New International Version
Jeremiah 23:1
1“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people—the shepherds of my sheep—for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,” says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 23:1
“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. 3“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and 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 2:8The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.
- Ezekiel 13:3This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
- Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
- Zechariah 11:17“Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!”
- Matthew 23:13“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
- Luke 11:42“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
- Jeremiah 23:2Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord.
- Jeremiah 10:21The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.
- Jeremiah 12:10Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.
- Jeremiah 22:22The wind will drive all your shepherds away, and your allies will go into exile. Then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all your wickedness.
- Jeremiah 25:34Weep and wail, you shepherds; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For your time to be slaughtered has come; you will fall like the best of the rams.
- Jeremiah 50:6“My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
- Isaiah 56:9Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
- Ezekiel 22:25There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.
- Micah 3:11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
- Zephaniah 3:3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the 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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