7785 shepherd, as occupation
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7700 Leadership and the people of God  »  7784 shepherd  »  7785 shepherd, as occupation

The occupation of a shepherd was both humble and honourable. In the marginal hill country of Palestine it was particularly demanding.

A shepherd as a keeper of flocks of animals

Genesis 46:32 The Hebrew word refers to a keeper of goats and cattle as well as sheep.

The tasks of a shepherd

Tending, feeding and watering

Psalm 23:2 See also Genesis 29:3; Genesis 26:19-22; Exodus 22:5; Luke 13:15; John 21:15-17

Keeping and protecting

Jeremiah 31:10 See also Genesis 4:2; Psalm 23:4 The rod is a crook (for extracting sheep from difficulty) and the staff a club (for warding off wild animals); 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Leading, not driving, sheep

John 10:3-4 See also Exodus 3:1; Psalm 23:2; Psalm 77:20; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 50:6

Gathering animals together

John 10:3 See also Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26; Matthew 25:32

The shepherd's routine

The search for pasture

Genesis 37:17

The midday rest

Songs 1:7

The night-watch

Luke 2:8; Jeremiah 43:12

Shearing, an annual festival

1 Samuel 25:7-8

The use of pens and folds

Psalm 50:9; Habakkuk 3:17; John 10:1,16

Breeding

Genesis 30:40

Rearing

Rebekah's ruse depended on a method used to get a ewe to accept an alien lamb:

Genesis 27:16,27

The problems faced by shepherds

Drought and dry winds

Jeremiah 12:4; Hosea 4:3; Hosea 13:15; Joel 1:17-20; Amos 1:2

With animals and thieves

1 Samuel 17:34-37; Samuel 25:15; John 10:1,12

Shepherds as employers

Job 1:3 See also 1 Samuel 25:2; 2 Kings 3:4; Amos 1:1

Shepherds as employees

The status of a shepherd

1 Samuel 16:11; Samuel 17:28; Luke 2:8

The responsibilities of a shepherd

Genesis 31:39; Amos 3:12 A shepherd who lost an animal to wild beasts had to produce evidence; Matthew 18:12 pp Luke 15:4

See also

1220  God as shepherd
4603  animals
4684  sheep
5433  occupations
5480  protection
5802  care
5828  danger
8490  watchfulness



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