And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.
Parallel translations
- WEB I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.
- KJV Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
- NKJV I dismissed the three shepherds in one month. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
- NASB 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.
- NLT I got rid of their three evil shepherds in a single month. But I became impatient with these sheep, and they hated me, too.
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
The shepherd removes three shepherds in one month, but mutual loathing develops between him and the flock. It matters because it shows the breakdown of relationship between God's Shepherd and a people who reject Him.
Overview
The 'three shepherds' cut off in a single month are debated—possibly specific corrupt leaders, classes of leadership (kings, priests, prophets), or a general sweeping away of false rulers. Whatever the precise reference, the key turn is the mutual aversion: the Shepherd grows weary of the flock and they loathe Him. This estrangement foreshadows Israel's rejection of the Messiah, who came to His own and was not received (John 1:11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- John 15:18If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
- John 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
- Isa 49:7Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
- Matt 23:34–36Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.
- John 15:23–25Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.
- Hos 5:7They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.
- Luke 19:14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Jer 12:8My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me; therefore I hate her.
- Heb 10:38But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
- Deut 32:19When the LORD saw this, He rejected them, provoked to anger by His sons and daughters.
- Ps 106:40So the anger of the LORD burned against His people, and He abhorred His own inheritance.
- Lev 26:11And I will make My dwelling place among you, and My soul will not despise you.
- Jer 14:21For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it.
- Hos 9:15All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.
- Matt 24:50–51The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate.
- Lev 26:30I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.
- Lev 26:44Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
- Luke 12:50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
- Ps 5:5The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.
- Ps 78:9The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.
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Christ at the center
The Branch who is both priest and king, the shepherd struck and the flock scattered, the king coming humble on a donkey, the one they pierced, the fountain opened for sin — Zechariah is dense with Christ.
How Zechariah 11:8 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
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