Psalms 23 · Verse 5

Psalms 23:5

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psalms 23:5, King James Version

Psalms 23:5 in other translations

BSBYou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
WEBYou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
ASVThou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
YLTThou arrangest before me a table, Over-against my adversaries, Thou hast anointed with oil my head, My cup is full!
DARBYThou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
BBEYou make ready a table for me in front of my haters: you put oil on my head; my cup is overflowing.
WebsterThou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

What does Psalms 23:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 23:5-6
5-6. Another figure expresses God's provided care. a table--or, "food," anointing oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Thou preparest a table before me - Here the second allegory begins. A magnificent banquet is provided by a most liberal and benevolent host; who has not only the bounty to feed me, but power to protect me; and, though surrounded by enemies, I sit down to this table with confidence, knowing that I shall feast in perfect security. This may refer to the favor God gave the poor captive Israelites in the sight of the Chaldeans who had grievously treated them for seventy years; and whose king, Cyrus, had not only permitted them now to return to their own land, but had also furnished them with every thing requisite for their passage, and for repairing the walls of Jerusalem, and rebuilding the temple of the Lord, where the sacrifices were offered as usual, and the people of God feasted on them. Thou anointest my head with oil - Perfumed oil was poured on the heads of distinguished guests, when at the feasts of great personages. The woman in the Gospel, who poured the box of ointment of spikenard on the head of our Lord (see Mat 26:6, Mat 26:7; Mar 14:8; Luk 7:46), only acted according to the custom of her own country, which the host, who invited our Lord, had shamefully neglected. My cup runneth over - Thou hast not only given me abundance of food, but hast filled my cup with the best wine.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Psalms 23:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְta.'a.Rokhyou arrangeH6186
לְפָנַ֨י\׀le.fa.Nai<to> before meH6440
שֻׁלְחָ֗ןshul.Chana tableH7979
נֶ֥גֶדNe.gedbeforeH5048
צֹרְרָ֑יtzo.re.Raiopposers myH6887
דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּdi.Shan.tayou have refreshedH1878
בַשֶּׁ֥מֶןva.She.menwith <the> oilH8081
רֹ֝אשִׁ֗יro.Shihead myH7218
כּוֹסִ֥יko.Sicup myH3563
רְוָיָֽה\׃re.va.Yah[is] saturationH7310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 23:5

  • Ephesians 3:20

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

  • Psalms 92:10

    But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

  • Psalms 45:7

    Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

  • Psalms 16:5

    The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

  • 1 John 2:20

    But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

  • Psalms 31:19-20

    Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

  • Job 36:16

    Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

  • 1 John 2:27

    But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:21

    Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

  • Isaiah 25:6

    And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16

    The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

  • John 10:9-10

    I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
preparest.
22:26,29; 31:19,20; 104:15; Job 36:16; Isa 25:6; Joh 6:53-56
Joh 10:9,10; 16:22
thou anointest. Heb. makest fat.
45:7; 92:10; Am 6:6; Mt 6:17; 2Co 1:21; 1Jo 2:20,27
my cup.
16:5; 116:13; 1Co 10:16; Eph 3:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 23:4

    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  • Psalms 23:5

    Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

  • Psalms 23:6

    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Read all of Psalms 23

Psalms 23:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Aderezarás mesa delante de mí, en presencia de mis angustiadores: ungiste mi cabeza con aceite: mi copa está rebosando.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Tu dresses devant moi une table, en la présence de mes ennemis; tu as oint ma tête d’huile, ma coupe est comble.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Du bereitest vor mir einen Tisch angesichts meiner Feinde; du hast mein Haupt mit Öl gesalbt, mein Becher fließt über.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
hic accipiet benedictionem a Domino, et misericordiam a Deo salutari suo.