7786 shepherd, as king and leader
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7700 Leadership and the people of God  »  7784 shepherd  »  7786 shepherd, as king and leader

Shepherd was a standard term for a leader or king throughout the ancient world. In this sense it often appears in the Bible.

General term for a king or leader

Isaiah 44:28 The prophet describes this non-Jewish king as God's shepherd ; Jeremiah 6:3 See also 2 Samuel 7:7; Psalm 77:20; Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 12:10; Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44

The LORD as shepherd

Of Israel

Psalm 80:1 See also Genesis 49:24; Psalm 28:9; Isaiah 40:11

Of the individual

Psalm 23:1 See also Genesis 48:15

David as the model of a good shepherd

Experience as a real shepherd

Psalm 78:70-71 See also 1 Samuel 17:34-37; 2 Samuel 12:1-7 The king is brought to his senses by a “shepherd” story; Psalm 23:1-4

The shepherd faces death for his flock

2 Samuel 24:17 See also Exodus 32:32; John 10:11,15,17

David as a model of the coming Messiah

Ezekiel 34:23 See also Jeremiah 23:4-5; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5

A good shepherd as a leader “after God's own heart”

Jeremiah 3:15 See also Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:12

A bad shepherd

1 Kings 22:17

Criticisms of the shepherds of Israel

Jeremiah 23:1-2 See also Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah 22:21-22; Ezekiel 34:1-10

See also

2230  Messiah, coming of
5085  David
5366  king
5509  rulers
7135  Israel, people of God
7735  leaders, political



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