Zechariah 11:5 kjv
Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
Zechariah 11:5 nkjv
whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich'; and their shepherds do not pity them.
Zechariah 11:5 niv
Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, 'Praise the LORD, I am rich!' Their own shepherds do not spare them.
Zechariah 11:5 esv
Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, I have become rich,' and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
Zechariah 11:5 nlt
The buyers slaughter their sheep without remorse. The sellers say, 'Praise the LORD! Now I'm rich!' Even the shepherds have no compassion for them.
Zechariah 11 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" | Condemnation of corrupt shepherds |
| Eze 34:2-3 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel... eat the fat, wear the wool, slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep." | Self-serving shepherds exploiting the flock |
| Mic 3:1-3 | "Is it not for you to know justice?... who tear the skin from off them..." | Leaders devouring the people |
| Isa 56:11 | "The dogs have greedy appetites; they never have enough... shepherds who have no understanding..." | Leaders driven by greed |
| Matt 23:14 (KJV) | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers..." | Hypocrisy masking exploitation |
| Lk 16:14-15 | "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things... ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men’." | Lovers of money and self-justification |
| Jer 7:9-11 | "Will you steal, murder... and then come and stand before me in this house?" | Hypocritical worship despite ongoing sin |
| Hab 2:9 | "Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house..." | Condemnation of wealth gained through injustice |
| Prov 16:2 | "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes..." | Self-righteousness, lack of guilt |
| 1 Jn 3:17 | "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need... how does God’s love abide in him?" | Absence of compassion and love |
| Rom 1:32 | "Though they know God’s righteous decree... they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." | Absence of moral conviction/guilt |
| Job 24:2 | "Some remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them." | Taking from others for personal gain |
| Ps 23:1 | "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." | Contrast: The Good Shepherd provides |
| Isa 40:11 | "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms..." | Contrast: God's gentle, caring leadership |
| Jn 10:11-13 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... He who is a hired hand... flees..." | Contrast: The Good Shepherd vs. selfish leaders |
| Ezr 9:7 | "Our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands..." | Consequences of leadership failure |
| Hos 4:1-2 | "No faithfulness or steadfast love... only swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery..." | Moral decay leading to societal collapse |
| Amos 8:4-6 | "Hear this, you who trample the needy... selling the refuse of the wheat." | Exploitation of the poor by merchants |
| Deut 23:18 | "You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute... into the house of the LORD..." | Unacceptable offerings from ill-gotten gains |
| Mal 3:5 | "I will draw near to you for judgment... against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the orphan..." | Divine judgment against oppressors |
| Jas 2:13 | "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy..." | Judgment for lack of mercy |
| Prov 28:15 | "Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people." | Image of a destructive leader |
| Jer 6:13 | "From the prophet to the priest, everyone deals falsely." | Universal corruption |
Zechariah 11 verses
Zechariah 11 5 Meaning
Zechariah 11:5 describes the morally bankrupt leadership of Israel, metaphorically depicted as "shepherds" who exploit and oppress the "flock" (the people) without any sense of guilt or compassion. Their possessors slaughter them for profit, feeling no remorse, while their sellers hypocritically thank God for their ill-gotten wealth, declaring their prosperity as divine blessing. Simultaneously, their immediate "shepherds"—the direct leaders—show absolute indifference and lack of mercy towards their suffering. The verse paints a stark picture of injustice, avarice, and spiritual decay among those entrusted with the care of God's people.
Zechariah 11 5 Context
Zechariah 11 is a prophetic oracle predicting God's judgment upon the corrupt leadership of Israel, often symbolized as shepherds, leading to the destruction and scattering of His flock. The chapter depicts the dismantling of the old, unfaithful shepherd system and anticipates the coming of the Good Shepherd. Verse 5 is embedded within a passage that sets the scene for this divine rejection, illustrating the specific moral failures that necessitate such a drastic measure. It immediately follows the divine command for the prophet to shepherd the flock "doomed to slaughter," implying the impending judgment on both the people and their wicked leaders. Historically, this prophecy likely addresses the spiritual and political leadership leading up to and during the post-exilic period, reflecting on past failures that led to the exile, and foreshadowing future rejections and ultimately the Roman destruction of Jerusalem. The context is one of profound divine grief over Israel's mistreatment by its own leaders.
Zechariah 11 5 Word analysis
Whose possessors (קֹנֵיהֶן - qonehen): From the root קנה (qanah), meaning "to acquire," "buy," "possess." Here, it refers to those who "own" or "acquire" the flock (people). This could signify the ruling elite, powerful landowners, or even foreign overlords who effectively claim ownership over the population. It highlights the commodification of people.
slay them (הֹרְגִים - horgim): From הָרַג (harag), meaning "to kill," "slaughter," "murder." This is not just neglect but active, fatal harm. It implies severe oppression, exploitation, and policies that lead to the literal or spiritual destruction of the people.
and hold themselves not guilty (לֹא יֶאְשָׁמוּ - lo ye'shamoo): From אָשַׁם (asham), meaning "to be guilty," "incur guilt." The negation "לֹא" emphasizes their profound lack of remorse or moral accountability. They view their actions as legitimate, just, or at least beyond culpability. This indicates a hardened conscience and self-righteousness.
and they that sell them (וּמֹכְרֵיהֶן - u'mochreyhen): From מָכַר (makar), "to sell." This refers to another group benefiting from the trade of people, perhaps a different tier of leadership or a broader economic system that profits from the exploitation. It reinforces the idea of people being treated as merchandise.
say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich; (בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה כִּי הֶעֱשַׁרְתִּי - baruch Yahweh ki he'asharti):
- Blessed be the LORD (Baruch Yahweh): A conventional phrase of praise and thanksgiving to God. Here, it is uttered in stark hypocrisy.
- for I am rich (ki he'asharti): Indicates the reason for their praise—their material prosperity, gained directly from the very actions described. This is profound spiritual perversion, attributing ill-gotten wealth, derived from the suffering of others, to God's blessing. It reflects a false piety where economic gain validates unrighteous conduct.
and their shepherds (וְרֹעֵיהֶם - vero'eihem): From רָעָה (ra'ah), meaning "to tend," "graze," and figuratively "to rule," "govern." This refers to the actual leaders—kings, priests, or other rulers—who are supposed to care for the flock.
pity them not (לֹא יַחְמְלוּ - lo yachmelu): From חָמַל (chamal), meaning "to pity," "have compassion," "spare." The negation "לֹא" highlights a complete absence of mercy, empathy, or protective care. These are the supposed protectors who feel nothing for their suffering people.
"Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty": This group profits from destruction and injustice. They dehumanize the people to the point where harming them carries no moral weight in their own estimation. It signifies an deep moral corruption where self-interest overrides divine law and human dignity.
"and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich": This group exhibits extreme hypocrisy, intertwining piety with predatory economic practices. Their "thanksgiving" is a cynical performance, leveraging the language of faith to justify their greed and exploitation, suggesting that their wealth is a divine endorsement of their unethical means.
"and their shepherds pity them not": This indicates a direct failure of pastoral care. The designated protectors and guides demonstrate an utter lack of compassion for the very people they are appointed to serve, highlighting negligence and heartlessness at the highest levels of leadership. These are the same leaders in Eze 34 who fail to tend to the sick, weak, or lost sheep.
Zechariah 11 5 Bonus section
- The exploitation described here can be seen as spiritual murder. By depriving the flock of spiritual nourishment, justice, and protection, the leaders are effectively leading them to destruction, not merely economic or physical hardship.
- The use of "possessors," "sellers," and "shepherds" may refer to different aspects or groups within the same corrupt system of leadership, or represent a layered network of exploiters.
- This verse provides a crucial backdrop for understanding the New Testament's presentation of Jesus as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10), contrasting Him sharply with the corrupt religious authorities of His day who, like those described here, oppressed the people and were primarily motivated by their own power and profit.
- The phrase "hold themselves not guilty" (lo ye'shamoo) is a powerful insight into the self-justifying nature of human sin and corruption, where internal accountability is absent despite obvious wrongdoing. It shows a profound moral blindness, often found when wealth or power distorts judgment.
Zechariah 11 5 Commentary
Zechariah 11:5 stands as a searing indictment of the spiritual and political leadership of Israel, echoing prophetic laments found throughout the Old Testament concerning wicked shepherds. The verse reveals a tripartite failure of justice and compassion: first, those who own or acquire the people actively oppress and destroy them without any sense of guilt, normalizing their cruel actions. Second, those who trade and profit from the suffering of the people—perhaps a subset of the first, or a related commercial class—engage in blasphemous hypocrisy, crediting God for the very wealth they amassed through exploitation. Their "Blessed be the LORD" is a shocking mockery of true faith, illustrating how religion can be weaponized to sanctify injustice. Finally, the actual shepherds, those directly responsible for guiding and protecting the flock, are shown to be utterly devoid of pity. This indifference from those entrusted with care is perhaps the most damning, signifying a complete breakdown of covenantal responsibility and moral integrity. The verse thus encapsulates a severe ethical crisis within Israel's leadership, where the people are reduced to mere commodities, and the principles of justice, mercy, and piety are perverted or utterly abandoned for personal gain. This context prefigures the coming judgment on these leaders and the search for the True Shepherd.