Zechariah 11:15-17

15 The Lord also said to me: "Take the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

16 I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are going astray, and he will not seek the lost^[a] or heal the broken. He will not sustain the healthy,^[b] but he will devour the flesh of the fat [sheep]^[c] and tear off their hooves.

17 Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock!^[d] May a sword strike^[e] his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither away and his right eye go completely blind!"

Zechariah 11:15-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 11

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews, and shows the causes and reasons of it; and is concluded with a prediction concerning antichrist. The destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of it, is signified by figurative expressions, Zec 11:1,2 which occasions an howling among the shepherds or rulers of Israel, on account of whose cruelty and covetousness the wrath of God came upon them without mercy, Zec 11:3,5,6 but inasmuch as there were a remnant according to the election of grace among them, named the flock of the slaughter, Christ is called upon to feed them; who undertakes it, and prepares for it, Zec 11:4,7 but being abhorred by the shepherds, whom he therefore loathed and cut off, he determines to leave the people to utter ruin and destruction, Zec 11:8,9 and, as a token of it, breaks the two staves asunder he had took to feed them with, Zec 11:10,11,14 and, as an instance of their ingratitude to him, and which is a justification of his conduct towards them, notice is taken of his being valued at and sold for thirty pieces of silver, Zec 11:12,13 but, in the place of these shepherds cut off, it is suggested that another should arise, who is described by his folly, negligence, and cruelty, Zec 11:15,16 to whom a woe is denounced, Zec 11:17.

Footnotes

• [a] Lit young
• [b] Or exhausted
• [c] Ezk 34:3-4
• [d] Jr 23:2
• [e] Lit be against