Psalms 23:2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,.... Or "pastures of tender grass" (t); this is one part of the shepherd's work, and which is performed by Christ, Ezekiel 34:14; by these "green pastures"

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. In green pastures. The Hebrew [ nª'owt (H4999)] for "pastures" implies their desirableness [from 'aawah, to desire].

To lie down; to rest and repose myself at noon, as the manner was in those hot countries. See . In green pastures; where there is both delight and plenty of provisions. He leadeth me, lest I should wander and perish. Heb. he leadeth me sweetly and gently, accommodating himself to mine infirmities, as shepherds do to their sheep, 49:10. Beside; or, to; the particle al being oft put for el, as 16:7. The still waters; quiet and gentle waters, either put into watering-troughs, or running in small and shallow channels; which are opposed to great rivers, which both affright the sheep with their noise, and expose them to the danger of being carried away by their swift and violent streams whilst they are drinking at them.

Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.Ver. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures] In folds of budding grass, where he feedeth me daily and daintily, plentifully and pleasantly, as among the lilies, Son 6:3; that is, amidst the ordinances (David here seemeth to resemble powerful and flourishing doctrine to green pastures, and the secret and sweet comforts of the sacraments to the still waters), where I shall not need to bite on the bare ground, but may go in and out, and find pasture, John 10:9, such as will breed life, and life in more abundance, John 10:10 Isaiah 49:10; fat pastures he provideth, Ezekiel 34:14; and fair cotes, or coverts from the sun’ s heat, as the word here used may also be rendered. Confer Son 1:6-7. Virgil saith, it is the office of a good shepherd, Aestibus in mediis umbrosam exquirere vallem. He leadeth me (Heb. gently leadeth me) beside the still waters] Heb. waters of rests, Ex quibus diligunt oves bibere, saith Kimchi, such as sheep love to drink of, because void of danger, and yielding a refreshing air. Popish clergymen are called the inhabitants of the sea, Revelation 12:12, because they set abroad gross, troubled, brackish, and sourish doctrine, which rather bringeth barrenness to their hearers, and gnaweth their entrails, than quencheth their thirst or cooleth their heat (Brightman). The doctrine of the gospel (like the waters of Siloah, Isaiah 8:6), run gently, but taste pleasantly. Lens fluit Nilus, sed cunctis anmibus extat Utilior (Claud.).

(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] בנאות דשא binoth deshe, not green pastures, but cottages of turf or sods, such as the shepherds had in open champaign countries; places in which themselves could repose safely; and pens thus constructed where the flock might be safe all the night. They were enclosures, and enclosures where they had grass or provender to eat. Beside the still waters.] Deep waters, that the strongest heat could not exhale; not by a rippling current, which argues a shallow stream. Or perhaps he may here refer to the waters of Siloam, or Shiloah, that go softly, Isaiah 8:6, compared with the strong current of the Euphrates. Thou hast brought us from the land of our captivity, from beyond this mighty and turbulent river, to our own country streams, wells, and fountains, where we enjoy peace, tranquillity, and rest. The old Psalter gives this a beautiful turn: On the water of rehetyng forth he me broght. On the water of grace er we broght forth, that makes to recover our strengthe that we lost in syn. And reheteis (strengthens) us to do gude workes. My saule he turned, that es, of a synful wreche, he made it ryghtwis, and waxyng of luf in mekeness. First he turnes our sautes til hym; and then he ledes and fedes it. Ten graces he telles in this psalme, the qwilk God gyfs til his lufers, (i.e., them that love him.)

2. The figure of the shepherd is expanded. He makes his flock lie down in the noontide heat (Son 1:7) in pastures of tender grass. For this picture of the shepherd’s care cp. Jeremiah 33:12. He leadeth me] The word suggests the idea of gentle guidance (Isaiah 40:11); sometimes of sustaining and providing (Genesis 47:17 R.V. marg.) So here Vulg. educavit. It is specially applied to God’s guidance of His people (Exodus 15:13; Psalms 31:3; Isaiah 49:10). the still waters] Lit. waters of rest: not gently-flowing streams, but streams where they may find rest and refreshment (Isaiah 32:18). So Jerome: super aquas refectionis. The Promised Land was to be Israel’s rest (Deuteronomy 12:9; Psalms 95:11). It will be remembered that “the eastern shepherd never drives, but always leads his sheep,” and that “in the East the sheep requires water daily, owing to the heat and dryness of the climate.” Tristram’s Nat. Hist. of the Bible, pp. 140, 141. With Psalms 23:1-2 comp. Revelation 7:17.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - Margin, “Pastures of tender grass.” The Hebrew word rendered “pastures” means usually “dwellings,” or “habitations.” It is applied here properly to

2. Green pastures—Pastures of budding or tender grass. The word desheh denotes the tender shoots, (Deuteronomy 32:2; 2 Samuel 33:4,) as distinguished from ripe grass, which is expressed by another word.