Jeremiah 6 3

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 verses

Jeremiah 6 3 Meaning

Jeremiah 6:3 vividly portrays the impending destruction of Jerusalem (represented by "her") by an invading army, likened to shepherds with their flocks. These invaders will completely surround the city, setting up their camps, and systematically plunder and devour every part of the land, with each soldier taking their share of the spoils and devastation. The verse underscores the complete and overwhelming nature of the coming judgment upon Judah due to their unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 6 3 Context

Jeremiah chapter 6 continues the dire prophetic pronouncements against Judah and Jerusalem. Following specific warnings in chapter 5 about foreign invasion and internal corruption, chapter 6 escalates the urgency, depicting the imminent threat as already at the gates. The prophet urges the people to flee, recognizing that divine judgment through a powerful northern foe is at hand. This chapter is a lament and a stern warning, highlighting the people's stubborn refusal to repent, their spiritual blindness, and the severe consequences that are about to befall them, including the horrors of siege, famine, and desolation, making the land unrecognizably devastated. Historically, this prophecy points to the coming Babylonian invasions of the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE.

Jeremiah 6 3 Word analysis

• Shepherds (רֹעִים - ro'im):

  • Word: "Shepherds"
  • Analysis: This Hebrew term (ro'im) typically denotes caretakers or leaders. Its use here for invaders is deeply ironic and potent. While legitimate shepherds lead and protect their flocks, these "shepherds" lead armies not to care for, but to destroy and consume. This choice of word highlights the perversion of what leadership and care should be, signaling an act of divine judgment turning natural order on its head.

• with their flocks (עֲדָרִים - 'adarim):

  • Word: "flocks"
  • Analysis: Referring to literal animal herds, "flocks" here represents the vast, innumerable multitude of the invading army. Just as a shepherd controls his flock, these leaders control their vast forces, implying overwhelming numbers and unified purpose in destruction.

• will come against her (יָבֹאוּ עָלֶיהָ - yavou 'aleha):

  • Word: "come against her"
  • Analysis: This phrase signifies a direct, aggressive military offensive targeting "her," which represents Jerusalem/Judah. It implies hostile intent and active engagement in conflict, not merely passing through.

• they will pitch their tents (יִתְקְעוּ אֹהָלִים - yitqe'u ohalim):

  • Word: "pitch their tents"
  • Analysis: This denotes establishing a sustained encampment. It means more than a swift raid; it indicates a siege. The enemy intends to remain, methodically starve, and break down the city's defenses, signifying prolonged suffering and eventual capitulation.

• around her (עָלֶיהָ סָבִיב - 'aleha saviv):

  • Word: "around her"
  • Analysis: "Saviv" means completely surrounding. This emphasizes the encirclement, trapping the inhabitants within the city walls without escape or external aid, underscoring the completeness of the siege.

• and each will pasture (וּרָעוּ אִישׁ - u ra'u ish):

  • Word: "and each will pasture"
  • Analysis: Derived from the same root as "shepherds" (ra'ah), this term meaning "to feed" or "to graze" is devastating in its context. When applied to soldiers and their targets, it graphically portrays them devouring, plundering, and consuming the resources of the land. "Each" (ish) signifies individual participation in the plunder, making the destruction highly personal and comprehensive.

• his own plot/hand (יָדוֹ - yado):

  • Word: "his own plot/hand"
  • Analysis: The Hebrew yado means "his hand," but in context here, it extends to "his own portion," "his own share," or "his own designated area." This suggests that every part of the land will be ransacked and despoiled by individual soldiers, leaving no field or possession untouched. The land itself becomes the "pasture" for the invading forces.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Shepherds with their flocks will come against her": This phrase sets the ironic and menacing tone. A figure meant for guidance and care is presented as a destroyer. The sheer number ("flocks") emphasizes an overwhelming and unstoppable force.
  • "they will pitch their tents around her": This group of words describes the strategy of a prolonged siege. It's not a hit-and-run; it's a deliberate, sustained assault designed to ensure complete submission and devastation. The encirclement highlights inescapability.
  • "and each will pasture his own plot": This powerful metaphorical description emphasizes the systematic and thorough plundering of the land. The invaders are depicted as beasts consuming the landscape, leaving nothing. "Each" ensures that every part of the land, every resource, every belonging, will be individually claimed and stripped away by the invaders.

Jeremiah 6 3 Bonus section

The choice of "shepherds" as a descriptor for the invading forces highlights a recurring theme in the Bible: the nature of leadership. Just as God is presented as the ultimate Good Shepherd (Ps 23, Ezek 34), false shepherds (corrupt leaders of Judah) had failed to care for God's flock (Jer 23:1-2). Here, even more strikingly, foreign armies act as "shepherds" in a destructive sense, showing how judgment comes through those who ironically, yet utterly, fulfill the opposite role of nurturing and protecting. This adds a layer of sorrow to the impending disaster, as Judah's leadership had effectively handed their people over to destructive "shepherds."

Jeremiah 6 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:3 delivers a stark prophecy of inevitable judgment upon Judah. The pastoral imagery of "shepherds with their flocks" is twisted into a scene of utter destruction, emphasizing the complete inversion of divine blessing due to Israel's rebellion. The invaders, likely the Babylonians, are not just passing raiders but instruments of God's wrath, sent to conduct a methodical siege and pillage. Their "pitching tents around her" signifies a prolonged, inescapable siege, where Jerusalem is meticulously surrounded, ensuring no escape and no outside help. The chilling image of "each will pasture his own plot" indicates not just a general invasion, but a comprehensive, personal, and systematic stripping away of every resource and possession. Every soldier will claim his share of the desolation, demonstrating that the judgment will be thorough, widespread, and devastatingly personal, leaving no part of the land or people unaffected. The verse serves as a potent warning against spiritual complacency and unrepentant sin, showing that divine patience has run out, and the consequences will be inescapable and severe.