New English Translation
Jeremiah 23:1
1The Lord says, “The leaders of my people are sure to be judged. They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered.
Jeremiah 23:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the Lord.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 23:1
The Lord says, “The leaders of my people are sure to be judged. They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered. 2So the Lord God of Israel has this to say about the leaders who are ruling over his people: “You have caused my people to be dispersed and driven into exile. You have not taken care of them. So I will punish you for the evil that you have done. I, the Lord, affirm it! 3Then I myself will regather those of my people who are still alive from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their homeland. They will greatly increase in number.
Read all of Jeremiah 23Jeremiah 23:1 word by word
ה֣וֹי רֹעִ֗ים מְאַבְּדִ֧ים וּמְפִצִ֛ים אֶת־צֹ֥אן מַרְעִיתִ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jeremiah 23:1
- Jeremiah 2:8Your priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those responsible for teaching my law did not really know me. Your rulers rebelled against me. Your prophets prophesied in the name of the god Baal. They all worshiped idols that could not help them.
- Ezekiel 13:3This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing!
- Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them – to the shepherds: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?
- Zechariah 11:17Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”
- Matthew 23:13“But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.
- Luke 11:42“But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every herb, yet you neglect justice and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others.
- Jeremiah 23:2So the Lord God of Israel has this to say about the leaders who are ruling over his people: “You have caused my people to be dispersed and driven into exile. You have not taken care of them. So I will punish you for the evil that you have done. I, the Lord, affirm it!
- Jeremiah 10:21For our leaders are stupid. They have not sought the Lord’s advice. So they do not act wisely, and the people they are responsible for have all been scattered.
- Jeremiah 12:10Many foreign rulers will ruin the land where I planted my people. They will trample all over my chosen land. They will turn my beautiful land into a desolate wasteland.
- Jeremiah 22:22My judgment will carry off all your leaders like a storm wind! Your allies will go into captivity. Then you will certainly be disgraced and put to shame because of all the wickedness you have done.
- Jeremiah 25:34Wail and cry out in anguish, you rulers! Roll in the dust, you who shepherd flocks of people! The time for you to be slaughtered has come. You will lie scattered and fallen like broken pieces of fine pottery.
- Jeremiah 50:6“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have allow them to go astray. They have wandered around in the mountains. They have roamed from one mountain and hill to another. They have forgotten their resting place.
- Isaiah 56:9All you wild animals in the fields, come and devour, all you wild animals in the forest!
- Ezekiel 22:25Her princes within her are like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they have devoured lives. They take away riches and valuable things; they have made many women widows within it.
- Micah 3:11Her leaders take bribes when they decide legal cases, her priests proclaim rulings for profit, and her prophets read omens for pay. Yet they claim to trust the Lord and say, “The Lord is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!”
- Zephaniah 3:3Her princes are as fierce as roaring lions; her rulers are as hungry as wolves in the desert, who completely devour their prey by morning.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 23:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Wo be unto the pastors - There shall a curse fall on the kings, princes, priests, and prophets; who, by their vicious conduct and example, have brought desolation upon the people.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The pastors - shepherds, i. e., civil rulers Jeremiah 2:8. The sheep of My pasture - literally, of My pasturing, the sheep of whom I am shepherd. The people do not belong to the rulers but to God.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The restoration of the Jews to their own land. (Jr 23:1-8) The wickedness of the priests and prophets of Judah, The people exhorted not to listen to false promises. (Jr 23:9-22) The pretenders to inspiration threatened. (Jr 23:23-32) Also the scoffers at true prophecy. (Jr 23:33-40) Verses 1-8 Woe be to those who are set to feed God's people, but take no concern to do them good! Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though only a remnant of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1In the ancient Near East, people often called kings shepherds. Good shepherds protected and cared for their people. However, Judah's kings scattered their people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-40This forms the epilogue to the denunciations of the four kings, in Jr 21:1-22:30. 1. pastors--Shallum, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah (Eze 34:2).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 23:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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