False Shepherds Condemned and a Righteous Branch Promised
Jeremiah 23:1-8
Jer.23.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הוי: INTJ
- רעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מאבדים: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ומפצים: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- צאן: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מרעיתי: NOUN,f,sg,cs+1s
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezek.34:2-6 (verbal): Ezekiel condemns shepherds who feed themselves and scatter my flock—language and theme closely parallel Jeremiah's indictment of shepherds destroying and scattering God's sheep.
- Zech.11:16-17 (thematic): Zechariah pronounces woe on a 'worthless' shepherd who will be rejected—echoes Jeremiah's judgment against negligent or destructive shepherd-leaders.
- Matt.9:36 (thematic): Jesus beholds the crowds 'like sheep without a shepherd,' reflecting the same pastoral failure and vulnerability that Jeremiah decries.
- John 10:12-13 (verbal): John contrasts the true shepherd with the hired hand who abandons the sheep—parallels Jeremiah's criticism of leaders who fail to care for or who scatter the flock.
- Acts 20:28-30 (allusion): Paul charges elders to shepherd the church and warns of false teachers who will draw away the flock—New Testament application of Jeremiah's warning about destructive shepherds.
Alternative generated candidates
- Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter my flock, declares the LORD.
- Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, declares the LORD.
Jer.23.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- הרעים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- הרעים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- עמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- הפצתם: VERB,hiph,perf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- צאני: NOUN,m,pl,abs+1s
- ותדחום: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- פקדתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- פקד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2mp
- את: PRT,acc
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מעלליכם: NOUN,m,pl,suff:2,m,pl
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezek.34:2-10 (verbal): Directly parallels the condemnation of negligent shepherds who scatter the flock and the divine promise to judge and seek out the sheep; similar language and theme of God holding shepherds accountable for evil deeds.
- Jer.23:1 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same context: an announcement of woe to the shepherds who have destroyed and scattered God's flock, forming the opening judgment that 23:2 explicates.
- Matt.9:36 (thematic): Jesus observes the crowds as 'sheep without a shepherd,' echoing the motif of a people neglected by their leaders and the pastoral failure Jeremiah indicts.
- Zech.11:16-17 (thematic): Speaks of a worthless/foolish shepherd and the curse on such leaders; shares the theme of rejected or harmful shepherding and divine judgment on those shepherds.
- 1 Pet.5:2-4 (thematic): Exhorts elders to shepherd God's flock faithfully and willingly—an implicit contrast to the negligent shepherds in Jeremiah and a New Testament pastoral ethic countering the conduct condemned in 23:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who feed my people: You have scattered my flock and driven them away; you have not attended them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.
- Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not tended them. Behold, I will take account of you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.
Jer.23.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- אקבץ: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שארית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צאני: NOUN,m,pl,abs+1s
- מכל: PREP
- הארצות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הדחתי: VERB,hif,perf,1,sg
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- והשבתי: VERB,hiphil,perf,1,com,sg
- אתהן: PART+PRON,3,f,pl
- על: PREP
- נוהן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:3mp
- ופרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- ורבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ezek.34.13 (verbal): Uses near-identical imagery of God gathering his scattered flock from the nations and bringing them into their own pastures/folds.
- Ezek.34.11-12 (thematic): God as shepherd who seeks, rescues and gathers the scattered sheep—same pastoral motif of restoration and return.
- Jer.31.10 (verbal): Within Jeremiah itself: announces God will gather the outcasts of Israel like a shepherd gathers his flock—directly parallel promise of regathering.
- Amos 9.14 (thematic): Promise that God will restore Israel, bring them back from exile and enable them to rebuild, echoing the theme of regathering and renewal.
- Deut.30.3-5 (thematic): Earlier covenantal promise that the LORD will restore Israel from the nations and bring them back to their land—background precedent for the prophetic promise to gather the remnant.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their pastures; they shall be fruitful and multiply.
- And I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where I drove them, and I will bring them back to their pastures; they shall be fruitful and multiply.
Jer.23.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והקמתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- רעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ורעום: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- ייראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עוד: ADV
- ולא: CONJ
- יחתו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- יפקדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezek.34:23-24 (verbal): God pledges to set up a shepherd over the people—language and function (setting shepherds who will feed and care for the flock) closely parallels Jeremiah's promise.
- Ezek.37:24 (allusion): Speaks of 'my servant David' as shepherd/king and that 'they shall have one shepherd,' echoing Jeremiah's theme of appointing shepherds and restored, secure leadership.
- Isa.40:11 (thematic): God described as a shepherd who feeds, gathers and gently leads the flock—similar pastoral imagery emphasizing care, provision and the removal of fear.
- Ps.23:1-3 (verbal): 'The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want' parallels Jeremiah's assurance that the flock will no longer lack or be dismayed—shared emphasis on provision and protection.
- Micah 5:4 (thematic): Predicts a ruler who will 'feed his flock' and shepherd them in the LORD's strength—a messianic shepherd-king motif resonant with Jeremiah's promise of appointed shepherds.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will set shepherds over them who will feed them, and they shall fear no more, neither be dismayed, nor shall any be lacking, declares the LORD.
- I will set shepherds over them who will pasture them; they shall no longer fear, be dismayed, or be lacking, declares the LORD.
Jer.23.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- באים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- והקמתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צמח: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- צדיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- והשכיל: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- ועשה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וצדקה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Isaiah 11:1-5 (thematic): A 'Branch' from Jesse who will rule with wisdom, understanding, and execute justice — parallel messianic/Davidic imagery and emphasis on righteous rule.
- Jeremiah 33:14-16 (verbal): Near-duplicate prophecy promising a 'righteous Branch' for David who will execute justice and bring salvation; closely mirrors wording and theme.
- Ezekiel 34:23-24 (thematic): God promises to set 'one shepherd, my servant David' over the people — the restoration of a Davidic ruler who will shepherd and judge Israel.
- Zechariah 6:12 (allusion): Refers to 'the man whose name is the Branch' who will build and rule, using the same 'Branch' title that echoes Jeremiah's messianic figure.
- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (thematic): God’s covenant promise that David's offspring will establish an enduring throne provides the covenantal foundation for Jeremiah's promise of a future Davidic king.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; a King shall reign and act wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch—who shall reign as king and act wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Jer.23.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בימיו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- תושע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- וישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישכן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לבטח: ADV
- וזה: CONJ+PRON,dem,m,sg,abs
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- א: PRT
- שר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יקראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צדקנו: NOUN,m,sg,const+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Jeremiah 33:16 (quotation): Nearly identical wording and promise: Judah/Israel will dwell safely and the name given is 'The LORD is our righteousness' (YHWH Tsidkenu).
- Jeremiah 23:5 (thematic): Contextual messianic prophecy about a 'righteous Branch' who will reign and execute justice and righteousness, preparing the ground for the title 'The LORD is our righteousness.'
- Isaiah 45:24-25 (thematic): Affirms that salvation and justification come from the LORD, so that Israel's righteousness and salvation are ascribed to YHWH rather than human kings or deeds.
- Zechariah 6:12-13 (allusion): Speaks of the coming 'Branch' who will be both king and priest and establish righteous rule—paralleling Jeremiah's messianic expectations tied to divine righteousness.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 (thematic): New Testament appropriation: Christ is presented as 'our righteousness' (alongside sanctification and redemption), echoing the Old Testament idea of God (or his vindicated agent) as the source of righteousness for Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is his name by which he shall be called: The LORD is our righteousness.
- In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell securely. And this is his name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness.
Jer.23.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- הנה: PART
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- באים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- יאמרו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- עוד: ADV
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 16:14-15 (quotation): Almost identical prophetic oracle earlier in Jeremiah: announces that people will no longer invoke the exodus formula but will instead speak of the LORD bringing Israel back from the north and other lands.
- Jeremiah 23:8 (structural): Immediate continuation/contrast to 23:7—completes the thought by giving the new oath formula emphasizing regathering from the north and dispersed countries.
- Jeremiah 31:8 (verbal): Uses the same motif and language of bringing the people 'from the north country' and gathering the dispersed—same theme of future restoration and return from exile.
- Ezekiel 20:34-36 (thematic): Prophetic promise of God gathering and bringing Israel out of the nations where they are scattered—parallels Jeremiah's theme of regathering the exiles.
- Isaiah 11:11 (thematic): Foretells a future recovery of Israel—including from Egypt and other lands—echoing the shift from remembering the original exodus to anticipating a new, wider return.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.'
- Therefore behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt.'
Jer.23.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- הביא: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- זרע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צפונה: ADV
- ומכל: CONJ
- הארצות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הדחתים: VERB,hiphil,perf,2,mp
- שם: ADV
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- אדמתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Jeremiah 31:8 (verbal): Same prophetic promise: God will bring Israel from the north country and gather the exiles to their own land (echoes phraseology and theme of return).
- Ezekiel 36:24 (thematic): God’s promise to 'take you from the nations and gather you' and restore Israel to their land—parallel restoration motif and divine agency in regathering the exiles.
- Deuteronomy 30:3–5 (allusion): Foundational promise that the LORD will restore Israel from all nations and bring them back to the land—background covenantal basis for Jeremiah’s announcement.
- Isaiah 11:11–12 (verbal): A later oracle of regathering 'from the four corners' and 'from the north,' closely related language and the theme of God bringing back the remnant to their land.
- Psalm 107:3 (verbal): Describes God gathering the redeemed 'from the lands, from the east and west, from the north and south,' using the same cardinal-point motif of regathering exiles.
Alternative generated candidates
- But rather they will say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where I had driven them'—and they shall dwell in their own land.
- But rather, 'As the LORD lives who brought up and who brought back the offspring of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries to which I had driven them'—and they shall dwell in their own land.
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter my flock, declares the LORD.
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who feed my people: You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD. But I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries to which I drove them, and I will bring them back to their pastures; they shall be fruitful and multiply.
I will set shepherds over them who will tend them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall any be lacking, declares the LORD.
Behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch—one who shall reign as king, who shall act wisely and execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he shall be called: 'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.'
Therefore behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.' But they will say, 'As the LORD lives who brought up and who brought the offspring of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries to which I had driven them'—and they shall dwell in their own land.