Bible Dictionary
SHADOW OF DEATH
“The shadow of death” is poetic language for deep darkness, danger, distress, or the realm of death. It pictures the darkness through which God guides and preserves His people.
Definition
The shadow of death is poetic language for thick or deep darkness. It may describe the darkness of danger, distress, Sheol, or the threatening conditions through which people pass. The expression portrays a place or condition of profound gloom rather than merely ordinary shade.
Biblical Usage
Biblical writers use the phrase for Sheol, deep distress, danger, and the darkness surrounding death. In the psalm describing the shepherd’s care, it represents the dark valley through which God’s people may be led without fear.
Historical Background
The Hebrew word may combine terms for shadow and death. The imagery was probably drawn from deep ravines darkened by overhanging growth, through which shepherds sometimes led their flocks to better pastures.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(tsalmaweth): The Hebrew word translated "shadow of death" is used poetically for thick darkness (Job 3:5), as descriptive of Sheol (Job 10:21 f; 12:22; 38:17); figuratively of deep distress (Job 12:22; 16:16; 24:17; 28:3; 34:22 (in the last three passages the American Standard Revised Version has "thick darkness" and "thick gloom"); Ps 23:4, the Revised Version margin "deep darkness (and so elsewhere)"; 44:19; 107:10,14; Isa 9:2; Jer 2:6; 13:16; Am 5:8; Mt 4:16; Lu 1:79, skia thanatou). The Hebrew word is perhaps composed of tsel, "shadow," and maweth, "death," and the idea of "the valley of the shadow of death" was most probably derived from the deep ravines, darkened by over-hanging briars, etc., through which the shepherd had sometimes to lead or drive his sheep to new and better pastures.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>