Jeremiah 6:3 kjv
The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
Jeremiah 6:3 nkjv
The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her. They shall pitch their tents against her all around. Each one shall pasture in his own place."
Jeremiah 6:3 niv
Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each tending his own portion."
Jeremiah 6:3 esv
Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her; they shall pitch their tents around her; they shall pasture, each in his place.
Jeremiah 6:3 nlt
Enemies will surround you, like shepherds camped around the city.
Each chooses a place for his troops to devour.
Jeremiah 6 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 6:3 | "The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her." | Invaders as shepherds |
| Jeremiah 1:14 | "Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants..." | Source of invasion |
| Isaiah 13:5 | "They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens..." | Invasion from the north |
| Jeremiah 4:6 | "And ye shall set up an ensign toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north..." | Warning of northern threat |
| Ezekiel 38:6 | "Gomer... and all his troops; Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal..." | Northern confederation |
| Jeremiah 50:41 | "Behold, a people shall come from the north..." | Enemies from the north |
| Psalms 48:2 | "Mount Zion, the city of the great King, in the city of the great King, on the north side, the city of the great King." | Geographical reference to Zion |
| Jeremiah 1:15 | "For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD..." | Divine summoning of nations |
| Jeremiah 6:12 | "For their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together..." | Loss of possessions |
| Jeremiah 6:11 | "Therefore my fury is poured out like fire, and I will pour it out upon the men of the city..." | Divine wrath unleashed |
| Jeremiah 6:22 | "Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country..." | Repetition of the warning |
| Jeremiah 6:26 | "O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes..." | Mourning and repentance |
| Hosea 10:8 | "And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars..." | Idolatry and its consequences |
| Micah 4:11 | "Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion." | Nations opposing Zion |
| 2 Kings 25:1-7 | Account of Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians. | Historical fulfillment |
| Isaiah 22:6 | "And Elam bare a quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield." | Depiction of invading armies |
| Nahum 2:1 | "He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munitions, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily." | description of enemy |
| Jeremiah 2:13 | "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." | Spiritual unfaithfulness |
| Proverbs 1:24-25 | "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and with my reproof would none of my reproof." | Rejection of God's call |
| Jeremiah 7:30 | "For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD..." | Sins of Judah |
| Zephaniah 2:15 | "This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in!" | Pride and carelessness of cities |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 3 Meaning
This verse paints a vivid picture of invaders approaching from the north, a dire warning for Jerusalem. It signifies the imminent arrival of hostile forces who will descend upon the city like shepherds tending their flocks, implying a systematic and overwhelming advance. The people of Judah are characterized as those who have wandered from God, making them vulnerable to this judgment.
Jeremiah 6 3 Context
Jeremiah 6:3 is part of a larger prophecy within Jeremiah chapter 6. This chapter is a scathing indictment against the spiritual and moral corruption of Judah, particularly Jerusalem. The people have turned away from God, embraced idolatry, and lived lives of injustice and deceit. Because of their persistent unfaithfulness and refusal to repent despite numerous warnings, God declares that He will bring a devastating judgment upon them. This judgment will come in the form of an invading army from the north. The preceding verses detail the alarming signs of this approaching doom, setting the stage for the imagery of verse 3. The verse directly follows descriptions of watchmen who failed to give adequate warning and precedes the prophet’s call to flee the destruction.
Jeremiah 6 3 Word Analysis
- Shepherds (רֹעִים - ro‘îm): This Hebrew word primarily means "shepherds" or "pastors." Here, it is used metaphorically to describe the invading enemy forces. Shepherds lead and manage flocks. In this context, the invaders are seen as driving the inhabitants of Jerusalem before them like a flock, signifying their dominance and control over the captive people. This imagery contrasts the gentle care of a good shepherd with the harsh treatment of conquerors.
- With their flocks (וּבְצֹאנָם - ûvətsōnām): "Tson" (צאן) means "flock" or "sheep." The addition of the possessive pronoun "their" emphasizes that the flocks (the people of Jerusalem) are now considered the property or charge of these invading "shepherds." It highlights the subjugation and displacement of the people.
Jeremiah 6 3 Bonus Section
The imagery of invading forces being compared to shepherds can also be found in other ancient Near Eastern texts, suggesting a common cultural understanding of warfare and conquest. However, in the biblical context, this metaphor powerfully highlights God's sovereignty, as He is the one commissioning these foreign nations to act as "shepherds" in His judgment. It implies that even the aggressors are instruments in God's hands to discipline His wayward people. The concept of shepherds in the Bible often has a positive connotation when referring to God or good leaders (e.g., Psalm 23, John 10). The inversion of this benevolent image to describe enemy armies accentuates the severity of the divine punishment.
Jeremiah 6 3 Commentary
Jeremiah 6:3 vividly portrays the impending doom of Jerusalem. The invading army from the north, a common theme in prophetic literature, is likened to shepherds approaching their sheep. This simile underscores the completeness of their control and the vulnerability of the inhabitants who, by their spiritual straying, have become like a defenseless flock. The enemy will systematically gather them, suggesting an organized and thorough conquest. The nation's abandonment of God, their true Shepherd, leaves them exposed to these destructive "shepherds." This verse serves as a stark warning about the consequences of turning away from divine protection. It implies that their sins have made them ripe for such a plundering by a foreign power.