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Psalm 23 · a question people ask

Does "I shall lack nothing" mean I'll never be in need?

In the text

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing" (23:1). Lack is chaser, "lack, need, be lacking, decrease" (Brown-Driver-Briggs) (tap lack). The psalm goes on to say what the shepherd gives: rest in green pastures and beside still waters (23:2), a restored soul and the paths of righteousness (23:3), his presence in the valley (23:4), a table, oil and a full cup (23:5). The same psalm walks through "the valley of the shadow of death" (23:4), and its table is set "in the presence of my enemies" (23:5). Deuteronomy has the verb for Israel's forty years in the wilderness: "These forty years, the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing" (Deuteronomy 2:7). And another psalm says, "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing" (Psalm 34:10). The psalm doesn't say more than this about what nothing covers, and these notes don't add a promise to its words.

The verses

“A Psalm by David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.”
Psalm 23:1-5 · World English Bible
“For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has known your walking through this great wilderness. These forty years, the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”
Deuteronomy 2:7 · World English Bible
“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”
Psalm 34:10 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 23

Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd

Psalm 23 speaks about the LORD until the valley, then speaks to him: "for you are with me" (23:4). Its "still waters" are, in Hebrew, waters of rest. And the goodness and loving kindness that "follow" the psalmist (23:6) pursue him, with the verb other psalms use for enemies.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions