Jeremiah 23:1
◄  Jeremiah 23:1  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people--the shepherds of my sheep--for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for," says the LORD.

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" This is the LORD's declaration.

International Standard Version (©2012)
"How terrible for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.

NET Bible (©2006)
The LORD says, "The leaders of my people are sure to be judged. They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"How horrible it will be for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep in my care," declares the LORD.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Woe be unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.

American King James Version
Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! said the LORD.

American Standard Version
Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith Jehovah.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to the pastors, that destroy and tear the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord.

Darby Bible Translation
Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith Jehovah.

English Revised Version
Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says Yahweh.

Young's Literal Translation
Woe to shepherds destroying, And scattering the flock of My pasture, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-8 Woe be to those who are set to feed God's people, but take no concern to do them good! Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though only a remnant of God's flock is left, he will find them out, and they shall be brought to their former habitations. Christ is spoken of as a branch from David's family. He is righteous himself, and through him all his people are made righteous. Christ shall break the usurped power of Satan. All the spiritual seed of believing Abraham and praying Jacob shall be protected, and shall be saved from the guilt and dominion of sin. In the days of Christ's government in the soul, the soul dwells at ease. He is here spoken of as the Lord our Righteousness. He is so our Righteousness as no creature could be. His obedience unto death is the justifying righteousness of believers, and their title to heavenly happiness. And their sanctification, as the source of all their personal obedience is the effect of their union with him, and of the supply of this Spirit. By this name every true believer shall call him, and call upon him. We have nothing to plead but this, Christ has died, yea, rather is risen again; and we have taken him for our Lord. This righteousness which he has wrought out to the satisfaction of law and justice, becomes ours; being a free gift given to us, through the Spirit of God, who puts it upon us, clothes us with it, enables us to lay hold upon it, and claim an interest in it. The Lord our Righteousness is a sweet name to a convinced sinner; to one that has felt the guilt of sin in his conscience; seen his need of that righteousness, and the worth of it. This great salvation is far more glorious than all former deliverances of his church. May our souls be gathered to Him, and be found in him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Woe be unto the pastors,.... Or, "O ye shepherds" or "governors", as the Targum; the civil rulers and magistrates, kings and princes of the land of Israel; since ecclesiastical rulers, the priests and prophets, are mentioned as distinct from them in Jeremiah 23:9; whose business it was to rule and guide, protect and defend, the people: but, instead of that, they were such

that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord God; set them bad examples, led them into idolatry and other sins, which were the cause of their ruin, and of their being carried captive, and scattered in other countries; and their sin was the more aggravated, inasmuch as these people were the Lord's pasture sheep, whom he had an interest in, and a regard unto, and had committed them to the care and charge of these pastors or governors, to be particularly taken care of.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 23

Jer 23:1-40. The Wicked Rulers to Be Superseded by the King, Who Should Reign over the Again United Peoples, Israel and Judah.

This forms the epilogue to the denunciations of the four kings, in Jer 21:1-22:30.

1. pastors—Shallum, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah (Eze 34:2).

Jeremiah 23:1 Parallel Commentaries

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David's Righteous Branch
1Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! said the LORD. 2Therefore thus said the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings, said the LORD. 3And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. …

John 10:8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
Isaiah 56:9 Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Jeremiah 10:21 The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.
Jeremiah 12:10 Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.
Jeremiah 13:17 If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD's flock will be taken captive.
Jeremiah 22:22 The wind will drive all your shepherds away, and your allies will go into exile. Then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all your wickedness.
Jeremiah 50:6 "My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
Ezekiel 13:3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
Ezekiel 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
Ezekiel 34:31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"
Ezekiel 36:38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Zechariah 11:17 "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!"