But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
- KJV But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
- BSB He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
- NKJV But He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
- NASB But He led His own people out like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God led His people out like sheep and guided them like a flock. He shepherded Israel through the wilderness.
Overview
In contrast to judgment on Egypt, God 'led out his own people like sheep,' tenderly guiding them. The shepherd imagery portrays His personal, caring leadership. It anticipates Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who leads and lays down His life for His sheep (John 10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 77:20You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
- Neh 9:12Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.
- John 10:11–42I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
- Isa 63:11–14Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?”
- Ps 95:7for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
- Ps 105:37He brought them out with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.
- Luke 15:4–6“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
- Ps 100:3Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
- Isa 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
- Ezek 34:11–31For thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
- Jer 23:2–4Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who 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,” says Yahweh.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 78:52 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.