Chiasmus / Literary Structure
The Chiastic Structure of Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 23:1-6 (Psalm 23 - The Lord Is My Shepherd) is arranged as a chiasm— an ancient mirror pattern (A-B-C-B′-A′) in which ideas repeat in reverse order around a central pivot. The structure turns on its center: “EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME”. The beloved shepherd psalm forms a chiasm with the fearless walk through the valley of death as the central pivot point.
The Mirror Pattern
- A
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want
Psalm 23:1
- B
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters
Psalm 23:2
- C
He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness
Psalm 23:3
- X
EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME
Psalm 23:4
Central pivot — the emphasized point
- C'
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me
Psalm 23:4b
- B'
You prepare a table before me; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows
Psalm 23:5
- A'
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever
Psalm 23:6
Indentation shows the nesting toward the central pivot and back out — the hallmark of a chiasm.
Why the Structure Matters
In a chiasm, the author’s main point is placed at the center rather than the end. Reading Psalm 23:1-6 as a mirror pattern draws the eye to its pivot — “EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME” — as the key the passage turns on. Recognizing the structure changes how the passage is read and preached.