Zechariah 11:8
New International Version
In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them

New Living Translation
I got rid of their three evil shepherds in a single month. But I became impatient with these sheep, and they hated me, too.

English Standard Version
In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.

Berean Standard Bible
And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.

King James Bible
Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

New King James Version
I dismissed the three shepherds in one month. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

New American Standard Bible
Then I did away with the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was tired of me.

NASB 1995
Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.

NASB 1977
Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.

Amplified Bible
Then I eliminated the three [incompetent, unfit] shepherds [the civil rulers, the priests, and the prophets] in one month, for I was impatient with them, and they also were tired of me and despised me.

Christian Standard Bible
In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.

American Standard Version
And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.

Contemporary English Version
In less than a month, I became impatient with three shepherds who didn't like me, and I got rid of them.

English Revised Version
And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I got rid of three shepherds in one month. I became impatient with the sheep, and they also became disgusted with me.

Good News Translation
I lost patience with three other shepherds, who hated me, and I got rid of them all in a single month.

International Standard Version
In a single month I got rid of three shepherds because I grew tired of them, and they despised me.

Majority Standard Bible
And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.

NET Bible
Next I eradicated the three shepherds in one month, for I ran out of patience with them and, indeed, they detested me as well.

New Heart English Bible
I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

World English Bible
I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I cut off the three shepherds in one month, and my soul is grieved with them, and also their soul has abhorred me.

Young's Literal Translation
And I cut off the three shepherds in one month, and my soul is grieved with them, and also their soul hath abhorred me.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I will conceal three shepherds in one month; and my soul will be shortened for them, and also their soul loathed for me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I cut off three shepherds in one month, and my soul was straitened in their regard: for their soul also varied in my regard.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I cut down three shepherds in one month. And my soul became contracted concerning them, just as their soul also varied concerning me.

New American Bible
In a single month, I did away with the three shepherds, for I wearied of them, and they disdained me.

New Revised Standard Version
In one month I disposed of the three shepherds, for I had become impatient with them, and they also detested me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Three shepherds I did away with in one month; and my soul was wearied of them, and their soul also howled against me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I destroyed three Shepherds in one month and my soul was weary of them, also their souls howled against me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; 'for My soul became impatient of them, and their soul also loathed Me.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will cut off three shepherds in one month; and my soul shall grieve over them, for their souls cried out against me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Doomed Flock
7So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. 8And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me. 9Then I said, “I will no longer shepherd you. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish; and let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.”…

Cross References
Ezekiel 34:2-10
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. ...

Jeremiah 23:1-2
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

Matthew 23:13-36
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. ...

John 10:12-13
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

Jeremiah 25:34-38
Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery. / Flight will evade the shepherds, and escape will elude the leaders of the flock. / Hear the cry of the shepherds, the wailing of the leaders of the flock, for the LORD is destroying their pasture. ...

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

John 19:15
At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

Isaiah 56:10-12
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: / “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

Matthew 27:3-10
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” / So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. ...

Hosea 4:4-6
But let no man contend; let no man offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with a priest. / You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother— / My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Micah 3:1-4
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.” ...

Acts 7:51-53
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— / you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

Jeremiah 2:8
The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

in.

Hosea 5:7
They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

Matthew 23:34-36
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: …

Matthew 24:50,51
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, …

and my.

Leviticus 26:11,30,44
And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you…

Deuteronomy 32:19
And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

Psalm 5:5
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

lothed them.

Isaiah 49:7
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Luke 19:14
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

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Abhorred Annihilated Cut Destroyed Detested End Flock Grew Grieved Impatient Keepers Loathed Month Rid Shepherds Soul Souls Three Tired Vexed Weary
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Abhorred Annihilated Cut Destroyed Detested End Flock Grew Grieved Impatient Keepers Loathed Month Rid Shepherds Soul Souls Three Tired Vexed Weary
Zechariah 11
1. The destruction of Jerusalem.
3. The elect being cared for, the rest are rejected.
10. The staves of Beauty and Bands broken by the rejection of Christ.
15. The type and curse of a foolish shepherd.














In one month
The phrase "In one month" suggests a rapid and decisive action. In the Hebrew context, the term for "month" (חֹדֶשׁ, chodesh) can also imply a new beginning or a cycle. This indicates that the events described were not only swift but also significant in the unfolding of God's plan. Historically, this could reflect a period of intense judgment or change, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the divine action.

I dismissed
The Hebrew root for "dismissed" (כָּרַת, karath) often means to cut off or to sever. This implies a complete and irrevocable action taken by God. In the context of shepherds, it suggests a removal of leadership or authority. This action reflects God's sovereignty and His right to judge and remove those who fail to fulfill their roles according to His standards.

three shepherds
The identity of the "three shepherds" has been a subject of much debate among scholars. In a historical context, shepherds often symbolize leaders or rulers. The number three could represent completeness or a specific group of leaders who were unfaithful. This phrase underscores the failure of leadership and the consequences of not aligning with God's will. It serves as a warning to those in positions of authority to lead with integrity and faithfulness.

My soul grew impatient
The expression "My soul grew impatient" reveals God's deep dissatisfaction and weariness with the situation. The Hebrew word for "impatient" (קָצַר, qatsar) conveys a sense of being short or vexed. This anthropomorphic language helps us understand the intensity of God's displeasure with the unfaithfulness of the leaders and the people. It highlights God's desire for righteousness and justice.

with the flock
The "flock" symbolizes the people of Israel, often depicted as sheep under the care of shepherds. This imagery is consistent throughout Scripture, where God is the ultimate Shepherd. The impatience with the flock indicates their rebellion and failure to follow God's ways. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility of God's people to remain faithful and obedient to His guidance.

and their souls also detested me
The phrase "and their souls also detested me" reflects a mutual estrangement between God and His people. The Hebrew word for "detested" (בָּחַל, bachal) implies a deep-seated rejection or loathing. This indicates a breakdown in the covenant relationship, where the people have turned away from God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God.

Verse 8. - In executing the office of feeding the flock, three shepherds also I out off in one month; Septuagint, "And I will take away the three shepherds in one month." The article in the Hebrew and Greek seems to point to some known shepherds, three in number, unless we take it as "threes of the shepherds." Hence expositors have sought to find historical personages to whom the term might apply. Those who assert a pre-exilian origin for this part of the prophecy, suggest the three kings, Zachariah, Shallum, and Menahem; or, as Menahem reigned ten years, some unrecorded pretender, who started up at the time. Others see some Syrian monarchs in Maccabean times; or the three offices, king, prophet, priest; or the three dynasties that oppressed Israel, viz. the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Macedonian. All these interpretations fail in some point; and we are reduced to see herein a reference, as Cheyne says, to "the prompt and vigorous action of Jehovah's Shepherd in dealing with the evil shepherds, as well as in feeding the flock;" the number three being used indefinitely. Or we may find in this number an allusion to the three classes in ver. 5 - the buyers, the sellers, and the pitiless shepherds. The oppressors, external and internal, are removed and cut off in one month. To the prophet's eye all this seemed to take place in that short space of time. If anything more is intended, we may, with Keil and others, taking the month as consisting of thirty days, assume that ten days are assigned to the destruction of each shepherd, after each had fulfilled his allotted period - the number ten expressing perfection or completion. And my soul loathed them; literally, but my soul was straitened for them; i.e. was impatient, weary of them. These words begin a new paragraph, and refer, not to the three shepherds, but to the sheep, the Israelites. The prophet now shows how ill the people had responded to God's manifold care, and mingles with the past a view of their future ingratitude and disobedience which will bring upon them final ruin. God, as it were, was weary of their continual backslidings and obstinate perseverance in evil. (For the phrase, see Numbers 21:4; Judges 16:16; Job 21:4.) It is the opposite to long suffering. Their soul also abhorred me. They showed their abhorrence by their devotion to idols and their disinclination for all goodness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And in one
אֶחָ֑ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

month
בְּיֶ֣רַח (bə·ye·raḥ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3391: A lunation, month

I dismissed
וָאַכְחִ֛ד (wā·’aḵ·ḥiḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3582: To secrete, by act, word, to destroy

three
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

shepherds.
הָרֹעִ֖ים (hā·rō·‘îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

My soul
נַפְשִׁי֙ (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

grew impatient
וַתִּקְצַ֤ר (wat·tiq·ṣar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7114: To dock off, curtail, to harvest

with [the flock],
בָּהֶ֔ם (bā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

and their souls
נַפְשָׁ֖ם (nap̄·šām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

also
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

detested
בָּחֲלָ֥ה (bā·ḥă·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 973: To feel a loathing

me.
בִֽי׃ (ḇî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Zechariah 11:8 I cut off the three shepherds (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 11:7
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