Jeremiah 23:1 kjv
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:1 nkjv
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:1 niv
"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:1 esv
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:1 nlt
"What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people ? the shepherds of my sheep ? for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" | God's judgment on leaders |
| Ezekiel 34:2 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them..." | Judgment on false shepherds |
| Ezekiel 34:4 | "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, but with force and harshness you have ruled them." | Specific failures of shepherds |
| Jeremiah 50:6 | "My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them aside to the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their fold." | Lost sheep analogy |
| Micah 3:5 | "Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray..." | False prophets condemned |
| Zechariah 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be utterly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!" | Condemnation of negligent shepherd |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Contrast with Jesus, the Good Shepherd |
| John 10:12 | "He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, and whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them." | Analogy of hired hand vs. good shepherd |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God chooses; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;" | Exhortation to good shepherding |
| Acts 20:28 | "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." | Responsibility of church leaders |
| Jeremiah 10:21 | "For the shepherds have become stupid and do not consult the LORD; therefore they did not prosper, and all their sheep are scattered." | Stupidity and lack of divine guidance |
| Jeremiah 25:34 | "Wail, O shepherds, and cry! Dust yourselves in sackcloth, and wallow in it, O leaders of the flock..." | Shared woe with leaders |
| Ezekiel 13:3 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!" | Woe to those with false visions |
| Jeremiah 22:30 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Record this man as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.'" | Judgment on Jehoiakim, a corrupt leader |
| Psalm 23:1 | "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God as the ultimate Shepherd |
| Isaiah 40:11 | "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them on his breast, and gently lead those that are with young." | God's tender care for His sheep |
| Jeremiah 3:15 | "And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." | Promise of future good shepherds |
| Matthew 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 |
| John 1:16 | "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." | Jesus' provision and grace |
| Ezekiel 37:24 | "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my judgments and keep my statutes, and do them." | Messianic prophecy of one Shepherd |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 1 Meaning
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. This verse introduces a strong denunciation of the leaders, particularly the kings and priests of Israel, who were responsible for the well-being of God's people. The word "woe" signifies intense sorrow and judgment, highlighting the severity of their actions. The metaphor of shepherds and sheep is central, portraying God as the owner of the flock and the leaders as hired hands who have failed in their duty. Their failure is described as "destroying" and "scattering," indicating physical harm, spiritual neglect, and dispersion of the people.
Jeremiah 23 1 Context
Jeremiah chapter 23 addresses the corrupt leadership and false prophets of Judah during a time of significant apostasy and impending judgment. The chapter is a prelude to God’s severe pronouncements against those who mislead and exploit His people. The immediate context is the critique of the kings and religious authorities who failed to provide genuine spiritual and political leadership. They are portrayed as selfish and negligent shepherds who prioritize their own gain over the well-being of the flock. The surrounding verses in Jeremiah 23 elaborate on the judgment to come, including the dispersion of the people and the promise of a righteous King, the Messiah. Historically, this refers to a period when Judah was under the influence of foreign powers, and its own leaders were not living according to God's law, leading the nation further into sin and vulnerability.
Jeremiah 23 1 Word Analysis
Woe (אוי - 'ôy): An interjection expressing grief, distress, and condemnation. It is a strong expression of divine judgment.
to (ל - l): Preposition indicating the recipients of the woe.
the shepherds (הָרֹעִים - hā·rō·‘îm): The definite article "the" (הָ - hā) emphasizes specific shepherds, likely referring to the ruling elite, kings, princes, and religious leaders responsible for the people of Israel. The noun "shepherds" (רֹעִים - rō‘îm) comes from the root רָעָה (rā‘â), meaning to feed, tend, rule, or associate with. It carries the implication of care, leadership, and responsibility.
who destroy (הַמְאַבְּדִים - ha·ma’·’ă·bê·dîm): The masculine plural participle of the verb אָבַד (’ā·ḇaḏ), meaning to perish, to be lost, or to be destroyed. This describes their active harmful work.
and scatter (וּמְפִיצִים - ū·mə·pî·ṣîm): The conjunction "and" (וּ - ū) links this action to the previous one. The masculine plural participle of the verb פּוּץ (pûṣ), meaning to spread abroad, disperse, or scatter. This highlights the consequence of their destructive leadership – the people are scattered and unprotected.
the sheep (אֶת־צֹאן - ’eṯ-ṣō·n): The direct object marker ’eṯ and the noun צֹאן (ṣō·n), meaning flock or sheep, specifically referring to the collective people of Israel, God’s beloved flock.
of my pasture (נַחֲלָתִי - na·ḥă·lā·ṯî): Possessive pronoun attached to the noun נַחֲלָה (na·ḥă·lâ), meaning pasture, possession, or inheritance. It emphasizes that the sheep belong to God; they are His possession and His inheritance, underscoring the severity of the shepherds’ betrayal of trust.
Shepherds and Sheep Analogy: This is a pervasive metaphor in the ancient Near East and within Scripture, signifying the relationship between a ruler and his people. A good shepherd cares for, protects, feeds, and guides his flock. Bad shepherds are characterized by greed, neglect, abuse, and self-interest.
Divine Ownership and Responsibility: The phrase "my pasture" (נַחֲלָתִי) underscores that the people of Israel are God’s exclusive possession, His inheritance. The shepherds were entrusted with this precious possession and accountable to God for their stewardship.
Active Malice and Negligence: The pairing of "destroy" (’ā·ḇaḏ) and "scatter" (pûṣ) suggests both active harm and passive neglect, leading to the people's vulnerability and ruin.
Jeremiah 23 1 Bonus Section
The concept of "shepherds" extends beyond kings to include prophets and priests who failed to lead the people faithfully. False prophets often declared peace when judgment was imminent, thus scattering the sheep by misleading them about their spiritual state and God's commands. The imagery of scattering connects to the national disasters, including exiles, that befell Israel and Judah due to the unfaithfulness of both their leaders and themselves. This verse highlights the personal and communal responsibility inherent in leadership and the ultimate restoration and proper shepherding promised through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is Himself called the Good Shepherd.
Jeremiah 23 1 Commentary
This opening verse of Jeremiah 23 establishes a powerful theme of judgment against corrupt leadership. God’s lament, "Woe to the shepherds," is directed at those who were supposed to nurture and protect His people but instead caused their destruction and dispersion. This failure is a profound betrayal of trust, as the sheep are identified as God’s own pasture and inheritance. The shepherds' actions are not merely incompetent; they are actively destructive. This passage foreshadows God’s promise to provide a righteous Shepherd in the future, contrasting sharply with the unfaithful leaders of Jeremiah’s day. It also serves as an eternal warning to all leaders, especially spiritual leaders, about their accountability to God for the flock entrusted to them.