He makes me lie down in green pastures;This phrase evokes the image of a shepherd providing rest and nourishment for his sheep. In the biblical context, green pastures symbolize abundance and provision. The shepherd ensures that the sheep have a place to rest and feed, reflecting God's care and provision for His people. The act of making the sheep lie down suggests a sense of safety and security, as sheep will only lie down when they feel safe and are free from fear, hunger, and tension. This imagery connects to the broader biblical theme of God as a shepherd, as seen in passages like
Ezekiel 34:14-15, where God promises to feed His flock in good pasture. The green pastures can also be seen as a type of spiritual nourishment, pointing to the sustenance found in God's Word and presence.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
The phrase "quiet waters" refers to calm and peaceful streams, which are essential for the sheep's hydration and well-being. In the arid regions of ancient Israel, finding such waters would be a sign of the shepherd's skill and care. This imagery highlights God's guidance and provision, leading His people to places of peace and refreshment. The quiet waters can symbolize the peace that comes from trusting in God, as well as the spiritual refreshment found in His presence. This idea is echoed inIsaiah 49:10, where God promises that His people will neither hunger nor thirst, and He will guide them to springs of water. The leading of the shepherd also points to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who leads believers into truth and peace, as seen inJohn 16:13.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
David- The author of
Psalm 23, David was a shepherd before becoming the king of Israel. His experiences as a shepherd inform the imagery used in this psalm.
2.
Shepherd- A metaphor for God, who guides, provides, and cares for His people as a shepherd does for his sheep.
3.
Green Pastures- Symbolic of provision, rest, and abundance. In the arid climate of Israel, green pastures would be a place of sustenance and peace.
4.
Quiet Waters- Represents peace, refreshment, and spiritual nourishment. In the Hebrew context, "quiet" or "still" waters are safe and calming, unlike rushing streams that could be dangerous.
5.
Israel- The geographical and cultural setting of the psalm, where shepherding was a common occupation and well-understood metaphor.
Teaching Points
God's Provision and RestJust as a shepherd provides for his sheep, God provides for our physical and spiritual needs. We can trust Him to lead us to places of rest and nourishment.
Spiritual RefreshmentThe quiet waters symbolize the peace and refreshment that come from a relationship with God. In a world full of chaos, God offers us tranquility and renewal.
Trust in God's GuidanceLike sheep, we may not always know the best path, but we can trust our Shepherd to lead us. This requires surrendering our own plans and following His lead.
Contentment in God's CareThe imagery of lying down in green pastures suggests contentment and security. We can find peace knowing that God is in control and cares for us deeply.
Seeking God's PresenceTo experience the green pastures and quiet waters, we must seek God's presence through prayer, scripture, and worship. This is where we find true rest and guidance.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Psalm 23:2?
2.How does Psalm 23:2 encourage us to find rest in God's provision?
3.What does "green pastures" symbolize about God's care in Psalm 23:2?
4.How can we apply "leads me beside quiet waters" to daily life?
5.Which other scriptures emphasize God's guidance and peace like Psalm 23:2?
6.How can trusting Psalm 23:2 deepen our relationship with God?
7.What does "He makes me lie down in green pastures" symbolize in Psalm 23:2?
8.How does Psalm 23:2 reflect God's provision and care for believers?
9.What historical context influenced the imagery in Psalm 23:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 23?
11.How can we resolve contradictions in the Bible?
12.What is the meaning of Psalm 23:2?
13.Psalm 23:2 – If God leads believers to “green pastures,” why does widespread suffering and famine persist among the faithful?
14.What is the meaning of Psalm 23?What Does Psalm 23:2 Mean
He makes me lie down• The phrase shows that rest is the Shepherd’s initiative, not ours. We are lovingly compelled to pause.
•Matthew 11:28–29 reminds us that the Lord Himself says, “Come to Me…and I will give you rest,” echoing the Shepherd’s insistence that His sheep cease from their striving.
•Mark 6:31 illustrates Jesus guiding the disciples away from relentless ministry for renewal.
•Ezekiel 34:15 pictures God declaring, “I Myself will tend My flock and make them lie down,” confirming the literal care promised here.
in green pastures• “Green” signals fresh, nourishing grass—an image of abundance, not scarcity. Sheep lie down only when fully satisfied, so the line affirms God’s complete provision.
•Ezekiel 34:14 speaks of the Lord feeding His flock “in a good pasture,” strengthening the visual.
•John 6:35, where Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life, shows the ultimate fulfillment of nourishment in Christ.
•Philippians 4:19 underscores the same truth: “My God will supply all your needs.”
He leads me• The Shepherd does not drive from behind; He walks ahead, inviting us to follow His example and voice.
•Psalm 32:8 promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.”
•John 10:3–4 pictures Jesus calling His own sheep by name and leading them out, stressing personal guidance.
•Isaiah 30:21 affirms that when we veer to the right or left we will hear, “This is the way; walk in it,” confirming His moment-by-moment direction.
beside quiet waters• “Quiet” (or still) waters are safe, unthreatening pools where sheep can drink without fear of rushing currents. The Shepherd’s route always includes refreshment free from needless alarm.
•Revelation 7:17 portrays the Lamb guiding His people to “springs of living water,” connecting temporal refreshment with eternal life.
•Jeremiah 31:25 promises, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
•John 7:37-38 points to Christ as the source: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink,” confirming that the peaceful waters ultimately flow from Him.
summaryPsalm 23:2 paints a literal, tender portrait of the Lord’s care. He initiates our rest, feeds us abundantly, guides us personally, and refreshes us deeply. The verse assures every believer that in the Shepherd’s presence there is satisfied stillness and steady renewal—today and forever.
(2) The verbs in these verses are not to be understood as futures, but as presents, describing the customary condition of the poet. "The psalmist describes himself as one of Jehovah's flock, safe under His care, absolved from all anxieties by the sense of this protection, and gaining from this confidence of safety the leisure to enjoy, without satiety, all the simple pleasures which make up life--the freshness of the meadow, the coolness of the stream. It is the most complete picture of happiness that ever was or can be drawn. It represents that state of mind for which all alike sigh, and the want of which makes life a failure to most; it represents that heaven which is everywhere if we could but enter it, and yet almost nowhere because so few of us can" (
Ecce Homo,5, 6).
Verse 2. -
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; literally, in grassy homesteads - " the richer, oasis-like spots, where a homestead would be fixed in a barren tract of land" (Kay).
He leadeth me beside the still waters; rather,
waters of refreshment;
ἐπὶ υ{δατος ἀναπαύσεως (LXX.).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
He makes me lie downיַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי(yar·bî·ṣê·nî)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7257:To crouch, be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbedin greenדֶּ֭שֶׁא(de·še)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1877:A sprout, grasspastures;בִּנְא֣וֹת(bin·’ō·wṯ)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4999:Habitation, house, pasture, pleasant placeHe leadsיְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃(yə·na·hă·lê·nî)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5095:To lead or guide to a watering place, bring to a place of rest, refreshme besideעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstquietמְנֻח֣וֹת(mə·nu·ḥō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4496:Repose, peacefully, consolation, an abodewaters.מֵ֖י(mê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325:Water, juice, urine, semen
Links
Psalm 23:2 NIVPsalm 23:2 NLTPsalm 23:2 ESVPsalm 23:2 NASBPsalm 23:2 KJV
Psalm 23:2 BibleApps.comPsalm 23:2 Biblia ParalelaPsalm 23:2 Chinese BiblePsalm 23:2 French BiblePsalm 23:2 Catholic Bible
OT Poetry: Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green (Psalm Ps Psa.) 
