Focused Passage

Zechariah 11:15-17

The Rejected Shepherd and the Worthless Shepherd

Zechariah 11 turns the restoration hope into a severe shepherd indictment: proud powers fall, exploiters devour the flock, the true shepherd is rejected and valued at thirty pieces of silver, covenant favor and unity are broken, and a worthless shepherd is raised up for judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

16For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves.

17Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto meאֵלָ֑יH413Preposition | first person common singularTake upקַח־H3947Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularonce moreע֣וֹדH5750Adverbthe equipmentכְּלִ֖יH3627Noun - masculine singular constructof a foolishאֱוִלִֽי׃H196Adjective - masculine singularshepherdרֹעֶ֥הH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Forכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionbeholdהִנֵּֽה־H2009InterjectionIאָנֹכִי֩H595Pronoun - first person common singularwill raise upמֵקִ֨יםH6965Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singulara shepherdרֹעֶ֜הH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularin the landבָּאָ֗רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularwho will neitherלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecare forיִפְקֹד֙H6485Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe lostהַנִּכְחָד֤וֹתH3582Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine pluralnorלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleseekיְבַקֵּ֔שׁH1245Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe youngהַנַּ֣עַרH5289Article | Noun - masculine singularnor healיְרַפֵּ֑אH7495Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe brokenוְהַנִּשְׁבֶּ֖רֶתH7665Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularnorלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlesustainיְכַלְכֵּ֔לH3557Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe healthyהַנִּצָּבָה֙H5324Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular. . .לֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebut he will devourיֹאכַ֔לH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe fleshוּבְשַׂ֤רH1320Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof the choice [sheep]הַבְּרִיאָה֙H1277Article | Adjective - feminine singularand tear offיְפָרֵֽק׃סH6561Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singulartheir hoovesוּפַרְסֵיהֶ֖ןH6541Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine plural
Verse 17

Original words

Woeה֣וֹיH1945Interjectionto the worthlessהָֽאֱלִיל֙H457Article | Adjective - masculine singularshepherdרֹעִ֤יH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructwho desertsעֹזְבִ֣יH5800Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructthe flockהַצֹּ֔אןH6629Article | Noun - common singularMay a swordחֶ֥רֶבH2719Noun - feminine singular. . .עַל־H5921Prepositionstrike his armזְרוֹע֖וֹH2220Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular. . .וְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand his rightיְמִינ֑וֹH3225Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singulareyeעֵ֣יןH5869Noun - common singular constructMay his armזְרֹעוֹ֙H2220Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularbe completely witheredיָב֣וֹשׁH3001Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תִּיבָ֔שׁH3001Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularand his rightיְמִינ֖וֹH3225Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singulareyeוְעֵ֥יןH5869Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular constructutterly blindedכָּהֹ֥הH3543Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תִכְהֶֽה׃סH3543Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.