Zacarías 11:4

4 Así dice el SEÑOR mi Dios: Apacienta las ovejas destinadas para la matanza.

Zacarías 11:4 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 11:4

Thus saith the Lord my God
The Syriac version adds, "to me"; not the Prophet Zechariah, but the Messiah, who calls the Lord his God, as he was man and Mediator, ( John 20:17 ) for what follow are the words of God the Father to him, calling upon him, and giving him a commission to Feed the flock of the slaughter;
meaning the people of the Jews in general, to whom Christ was sent as a prophet, to teach and instruct them by the ministry of the word; so "feeding" is interpreted of prophesying, by the Targum and Jarchi: and these are called "the flock of slaughter", because of the cruel usage they met with from their shepherds and owners, mentioned in the next verse ( Zechariah 11:5 ) ; and because they were appointed and given up to ruin and destruction of God, on account of their sins and transgressions; though there was a remnant among them, a little flock, afterwards in this chapter called the poor of the flock ( Zechariah 11:7 ) , who were the special care of Christ, and were fed by him in a spiritual manner; and may go by this name, because exposed to the cruelties of men, and are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, ( Romans 8:36 ) these Christ was called upon by his Father in the council of peace to take care of, which he did; and in the everlasting covenant of grace he agreed to feed them; and in the fulness of time he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who were as sheep without a shepherd; and he fed them with knowledge and with understanding.

Zacarías 11:4 In-Context

2 Gime, ciprés, porque ha caído el cedro, porque los árboles majestuosos han sido derribados; gemid, encinas de Basán, porque ha caído el bosque impenetrable.

3 Voz de gemido de pastores, porque su esplendor está arruinado; voz del rugido de leoncillos, porque derribada está la gloria del Jordán.

4 Así dice el SEÑOR mi Dios: Apacienta las ovejas destinadas para la matanza.

5 Los que las compran las matan y salen impunes, y el que las vende dice: "¡Bendito sea el SEÑOR, porque me he enriquecido!"; y ni sus propios pastores se compadecen de ellas.

6 Pues yo no me compadeceré más de los habitantes de esta tierradeclara el SEÑORsino que he aquí, haré que los hombres caigan cada uno en manos de otro y en manos de su rey; y ellos herirán la tierra y yo no los libraré de sus manos.