Jeremiah 23:2 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 23:2 kjv
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:2 nkjv
Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:2 niv
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:2 esv
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:2 nlt
Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds: "Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them.
Jeremiah 23 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 23:1 | Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! | Introduction to the prophecy against bad shepherds |
| Jer 23:3-4 | Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock...and raise up shepherds. | God promises to gather His people and appoint good ones |
| Ezek 34:2-4 | Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed only themselves! You have not strengthened the weak... | Parallel condemnation of negligent shepherds |
| Ezek 34:10 | I will hold the shepherds accountable for my flock. | God demands accountability from failing leaders |
| Ezek 34:11-16 | For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I myself will search for my sheep... | God's promise to personally shepherd His scattered people |
| Zech 11:15-17 | For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care... | Prophecy of a foolish shepherd and judgment |
| Zech 13:7 | "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;" | Scattering as a result of striking the leader |
| Jn 10:11-13 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... | Jesus contrasts himself with hired hands/bad shepherds |
| 1 Pet 5:2-4 | Shepherd the flock of God that is among you... And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive... | Call for faithful pastoral leadership, future reward |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God as the ultimate, caring Shepherd |
| Ps 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! | God's enduring role as Israel's Shepherd |
| Isa 40:11 | He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms. | Prophecy of God's tender care and gathering |
| Deut 28:64 | And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples... | Consequence of disobedience is scattering |
| Jer 9:16 | I will scatter them also among the nations... | God's active role in scattering as judgment |
| Jer 25:34-36 | Wail, you shepherds, and cry out... For the days of your slaughter... | Woe pronounced specifically on leaders leading to ruin |
| 1 Sam 2:30-36 | ...those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed... | Principle of judgment for dishonoring God in leadership |
| Isa 3:12-15 | My people—infants are their oppressors... the Lord will enter into judgment with the elders... | God's judgment against corrupt rulers/elders |
| Jer 21:12 | O house of David! Thus says the LORD: "Execute justice in the morning..." | Call for righteous governance to avoid judgment |
| Matt 25:40 | "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." | Care for God's people is care for God Himself |
| Acts 20:28-29 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock... For I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in. | Apostolic warning against false/neglectful leaders |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls... | Responsibility of leaders and their accountability |
| Jam 3:1 | Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. | Elevated accountability for those in teaching/leadership roles |
| Matt 23:2-4 | The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat... but they do not practice what they preach. | Condemnation of hypocritical religious leaders |
Jeremiah 23 verses
Jeremiah 23 2 meaning
Jeremiah 23:2 presents God's indictment against the unfaithful leaders of Israel, metaphorically called "shepherds." These leaders, who were tasked with caring for God's people, are accused of actively scattering His flock and neglecting their responsibilities. As a consequence of their egregious failure, the Lord declares His intention to visit them with judgment for their evil deeds. It emphasizes divine ownership of the people and the solemn accountability of those in leadership.
Jeremiah 23 2 Context
This verse immediately follows Jeremiah 23:1, which pronounced "woe" on the shepherds. Chapter 23 as a whole begins with this powerful indictment against the failed leaders of Judah—kings, priests, and false prophets—who were supposed to guide and protect God's people but instead exploited, neglected, and led them astray. This prophecy directly addresses the historical situation of Judah during the late monarchy (kings like Jehoiakim and Zedekiah), whose policies and spiritual failures contributed to the nation's decline and impending exile to Babylon. God contrasts their catastrophic failure with His own commitment to His people, promising a future true Shepherd and a righteous king from the line of David. The "scattering" was not only spiritual but also the literal dispersion of the Judean population through successive Babylonian invasions and deportations.
Jeremiah 23 2 Word analysis
- Therefore (לָכֵן - lāḵēn): Indicates a logical consequence, connecting this divine declaration to the "woe" pronounced in the preceding verse.
- thus says (כֹּה אָמַר - kōh ’āmar): A definitive prophetic formula asserting divine origin and absolute authority behind the message.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): God's covenant name, signifying His enduring and faithful relationship with Israel, and His sovereign power.
- the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ’ĕlōhê yiśrā’ēl): Emphasizes His unique authority and ownership over His chosen nation, highlighting the grave nature of their leaders' failure.
- concerning the shepherds (עַל הָרֹעִים - ‘al hārō‘îm): Explicitly identifies the target of the judgment: the rulers (kings), religious leaders (priests, prophets), and any entrusted with the care of God's people.
- who care for my people (הָרֹעִים אֶת־עַמִּי - hārō‘îm ’eṯ-‘ammî): Defines their specific role as caretakers and emphasizes God's personal ownership of "My people."
- You have scattered (אַתֶּם הֲפֹצֹתֶם - ’attem hǎfōṣōṯem): Direct accusation; pāṣaṣ means to break in pieces, disperse. This highlights an active act of disruption and disunity, implying abandonment of protection.
- my flock (צֹאנִי - ṣō’nî): God's tender and vulnerable people, who were under the leaders' care. Reiteration of God's ownership and affection.
- driven them away (וַתַּדִּחוּם - waṯtaddîḥūm): Dāḥâ means to thrust out, push away. Suggests a forceful, intentional pushing into harm's way, or a deliberate failure to retrieve them when lost.
- and have not attended to them (וְלֹא פְקַדְתֶּם - wəlo’ fəqaḏtem): The verb pāqaḏ means to visit, to care for, to miss, but also to hold accountable or punish. Here, it denotes a complete failure of oversight and active neglect of duty.
- behold, I will attend to you (הִנְנִי פֹקֵד עֲלֵיכֶם - hinnēnî fōqēḏ ‘ǎlêḵem): A stark declaration of divine reversal. Using the same verb pāqaḏ, God promises He will indeed visit these shepherds, but in a punitive sense, holding them accountable.
- for your evil deeds (רֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם - rō‘a ma‘aləleḵem): The explicit cause of God's judgment; "evil deeds" encompassing their wicked governance, injustice, idolatry, and neglect.
- declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - nə’um YHWH): Reinforces the absolute certainty and divine authority of this prophetic word.
Jeremiah 23 2 Bonus section
- The Shepherd Metaphor: The "shepherd" role in the ancient Near East and biblical context carried significant weight, signifying a protective, guiding, and nurturing leader. Kings were often referred to as shepherds of their people (e.g., King Hammurabi's code). To fail as a shepherd was to utterly betray the fundamental duties of leadership.
- Divine Paqaḏ (Visit/Punish): The double entendre of the Hebrew word pāqaḏ is central to this verse. It first describes the shepherds' failure to "visit" or care for their flock. Then, God declares His intent to "visit" or hold them accountable/punish for their actions. This dramatic lexical reversal emphasizes the justice of God in turning the shepherds' neglect into their own judgment.
- Active vs. Passive Neglect: The phrase "scattered my flock" (active harm) combined with "driven them away" (active pushing into danger) and "have not attended to them" (passive neglect of duty) paint a comprehensive picture of leadership failure, covering both sins of commission and omission.
- God's Sovereignty and Justice: Despite human failure, the verse reasserts God's ultimate sovereignty ("My people," "My flock") and His active role in bringing justice. He does not abandon His people but holds their caretakers to account, ensuring eventual restoration (as detailed later in Jer 23).
Jeremiah 23 2 Commentary
Jeremiah 23:2 is a profound divine pronouncement on failed leadership within God's chosen people. The "shepherds" metaphor is an ancient and powerful one, denoting political, spiritual, and social leaders. Here, these leaders are indicted on two main counts: scattering the flock (causing division, injustice, leading people into exile or apostasy) and not attending to them (neglecting their duty to protect, guide, and nourish). The scattering directly results from their negligence and active misconduct, proving them antithetical to their assigned role. The striking part is God's use of the verb pāqaḏ: they did not attend (care for) His people, therefore, He will attend (judge) them. This serves as a universal principle of accountability: those entrusted with the care of God's people face divine judgment for their dereliction of duty, underscoring God's ultimate ownership and unwavering commitment to His flock.