Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want — the opening of the Bible’s most beloved psalm of trust.
Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
What Psalm 23:1 means
David, once a shepherd himself, pictures God as his shepherd. A good shepherd leads, feeds, protects, and knows each sheep by name. “I shall not want” means: with a shepherd like this, I will lack nothing I truly need.
It is a confession of trust more than a claim about circumstances. The rest of the psalm walks through green pastures and dark valleys alike — held the whole way. Learning verse one by heart opens the door to one of the most comforting passages in Scripture.
Related topics
Questions about Psalm 23:1
What does Psalm 23:1 mean?
It declares that because the Lord cares for us like a shepherd — leading, providing, and protecting — we will lack nothing we truly need. It is a statement of trust in God’s care.
What does ‘I shall not want’ mean?
‘Want’ here means lack. It doesn’t promise every desire; it means that under God’s shepherding care you will not be without what you genuinely need.