Psalm 32:1

2637 [e] 3808 [e] 7462 [e] 3068 [e] 1732 [e] 4210 [e]
’eḥ·sār. rō·‘î, Yah·weh lə·ḏā·wiḏ; miz·mō·wr

אֶחְסָֽר׃

לֹ֣א

רֹ֝עִ֗י

יְהוָ֥ה

לְדָוִ֑ד

מִזְמ֥וֹר

I shall want not my shepherd Yahweh [is] of David A Psalm

I was recently discussing Psalm 23:1 with a friend, specifically the ‘want’ aspect of “I shall not want”. If ‘want’ is seen as desire, it would be as if the writer does not want a shepherd. Want here is not related to desire but need or insufficiency; chaser – חָסֵר – to lack, need, be lacking, decrease – khaw-sare’,

The archetypal Shepherd is used through the Bible as the one who cares for the sheep, people. This is said of God and His kings. In Jesus of Nazareth we have the King of Kings and the Good Shepherd in the anointed Christ.

“The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want” is stating that God is the shepherd who provides for all of our needs and protection. Calling Jesus the good shepherd in the New Testament, links Jesus directly to YHWH,

Calling a king a shepherd is somewhat common in the ancient world. I have added a few examples below.

Additional Ancient Texts