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

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

16 For 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.

17 Woe 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

Cross-references

Jeremiah 23:1 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 34:4 Classic cross-references Isaiah 56:11 Classic cross-references Hosea 4:6 Classic cross-references Luke 6:39 Classic cross-references

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלָ֑י H413 Preposition | first person common singular Take up קַח־ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular once more ע֣וֹד H5750 Adverb the equipment כְּלִ֖י H3627 Noun - masculine singular construct of a foolish אֱוִלִֽי׃ H196 Adjective - masculine singular shepherd רֹעֶ֥ה H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

John 10:1 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 34:3 Classic cross-references John 10:12 Classic cross-references Matthew 9:36 Classic cross-references Romans 14:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction behold הִנֵּֽה־ H2009 Interjection I אָנֹכִי֩ H595 Pronoun - first person common singular will raise up מֵקִ֨ים H6965 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular a shepherd רֹעֶ֜ה H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular in the land בָּאָ֗רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular who will neither לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle care for יִפְקֹד֙ H6485 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the lost הַנִּכְחָד֤וֹת H3582 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural nor לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle seek יְבַקֵּ֔שׁ H1245 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the young הַנַּ֣עַר H5289 Article | Noun - masculine singular nor heal יְרַפֵּ֑א H7495 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the broken וְהַנִּשְׁבֶּ֖רֶת H7665 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular nor לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle sustain יְכַלְכֵּ֔ל H3557 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the healthy הַנִּצָּבָה֙ H5324 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular . . . לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle but he will devour יֹאכַ֔ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the flesh וּבְשַׂ֤ר H1320 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of the choice [sheep] הַבְּרִיאָה֙ H1277 Article | Adjective - feminine singular and tear off יְפָרֵֽק׃ס H6561 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular their hooves וּפַרְסֵיהֶ֖ן H6541 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine plural

Verse 17

Cross-references

Jeremiah 23:1 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 13:3 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 8:4 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 34:2 Classic cross-references Matthew 23:13 Classic cross-references

Original words

Woe ה֣וֹי H1945 Interjection to the worthless הָֽאֱלִיל֙ H457 Article | Adjective - masculine singular shepherd רֹעִ֤י H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct who deserts עֹזְבִ֣י H5800 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct the flock הַצֹּ֔אן H6629 Article | Noun - common singular May a sword חֶ֥רֶב H2719 Noun - feminine singular . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition strike his arm זְרוֹע֖וֹ H2220 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and his right יְמִינ֑וֹ H3225 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular eye עֵ֣ין H5869 Noun - common singular construct May his arm זְרֹעוֹ֙ H2220 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular be completely withered יָב֣וֹשׁ H3001 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּיבָ֔שׁ H3001 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular and his right יְמִינ֖וֹ H3225 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular eye וְעֵ֥ין H5869 Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct utterly blinded כָּהֹ֥ה H3543 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִכְהֶֽה׃ס H3543 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular

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