every day for a week.
• Say it out loud daily.
• Find out who wrote it and to whom.
• Identify the main characters.
• Discover when it was written and why.
• Mark every mention of “the Lord,” including synonyms and pronouns.
• Mark every mention of David and note what you learn about him.
• Read John 10 and identify who the Good Shepherd is.
• Make a list of what you learn about the Lord.
• Make a list of what you learn about David.
• Take time to explore the descriptive words used for the Lord. What do they reveal about His nature and His care?

🧠 To stir your curiosity a bit more, here are some questions to ponder:

• What does a shepherd actually do? Are there different kinds of shepherds?
• If the Bible speaks of a good shepherd, then by contrast, what does a bad shepherd look like? Which one am I following?
• What are sheep like? Why do they need a shepherd?
• Is the Lord truly my shepherd? If not, who have I been following?
• If the Lord is my shepherd, what does that mean for both of us—practically and spiritually?
• And did you notice? The phrase is in the present tense: “The Lord is my shepherd.” So… how does that shape the way I live today?

📚 As I’ve been preparing to dive deeper into Psalm 23, I’ve also been studying outside resources to enrich our understanding. I’ve been using the New Bible Dictionary, tuning into podcasts on Psalm 23, and reading A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller.  Let me encourage you to check out the sermons and also these amazing resources to further your studies on Psalm 23! 

I think that’s plenty to ponder as you prepare to memorize Psalm 23. May your time in the Word be full of insight and rest.