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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zechariah 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye blinded." | Prophecy of judgment on shepherds |
| Jeremiah 23:1-2 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and sent them into exile, without number. Behold, I will punish you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD." | Judgment on false shepherds |
| Ezekiel 34:2-10 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds of Israel who prophesy: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only feed themselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, and the lost you have not sought, and with force and rigor you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered, and there was no one to seek for them or to turn them back. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!" | Judgment and rebuke of shepherds |
| Micah 3:5 | "Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry, "Peace," when they have something to eat, but declare war on him who does not put something in their mouths." | Rebuke of false prophets |
| Matthew 9:36 | "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." | Jesus' compassion for the crowds |
| Mark 6:34 | "When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep that had no shepherd. And he began to teach them many things." | Jesus' compassion for the crowds |
| John 10:11-13 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He is a hired hand and not a shepherd who owns the sheep, that he may not scatter them." | Jesus as the Good Shepherd |
| 1 Peter 5:2-4 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but readily. Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." | Instructions for shepherds |
| Isaiah 9:16 | "For the leaders of this people cause them to stray, and those who are led by them are destroyed." | Leaders leading people astray |
| Jeremiah 15:10 | "For I have heard the slander of many: 'Terror on every side! We will report him.' All my trusted friends/my confidants, too, have waited for me to fall, saying, 'Perhaps he will be deceived, and we can overpower him and take our revenge on him.'" | Betrayal of trusted friends |
| Psalm 109:6-15 | Describes punishment on enemies and betrayers. | Judgment on enemies |
| Revelation 18:17 | "for in a single hour all this [wealth] has been laid waste." | Sudden destruction |
| Acts 1:17 | "for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." | Allotment in ministry |
| Deuteronomy 28:33 | "A nation that you do not know will devour the fruit of your land and all your labor, and you will be only oppressed and crushed continually." | Curse of oppression |
| Deuteronomy 29:25-28 | Explanation of curse for disobedience. | Curse for disobedience |
| Hosea 10:3 | "For now they will say, 'We have no king, for we did not fear the LORD; and a king—what can he do for us?'" | Lack of righteous leadership |
| Amos 5:11-12 | "Therefore because you tread the poor underfoot and take from him exactions of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted desirable vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins— you afflict the righteous, you take a bribe, and you turn aside the needy in the gate from justice." | Oppression of the poor |
| Amos 6:6 | "But they are without distress at the ruin of Joseph." | Indifference to suffering |
Zechariah 11 verses
Zechariah 11 5 Meaning
This verse describes the impending judgment upon the people of Israel, portraying them as flock leaders who oppress their sheep. The purchased possession is valued at nothing, indicating a complete loss of worth and divine favor. The shepherds themselves will face divine retribution, and their flock will be scattered.
Zechariah 11 5 Context
Zechariah 11 describes the prophet acting out the judgment of God on Israel. In chapter 10, Zechariah prophesied restoration and blessing for Judah and Israel. Chapter 11 begins with a shift to judgment against the northern kingdom (often referred to as Ephraim or Israel, distinct from Judah in some prophetic contexts). God commands Zechariah to "devour" Jerusalem and its inhabitants, symbolized by him entering his treasure house and stripping it. The passage vividly illustrates the consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness and rejection of God's shepherds. This prophecy also carries messianic implications, as discussed by various scholars, connecting it to the rejection of Christ by the Jewish leaders. The overarching theme is the judgment that falls upon a people who have corrupted their leadership and mistreated their divine provisions.
Zechariah 11 5 Word Analysis
- Ha (הַ) - A definite article, meaning "the."
- Ro'eh (רֹעֶה) - "Shepherd," from the root ra'ah (רָעָה), meaning "to shepherd, to feed, to tend." This term is used metaphorically for leaders, especially kings or spiritual leaders.
- Belial (בְּלִיַּעַל) - Means "worthless," "wicked," "profane," or "disgraceful." It's often associated with ruin or destruction and used to describe people or things devoid of value or uprightness. It implies a leader who is morally bankrupt and brings ruin.
- Kee (כִּי) - A conjunction, meaning "for," "because," "that," or "when." Here it indicates the reason or cause for the shepherd's "worthlessness."
- Shuq (שֹׁוק) - Primarily means "leg" or "shank." In some contexts, it can refer to the "thigh," or by metonymy, "food" or "what is bought and sold." In the context of animals being sacrificed, it often referred to the priest's or owner's portion. The sense here might be that even what is valued for nourishment or consumption is worthless.
- Lo (לֹא) - A negative particle, "not."
- Sha'vah (שָׁוְאָה) - Means "worthlessness," "emptiness," "vanity," or "ruin." It signifies that something has no value or is utterly ruined.
- Lamo (לָמוֹ) - A prepositional pronoun, meaning "for them" or "to them."
Words Group Analysis:
- Ha ro'eh belial: "The worthless shepherd." This is a powerful indictment. The "shepherd" role is meant to be one of care and guidance. "Belial" negates any positive connotation, highlighting a shepherd who actively harms and exploits the flock.
- Kee shuq lo sha'vah lamo: "For thigh/portion, it is not worth to them." This phrase is a bit challenging due to the word "shuq." It suggests that the expected portion, the rightful share of a shepherd (or perhaps the sacrifice offered), holds no value for these leaders. They have no respect for what is due or what constitutes a proper offering or benefit. Alternatively, it can be interpreted as "for their share of sustenance," they will receive nothing of value from the Lord, or they are so corrupt that even their basic needs (represented by a "portion") are devoid of true worth. It speaks to a complete spiritual bankruptcy.
Zechariah 11 5 Bonus Section
This verse reflects a consistent prophetic theme of denouncing corrupt leadership that oppresses God's people. The concept of "shepherd" is central throughout Scripture, from God himself as the shepherd of Israel (Psalm 23) to the messianic King who would be a true shepherd (Ezekiel 34, John 10). Zechariah's prophecy starkly contrasts the failure of earthly, corrupt shepherds with the promise of a divine Shepherd. The worthlessness ascribed to the "shuq" (portion) can be seen as a prophetic commentary on the devaluation of the offerings and sacrifices made by an unrighteous generation, or a loss of inherent value in their own existence before God due to their sin. It speaks to a judgment where all that they valued or that should have provided sustenance becomes empty and without worth.
Zechariah 11 5 Commentary
Zechariah 11:5 paints a grim picture of spiritual leadership that has utterly failed its mandate. The leaders, characterized as "worthless shepherds," not only neglect their flock but are inherently corrupt ("belial"). Their motivation is not service but self-interest, evidenced by the statement that even a valuable portion ("shuq") holds no worth for them. This signifies a complete disdain for sacred things, for justice, and for the welfare of the people they are meant to guide. They have abandoned their sacred duty and are driven by greed and self-preservation, rendering them spiritually bankrupt and deserving of God's severe judgment. This verse is a strong condemnation of corrupt leadership that exploits, rather than protects, the people of God.