Studying Tahliy (Psalm) 23 in Abariy (Hebrew) can help Scriptures students move beyond familiar English translations and examine the words, names, language, context, and meaning of the text more carefully. This five-step Abariy (Hebrew) Scriptures study method teaches students how to read the passage, work with transliteration, examine key words, compare renderings, and apply what they learn while seeking the truth of YAHUAH’s Word.
Tahliy (Psalm) 23 is one of the most familiar passages in Scriptures. Its imagery of a shepherd, green pasture, still waters, guidance, protection, provision, and dwelling with YAHUAH has made it a passage that many people can recite from memory.
But familiarity can also create a problem.
When we already know what a passage is “supposed” to say, we may stop examining what the text actually says.
A careful Scriptures student should therefore ask:
What does the Abariy (Hebrew) text say? What words are being used? What do those words communicate? What happens when an Abariy (Hebrew) word is represented by an English equivalent? And how can we examine Scriptures without allowing familiarity or tradition to replace careful study?
Promote The Truth emphasizes examining the earliest available Scriptural sources and seeking to preserve the Names, words, and meaning of Scriptures. Its Truth Scriptures Project explains that its research uses ancient textual sources and specifically discusses examining texts without the later vowel points.
That makes Tahliy (Psalm) 23 an excellent passage through which to learn a disciplined approach to Abariy (Hebrew) Scripture study.
TL;DR:
Tahliy (Psalm) 23 is a short but rich passage for learning how to study Scriptures through Abariy (Hebrew).
Transliteration can help students who are still learning the Abariy (Hebrew) script become familiar with words and pronunciation.
Important words include רעי, אחסר, מנחות, נפשי, צדק, צלמות, שבט, משענת, ירדפוני, and חסד.
Promote The Truth emphasizes examining the earliest available textual sources rather than treating a modern English translation as the final authority.
The five-step method is: Read → Transliterate → Examine Words → Compare Renderings → Apply What You Learned.
Studying Abariy (Hebrew) is not simply about learning different spellings. It is about becoming a more careful student of YAHUAH’s Word.
Table of Contents
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Tahliy (Psalm)23: The Abariy (Hebrew) Text Without Vowel Points
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Study the Whole Text with a Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) Restoration
Why Study Tahliy (Psalm) 23 in Abariy (Hebrew)?
Reading Scriptures in translation can provide access to the message, but a translation is still a rendering from one language into another.
That is why examining the language behind the translation can be valuable.
PTT’s Truth Scriptures Project describes its purpose as seeking greater clarity, transparency, and fidelity to the earliest available Scriptural sources. PTT explains that it works with ancient Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) sources used in its research.
This approach encourages students to investigate rather than simply assume.
Tahliy (Psalm) 23 is especially useful because it contains only six verses while introducing many important Scriptural concepts:
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YAHUAH as Shepherd
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provision
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lack
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rest
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restoration
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guidance
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righteousness
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fear
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protection
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YAHUAH’s presence
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goodness
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chesed
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dwelling with YAHUAH
Instead of rushing through the passage because you already know it, use Tahliy (Psalm) 23 as a Scripture study exercise.
Tahliy (Psalm) 23: The Abariy (Hebrew) Text Without Vowel Points
One important distinction must be made when studying Abariy (Hebrew).
PTT’s Truth Scriptures Project specifically discusses examining ancient Abariy (Hebrew) texts before vowel pointing was added and explains its approach of removing vowel points when examining ancient sources.
For effective study, the following is presented without vowel points:
Verse 1
מזמור לדוד יהוה רעי לא אחסר
The passage begins with the declaration that YAHUAH is the Shepherd and that the speaker will not lack.
Verse 2
בנאות דשא ירביצני על מי מנחות ינהלני
The imagery moves toward pasture, waters, rest, and being led by YAHUAH.
Verse 3
נפשי ישובב ינחני במעגלי צדק למען שמו
The passage describes restoration and guidance along paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.
Verse 4
גם כי אלך בגיא צלמות לא אירא רע כי אתה עמדי שבטך ומשענתך המה ינחמני
The peaceful imagery gives way to a valley of darkness. Yet the focus remains on YAHUAH’s presence, His rod, and His staff.
Verse 5
תערך לפני שלחן נגד צררי דשנת בשמן ראשי כוסי רויה
The imagery changes to a prepared table, oil upon the head, and an overflowing cup.
Verse 6
אך טוב וחסד ירדפוני כל ימי חיי ושבתי בבית יהוה לארך ימים
The passage concludes with goodness and chesed pursuing the speaker throughout life and with dwelling in the house of YAHUAH.
The purpose of presenting the passage this way is not simply to memorize a transliteration.
It is to encourage the student to look carefully at the actual words and their context.
Important Abariy (Hebrew) Words in Abariy (Hebrew) 23
You do not need to understand every word immediately.
A better approach is to begin with a few important words and study them carefully.
רֹעי — My Shepherd
רעי is commonly understood as “my shepherd.”
The shepherd image establishes the foundation of the entire passage.
YAHUAH is not merely described as someone who provides occasionally. He is presented as the Shepherd who leads, provides, restores, protects, and remains present.
That makes the opening statement essential to understanding everything that follows.
אחסר — I Shall Lack
The expression לא אחסר is commonly rendered along the lines of “I shall not lack.”
This is an excellent example of why students should examine individual Abariy (Hebrew) words.
Ask:
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What is the word?
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What is its root?
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Where else does it occur?
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How is it rendered in different contexts?
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Does the English rendering communicate the full idea?
These questions turn a familiar verse into an actual word study.
מנחות — Rest
מנחות appears in the description of the waters.
The context connects the word with rest and being led by YAHUAH.
Rather than automatically accepting a familiar English phrase, examine the Abariy (Hebrew) term and consider how the surrounding passage develops the idea.
נפשי — My Being / My Self
נפשי comes from the word commonly transliterated napash.
English translations often use the word “soul.”
However, a student should not assume that a single English word completely represents everything an Abariy (Hebrew) word communicates.
This is why studying occurrences and context is important.
צדק — Righteousness
צדק appears in the expression concerning paths of righteousness.
This provides an opportunity to study what righteousness means within Scriptures and how it relates to the way YAHUAH directs His people.
The passage does not present righteousness merely as an abstract concept. It connects righteousness with the path upon which YAHUAH leads.
צלמות —Deep Darkness
צלמות is another valuable study word.
Different English translations may emphasize different aspects of this expression.
Rather than immediately deciding which English wording is correct because it sounds familiar, examine the underlying Abariy (Hebrew) term, its construction, its context, and its use elsewhere.
שבט and משענת — Rod and Staff
Tahliy (Psalm) 23:4 contains two distinct expressions:
שבטך
and
משענתך
These are commonly rendered as “Your rod” and “Your staff.”
This distinction is worth noticing because English translations can sometimes make related terms appear more similar or less significant than they are in the underlying text.
The point of studying these words is not to force a conclusion.
The point is to notice what is actually present in the text.
ירדפוני — They Shall Pursue Me
The closing verse uses the verb רדף, associated with pursuing or following after.
The imagery is powerful:
טוב וחסד — goodness and chesed
are described as pursuing the speaker.
This is much more than simply reading the familiar phrase “goodness and compassion.”
Studying the underlying verb allows the student to see the strength of the imagery.
חסד — Chesed — Loyal Love / Lovingkindness
חסד (chesed) is one of the most valuable words to study in Scriptures.
It is often represented by English words such as “favor,” “lovingkindness,” or “steadfast love.”
Rather than assuming that one English equivalent completely captures the word, examine its occurrences throughout Scriptures and observe how the concept functions in different contexts.
That is how vocabulary study becomes Scriptures study.
Why Transliteration Matters
Transliteration is not a replacement for learning the Abariy (Hebrew) script.
It is a bridge.
A student who cannot yet comfortably read Abariy (Hebrew) can use transliteration to become familiar with sounds and associate those sounds with specific words.
For example: Repeating the phrase can help a beginning student become familiar with the sound and structure of the words before progressing toward reading the Abariy (Hebrew) script more confidently.
However, transliteration systems can differ.
An English transliteration is an approximation of another writing system. It should therefore not become the student’s final destination.
The goal should be:
English → Transliteration → Abariy (Hebrew)
The further a student progresses, the less dependent that student should need to be on English approximations.
Promote The Truth’s own approach places importance on examining the ancient textual sources themselves and discusses the significance of studying Abariy (Hebrew) texts without later vowel points.
The 5-Step Abariy (Hebrew) Scriptures Study Method
It is a comprehensive approach designed to deepen your understanding of the Abariy Scriptures (Hebrew Bible) by systematically analyzing the text through five essential steps. This method emphasizes the importance of studying the original Abariy (Hebrew) language, exploring historical and cultural contexts, and applying interpretative techniques to uncover the richer meanings behind the scriptures. It is widely used by students and scholars aiming to gain a more accurate and meaningful insight into the scriptural (biblical) texts.
Step 1: Read the Passage Carefully
Start by reading the entire passage.
Do not immediately stop at every difficult word.
First understand the movement of the passage.
Tahliy (Psalm) 23 progresses through a striking series of images:
Shepherd → provision → rest → restoration → righteousness → guidance → valley → protection → provision → goodness → chesed → dwelling with YAHUAH
This larger context matters.
Before examining one word, understand how that word functions within the whole passage.
Step 2: Study the Transliteration
After reading the passage, work through the transliteration.
Read it slowly.
Read it aloud.
Repeat important words.
Then compare the transliteration with the Abariy (Hebrew) script.
For example:
יהוה — YAHUAH
רעי — meaning "my shepherd" or "my friend.
אחסר — meaning "I shall lack"
צדק — meaning "righteousness"
חסד — meaning "loyal love"
Over time, this helps you move from simply recognizing English translations to recognizing the words in the Abariy (Hebrew) text.
The objective is not to make transliteration another tradition that cannot be questioned.
The objective is to use it as a learning tool.
Step 3: Examine Key Words and Roots
Choose one or two words at a time.
Do not try to study every word in a passage at once.
For Tahliy (Psalm) 23, you could begin with:
רעי → אחסר → נפשי → צדק → צלמות → חסד
For each word, create a study record containing:
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Abariy (Hebrew) spelling
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transliteration
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root
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possible meanings
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Scriptural occurrences
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surrounding context
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English renderings
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observations
This creates a personal vocabulary record that becomes increasingly valuable as you study more Scriptures.
Most importantly, do not build your understanding from a dictionary definition alone.
Context matters.
Step 4: Compare English Renderings
Now compare how different English translations render the same verse.
The purpose is not merely to decide which English translation sounds nicest.
Instead, ask:
What Abariy (Hebrew) word is behind this English word?
Then ask:
What part of the original expression is being emphasized?
And:
Could anything have been reduced, obscured, or interpreted differently during translation?
PTT’s Truth Scriptures Project describes its goal as providing a translation based on the earliest available textual sources while seeking to preserve the Names and meaning of Scriptures.
This makes comparison a useful study exercise.
Do not begin with the assumption that a familiar English rendering must automatically be correct.
Begin with the text.
Step 5: Apply What You Have Learned
Scriptures study should not end with vocabulary.
After examining the passage, ask what it teaches.
For Tahliy (Psalm) 23, consider questions such as:
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What does this passage teach about YAHUAH?
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What does it reveal about His role as Shepherd?
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What does it teach about His provision?
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What does restoration look like?
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What does it mean to walk in paths of righteousness?
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How should a person respond when walking through a difficult valley?
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What does YAHUAH’s presence mean during difficulty?
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What does the final statement about goodness and chesed communicate?
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What does it mean to dwell in the house of YAHUAH?
The objective is not simply to collect interesting Abariy (Hebrew) vocabulary.
The objective is to understand the Word of YAHUAH and allow Scriptures to shape how you live.
Why Names and Words Matter in Scriptures
PTT places significant emphasis on the importance of Scriptural Names.
Its Correct Names resource teaches that the Creator's Name is YAHUAH and argues that His Name should not be replaced by generic titles.
This principle is especially important for students who are learning how to examine Scripture carefully.
Names matter.
Words matter.
Language matters.
Context matters.
Textual sources matter.
These are not distractions from Scriptures study.
They are part of Scripture study.
PTT's resources repeatedly emphasize knowing the Name of YAHUAH and examining Scriptures from the earliest available sources. Its Correct Names material also points readers toward ancient Scriptural evidence as part of its discussion of the preservation and importance of the Name.
A careful student should therefore develop the habit of asking:
What does the text say?
What Name is actually present?
What word is being translated?
What does the surrounding context show?
What textual evidence is available?
These questions encourage a student to investigate rather than simply inherit conclusions.
Tahliym 23 and the Name of YAHUAH
One of the most important features of this passage is that the Name יהוה — YAHUAH appears in both the opening and closing of the Tahliy (Psalm).
The passage begins with:
יהוה רעי
YAHUAH is my Shepherd.
And it concludes with:
בבית יהוה
in the house of YAHUAH.
The entire passage is therefore framed around YAHUAH.
The Shepherd leads.
The Shepherd provides.
The Shepherd restores.
The Shepherd guides.
The Shepherd remains present in the valley.
The Shepherd provides even in the presence of enemies.
And the passage ends with dwelling with YAHUAH.
This is an important observation for any Scriptures student: do not study individual words in isolation from the central subject of the passage.
Continue Your Abariy (Hebrew) Scriptures Study
Tahliy (Psalm) 23 is short enough to study carefully but rich enough to demonstrate an entire study method.
Start with one verse.
Read the text.
Look at the Abariy (Hebrew).
Read the transliteration.
Identify a key word.
Study its root and usage.
Compare English renderings.
Examine the context.
Consider what the passage teaches about YAHUAH.
Then repeat the process.
You do not have to rush.
A careful study of one passage can be more valuable than quickly reading many chapters without examining what you are reading.
Promote The Truth provides resources for students who want to investigate Scriptural Names, ancient textual sources, Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) Scriptures, translation, and the Truth Scriptures Project. PTT explains that its Truth Scriptures research seeks to work from the earliest available sources and preserve the meaning and Names found within Scriptures.
The goal is not simply to learn how to pronounce a few Abariy (Hebrew) words.
The goal is to become a more careful student of Scriptures.
So begin with Tahliy (Psalm) 23.
Read the text.
Examine the words.
Question the translation.
Study the context.
Test what you learn against Scriptures.
And keep YAHUAH at the center of your study.
Read the text. Examine the words. Test the translation. Seek the truth. And keep YAHUAH at the center of the study.
— Maria
Study the Whole Text with a Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) Restoration
Tahliy (Psalm) 23 is one psalm out of a much larger body of Scriptures where the original Abariy (Hebrew) carries meaning that gets smoothed over in common translations. Promote The Truth publishes the Original Scriptures, a restoration translation built directly from ancient Abariy (Hebrew) and Aramiyt (Aramaic) manuscript sources rather than layered secondary translations, giving readers the same kind of word-level access you just practiced with Tahliy (Psalm) 23 across the entire Ta’anak and Bariyt Hadash.
The project pairs manuscript-based English rendering with attention to names and terms that many modern Bibles quietly substitute. If you want to keep building the habit this article started, download the free sample chapter of Abariym (Hebrews) 1 and see how the same word-for-word care applied here to Tahliy (Psalm) 23 carries through an entire book.