Examining misquoted, misused, and misapplied Bible verses.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4 EHV).

This may blow your mind if you can get your brain wrapped around it: Not everything we say in English should be understood literally.

For example, I doubt that the previous statement literally made your mind explode or that you physically twisted your brain around it.

Such phrases are called idioms. The Bible contains a boatload of idioms. Not everything we read in the Bible should be understood literally.

I’m not saying that the Bible isn’t literally true or is open to subjective interpretation. The Bible is God’s Word. God says what he means and means what he says.

But God chose to reveal his truth to us in human language. Every language of the world, including Hebrew and Greek (the original languages of the Bible), utilizes idioms and other figures of speech to communicate. As we read the Bible, we need to pay attention to common figures of speech (like metaphors, similes, and hyperbole), as well as idioms, so we can understand the literal truths God is revealing to us.

A good example of such idiomatic speech can be found in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

The context

Psalm 23 is an extended metaphor. According to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, a metaphor is “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.” In other words, a metaphor is a comparison.

In Psalm 23, David calls the Lord a “shepherd.” David was not saying that God literally tends sheep in a field. In the same way, by calling God our shepherd, David was not calling us literal sheep. This is an analogy—a comparison.

Just as a shepherd provides for his sheep by lead- ing them to green pastures and clean drinking water, God provides for our material needs (v. 2). As Luther wrote, “[God] . . . richly and daily [provides] clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle, and all I own, and all I need to keep my body and life” (The Apostles’ Creed, Explanation of the First Article).

Our Good Shepherd provides not only for our physical needs but also for our spiritual ones (v. 3). He restores our souls and leads us in paths of righteousness with his Word and sacraments. Our Good Shepherd provides all we need for body and soul.

Then in verse 4, David reminds us why we never need to be afraid. Our Good Shepherd is with us. He protects us like a shepherd who protects his sheep with his rod and staff.

That’s why we don’t need to be afraid, even when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

A Hebrew idiom

When most people read that phrase, they think David was saying that we don’t need to be afraid of death or dying. In the Hebrew language, however, the phrase “shadow of death” was an idiom that means “extraordinarily dark.”

David’s focus wasn’t on death but on the darkness.

In other words, David was saying, “Even though I walk through the darkest of valleys, I will fear no evil.” In ancient times, traveling through a dark valley was dangerous. You could get lost or injured. Robbers could hide and attack.

A modern paraphrase might sound something like, “Even though I walk through a dark alleyway in a dangerous part of town at 2 a.m., I will fear no evil.” When we find ourselves in the darkest and scariest places and moments in our lives, we don’t need to be afraid. Our Good Shepherd is by our side the entire way, protecting us with his rod and staff.

We don’t have to be afraid, even when we walk through the valley of cancer, find ourselves in the dark days of divorce, or see the economy crumbling or war raging around us. Our Good Shepherd will watch over us and make sure it works together for our good (Romans 8:28).

That being said, the phrase “the valley of the shadow of death” also includes the dark days of death. Even as we stand at the bedside of our loved ones watching them take their final breaths—even as we close our own eyelids in death—we don’t need to be afraid. Our Good Shepherd will be by our side the entire time.

Remember, this is the Good Shepherd who gave his life for us, his sheep. This is the Good Shepherd who suffered our punishment in our place. This is the Good Shepherd who rose on the third day and conquered death so that we could be sure that we will live even though we die. This is the Good Shepherd who, at our dying breath, will lead us home to heaven.

In the end, it’s not wrong to think of death when we hear the phrase “the valley of the shadow of death.” But understand, David was saying much more than that. When we face deep valleys, when we find ourselves in danger or even facing death, we never have to be afraid. Our Good Shepherd is with us every step of the way.

Literally.

For further thought or discussion

Your teenage daughter is engaging in risky behavior. She defends her carelessness by saying, “God promises to protect me wherever I go.” What Scripture passages could you use to help her see that she shouldn’t use God’s promises as an excuse for such behavior?

This is the fourth article in a series on misunderstood Bible verses.

Dive deeper into the topic of biblical interpretation with Pastor Andrew Schroer during a live online Bible study at 4 p.m. CDT on August 17. Stay tuned for further information at forwardinchrist.net/online-study.

Author: Andrew Schroer
Volume 112, Number 07
Issue: July 2025

Bringing God’s Word into focus

How can a Christian know if the Bible is speaking literally or figuratively? The reader should take the words of Scripture in their simple, literal sense unless the context or parallel passages indicate otherwise.

For example, Jesus usually began his parables by saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like . . .” With those words, he is letting us know that what is coming next is a comparison and not meant to be understood literally. Common sense will also make us aware of ordinary figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, and hyperbole.

A good Bible commentary (like The People’s Bible series produced by Northwestern Publishing House) will also help a reader recognize idiomatic speech, especially as it is found in the original languages of the Bible.