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
