Jeremiah 10:21 kjv
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jeremiah 10:21 nkjv
For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jeremiah 10:21 niv
The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.
Jeremiah 10:21 esv
For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
Jeremiah 10:21 nlt
The shepherds of my people have lost their senses.
They no longer seek wisdom from the LORD.
Therefore, they fail completely,
and their flocks are scattered.
Jeremiah 10 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 10:21 | For the shepherds have become stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered. | Primary reference |
| Ps 74:1 | O God, why have you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? | God's anger against His people |
| Ezek 34:2-6 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, saying to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, and the lost you have not sought, and with force and with rigor you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they became food for all the wild beasts without a shepherd, and my sheep were scattered without a shepherd, and my sheep were scattered, and no one cared for them and no one searched for them. | Prophecy against negligent shepherds |
| Ezek 34:8 | As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, | Condemnation of shepherds |
| Zeph 3:3-4 | Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till the morning. Her prophets are volatile, treacherous traders; her priests have profaned what is sacred; they have done violence to the law. | Spiritual leaders' failures |
| 1 Sam 2:31-34 | Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your army and the army of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house anymore. Then you will look on your affliction in all the prosperity which God will do for Israel, and there will not be an old man in your house anymore. But I will retain for myself one who shall be among you in the future, who will stand on my behalf. And the one who remains to you shall be of a priestly lineage, whom you will see upon my stones, a burning fire among my priests. The cry of Israel shall be given into the hand of a ruler from my house. And you shall witness My might. You shall eat, and be satisfied, and shall possess that which I have taken away. And my house shall be forever my dwelling. But if you shall give heed to all these things, you shall surely be repaid for your stubbornness. | Warning against priestly pride and consequence |
| Jer 8:8-12 | How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it a lie. The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; so what wisdom is in them? Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to those who will inherit them, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they knew not how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; when I punish them, they shall be cast down, says the LORD. | False prophets and leaders |
| Isa 56:10-11 | His watchmen are blind and ignorant; they are all dumb dogs that cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. The dogs have a mighty appetite, they never have enough. And they are shepherds who have no understanding; they all turn to their own way, each to his gain. | Description of unfaithful watchmen/shepherds |
| Matt 9:36 | When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. | Jesus' compassion for the lost |
| Acts 20:28-30 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among yourselves men will arise, speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. | Warning to elders about protecting the flock |
| John 10:11-13 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who owns not the sheep, that when he sees the wolf coming he leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares not for the sheep. | The Good Shepherd |
| 1 Pet 5:1-4 | So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is about to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineeering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. | Exhortation to shepherds |
| Ps 106:6-7 | We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God. We have been told by our elders that God has not commanded them to guard them and guide them | Confession of national sin |
| Jer 2:8 | The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. | Priests and rulers failing their duties |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priests to me. And because, remembering all the teaching of your God, you have forgotten the offerings that I have made for your sins. | Rejecting knowledge |
| Isa 3:12 | My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and confuse the path of your ways. | Guides misleading the people |
| Ps 119:118 | You put aside all those who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. | God dealing with those who stray |
| Jer 50:6 | “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them aside on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their fold. | Lost sheep |
| Prov 20:1 | Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | Folly from intoxication |
| 1 Cor 3:19 | For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness,” | Worldly wisdom is foolishness |
| Ps 107:40 | He pours contempt on nobles and makes them wander in a pathless waste. | Divine judgment on nobles |
| Zech 11:15-17 | Then the LORD said to me, “Take again the implements of a foolish shepherd. For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not seek the lost, or control the strayed, or heal the injured, or sustain the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off their hoofs. Woe to my useless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be made utterly wither, and his right eye be made utterly blind!” | Judgment on the useless shepherd |
| Mal 2:8-9 | But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your teaching, and you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts... so I will make you despised and common before all the people, because you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your teaching.” | Corruption of covenant by priests |
| Neh 9:36-37 | “Here we are, slaves today! And as for the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good increase, here we are, slaves in its land. And its rich produce is for the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have dominion over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great affliction.” | Sin leading to subjugation |
Jeremiah 10 verses
Jeremiah 10 21 Meaning
The people, referred to by God, have acted foolishly. Their leaders are shepherds who lack understanding, leading the people astray like sheep. This foolishness has resulted in their ruin.
Jeremiah 10 21 Context
Jeremiah 10:17-25 describes the judgment of God against Jerusalem. This specific verse, Jeremiah 10:21, immediately follows the prophet's observation of the destructive and devastating actions of Israel's leaders, referred to as shepherds. The historical context is that the people of Judah are facing imminent destruction and exile at the hands of the Babylonians due to their continued sin and rebellion against God. The nation's leadership, particularly the priests and rulers, have failed in their spiritual and political duties, leading the populace into ruin. This verse acts as a powerful indictment of this leadership. The surrounding verses speak of God's imminent judgment and His righteous anger, which is evoked by the unfaithfulness of both the people and their shepherds.
Jeremiah 10 21 Word Analysis
- כִּֽי (ki): "for," "because," "indeed." This conjunction introduces the reason for the preceding or subsequent statement. Here, it signals that what follows is the cause for the people's plight.
- הַסֹּפְגִים (ha-sop̄egim): "the shepherds." The definite article "ha" precedes the noun "sop̄egim," the plural of "sōpeh," which literally means "watcher," "overseer," or "shepherd." In a metaphorical sense, it refers to leaders, especially those responsible for guiding and protecting a community.
- נֶחְבָּ֑לוּ (neḥebbalu): "have acted foolishly," "have become stupid," "have acted senselessly." This verb from the root "ḥābal" carries a strong sense of moral and practical failure, often involving recklessness and lack of foresight, leading to negative consequences.
- וְאֶת־יהוה (wə’et-Yahweh): "and the LORD." "Wə" is "and." "’et" is a preposition indicating the direct object. Here, it marks Yahweh as the one whom the shepherds did not inquire of.
- לֹא (lō): "not." A straightforward negation.
- דָּרָ֔שׁוּ (darāšu): "inquire of," "seek," "consult." From the verb "dāraš," meaning to seek, search out, inquire, especially of God for guidance or direction.
- עַל־כֵּ֛ן (‘al-kēn): "therefore," "for this reason." It connects the shepherds' failure to inquire of God with the subsequent negative outcome.
- לֹ֥א (lō): "not." Again, negation.
- הִצְלִ֖יחוּ (hiṣlīḥu): "prospered," "succeeded," "were successful." From the verb "ṣālaḥ," meaning to succeed, prosper, make progress, often indicating God's favor or blessing leading to positive results.
- וְכָל־ (wəḵāl): "and all." Connects the previous failure with the comprehensive nature of its consequence.
- מִרְעִיתָ֗ם (mir‘ītām): "their flocks," "their pasture." From "mir‘eh," meaning pasture or flock. The suffix "-ām" means "their." It refers to the people under their care, the sheep God entrusted to them.
- נָפָ֑צוּ (nāp̄aṣu): "were scattered," "dispersed." From the verb "p̄ûṣ," meaning to scatter, spread abroad. It describes the fragmentation and dispersion of the people due to the failure of their leaders.
Words-group analysis:
- "the shepherds have become stupid and do not inquire of the LORD": This phrase encapsulates the core failure. The leaders, meant to guide, have lost wisdom and crucially, have neglected their essential duty of seeking God's counsel. This absence of divine guidance is the root cause of their problems.
- "therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered": This segment highlights the direct consequences. Their lack of wisdom and spiritual disconnect from God result in national failure ("not prospered") and complete disarray of the people ("flocks scattered"), a common metaphor for God's people under poor leadership.
Jeremiah 10 21 Bonus Section
The imagery of shepherds and scattered sheep is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often employed by prophets to critique corrupt leadership and lament the spiritual state of God's people. This metaphor underscores the deep pastoral responsibility that God places upon those He appoints to lead. When leaders fail in this duty, it is not just a political or social failure, but a profound spiritual one with devastating consequences, directly impacting the very sheep God loves and cares for. The ultimate contrast to these failed shepherds is found in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who willingly lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11), demonstrating the true essence of divine leadership and care.
Jeremiah 10 21 Commentary
This verse presents a stark contrast between the divine ideal of leadership and the devastating reality of failed leadership. Shepherds in the ancient Near East were expected to be vigilant, wise, and responsible for the well-being of their flocks. In Jeremiah's time, the spiritual and political leaders of Judah had abandoned these responsibilities. Their "stupidity" was not an intellectual deficiency but a spiritual one, stemming from their failure to "inquire of the LORD." This means they had turned away from seeking God's will through prayer, prophetic counsel, or the Law. Consequently, their actions and decisions lacked divine direction and wisdom. The result was catastrophic: they "did not prosper," and their people, their "flocks," were "scattered." This scattering implies a breakdown of societal order, loss of security, and a dispersion of the people, leading to vulnerability and destruction. The verse serves as a timeless warning that neglecting God's guidance in leadership inevitably leads to ruin for both the leaders and those they govern.