Zechariah 11 17

Zechariah 11:17 kjv

Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

Zechariah 11:17 nkjv

"Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And his right eye shall be totally blinded."

Zechariah 11:17 niv

"Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!"

Zechariah 11:17 esv

"Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!"

Zechariah 11:17 nlt

"What sorrow awaits this worthless shepherd
who abandons the flock!
The sword will cut his arm
and pierce his right eye.
His arm will become useless,
and his right eye completely blind."

Zechariah 11 verses

Zechariah 11 17 Meaning

Zechariah 11:17 pronounces a severe judgment, a "woe," upon a negligent and idol-serving leader described as a "worthless shepherd." This shepherd is condemned for abandoning and failing to protect the flock. The divine punishment entails a complete incapacitation: his strength and ability to act will be utterly withered (signified by the arm), and his understanding and insight will be completely removed (signified by the right eye), rendering him useless and unable to guide.

Zechariah 11 17 Context

Zechariah 11 presents a dramatic prophetic parable concerning two shepherds and the fate of Israel. In verses 4-6, Zechariah is commanded to shepherd a "flock doomed to slaughter," representing Israel oppressed by its corrupt leaders. He uses two staffs: "Favor" (or "Graciousness") and "Union" (or "Bonds"). In verses 7-14, Zechariah symbolically "shepherds" the flock and then breaks "Favor," signifying God's covenant with His people being revoked. He then demands his wages (thirty pieces of silver, ironically thrown into the potter's house for the poor) and breaks "Union," symbolizing the rupture between Judah and Israel. This entire section underscores God's deep disappointment with the existing, failed leadership. Following this, God commands Zechariah to act as a "worthless shepherd" (Zech 11:15-16), a caricature of Israel's corrupt and oppressive leaders, further demonstrating the devastating consequences of their negligence. Verse 17 then directly pronounces divine judgment – a "woe" – upon that very type of worthless shepherd, outlining his specific and total incapacitation, culminating the themes of judgment on unfaithful leadership established earlier in the chapter. Historically, this addresses the post-exilic leadership but prophetically anticipates the rejection of the Messiah and the subsequent judgment on those who were to guide God's people but instead exploited them.

Zechariah 11 17 Word analysis

• Woe: (Hôy) (הֹוי). A sharp, emotional exclamation indicating lament, condemnation, or a warning of impending disaster. It's often used by prophets to introduce a judgment speech.
• to the worthless: (hā-’ĕlîl) (הָאֱלִיל). "The" (hā) emphasizes a specific type. ’Ělîl signifies something of no account, vain, empty, an idol, or mere nothingness. It highlights the shepherd's profound unworthiness and perhaps idolatrous focus, completely devoid of genuine value or function to God.
• shepherd: (rō‘eh) (רֹעֶה). A leader, one who guides and feeds. In the biblical context, often refers to kings, priests, or prophets—those responsible for the welfare of God's people (the flock).
• who leaves: (‘ōzēb) (עֹזֵב). Participle, indicating a habitual or characteristic action. It means to forsake, abandon, or let go. This isn't a mere mistake but a deliberate act of negligence.
• the flock!: (haṣ-ṣō’n) (הַצֹּאן). "The flock," representing God's people, Israel.
• The sword: (ḥereb) (חֶרֶב). Symbolizes divine judgment, war, destruction, and punitive justice, wielded by God or an instrument of His judgment.
• shall be upon: (‘al) (עַל). Indicates direct application or infliction.
• his arm: (zərō‘ô) (זְרֹעוֹ). The seat of strength, power, and ability to act or lead. Its affliction symbolizes complete loss of effective power.
• and upon: (wə‘al) (וְעַל). Connecting the two affected body parts, emphasizing both.
• his right eye: (‘ên yəmînô) (עֵין יְמִינוֹ). The "right eye" specifically, often associated with clear vision, insight, and perhaps precision or privileged sight. Its affliction means total spiritual and practical blindness.
• his arm shall be completely withered: (zərō‘ô tûbhal yibbōl) (זְרֹעוֹ תָּבוֹל יִבּוֹל). This is an intensive verbal construction. Tûbhal (lit. "she will certainly wither") combined with yibbōl (infinitive absolute of the verb nabal, to wither) emphasizes utter, permanent, and irreversible desiccation of power.
• and his right eye shall be totally blinded: (wə‘ên yəmînô tûbhal tiḳhaḥ) (וְעֵין יְמִינוֹ תֵּכַּהּ תִּכֶּה). Similarly an intensive construction. Tûbhal (she will certainly grow dim) and tiḳhaḥ (infinitive absolute of kaḥah, to grow dim or be blinded) signifies total, profound, and irreversible loss of sight/discernment.

Words-group analysis:

• "Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!": This opening pronouncement is a summary of the shepherd's罪, an accusation of dereliction of duty combined with profound judgment. The "worthless" nature is highlighted by his abandonment, demonstrating he cares nothing for those under his charge.
• "The sword shall be upon his arm and upon his right eye;": This immediately follows the indictment, specifying the means and targets of the judgment. The "sword" represents divine retribution, cutting away the very instruments of the shepherd's authority and function – his strength to act and his ability to see/guide.
• "his arm shall be completely withered, and his right eye shall be totally blinded.": These clauses expand on the "sword" imagery, detailing the exact nature and permanence of the punishment. The use of intensive verbal forms underscores the completeness and irreversibility of the incapacitation. The shepherd loses both his physical and mental/spiritual faculties required for his role. He becomes utterly useless, a mere husk, unable to inflict harm or provide guidance.

Zechariah 11 17 Bonus section

The Hebrew root kaḥah (כָּהָה), used for the eye becoming "blinded" or "dim," is also used in 1 Sam 3:2 to describe Eli's eyes beginning to fail. This connection reinforces the theme of a failing, elderly, or corrupt religious leadership whose physical sight reflects their spiritual blindness and inability to see God's will. The judgment on the worthless shepherd mirrors the decline of the Levitical priesthood under figures like Eli and his sons, who valued their own interests over God's. This verse can also be interpreted as the inverse of God's blessing of strength and vision upon His faithful servants. Whereas God empowers the righteous to act and see clearly, He disarms and blinds the unfaithful, making them a monument to their own negligence and sin.

Zechariah 11 17 Commentary

Zechariah 11:17 acts as the divine sentence upon the failed leadership of Israel, starkly contrasting with the role of a true, caring shepherd. This verse crystallizes the judgment that stems from the prophetic actions described earlier in the chapter, where God, through Zechariah, embodies both the "Good Shepherd" rejected by the people and the "worthless shepherd" that takes His place. The term "worthless" (elil) carries heavy connotations, implying not just ineffectiveness but also an orientation towards vanity, idolatry, or ultimately, nothingness—a stark opposition to YHWH, the only true Shepherd. The abandonment of the flock is a clear violation of a shepherd's most fundamental duty and highlights the deep corruption within the leadership. The ensuing punishment, delivered by the "sword," signifies severe divine judgment. The loss of the "arm" (power and action) and the "right eye" (discernment, insight, and leadership) is a symbolic yet complete removal of all capabilities necessary to function as a shepherd. This isn't merely injury but a thorough and irreversible debilitation, leaving the worthless shepherd utterly impotent. Prophetically, this curse points to the condemnation of those in leadership, especially religious leaders in Jesus' time, who, like the chief priests and Pharisees, rejected the true Shepherd (Jesus) and instead oppressed and misguided the flock, ultimately leading to their spiritual and national blindness and destruction. This serves as an eternal warning against corrupt spiritual and political leadership within God's people.