Zacarías 11:4

4 Así dijo el SEÑOR mi Dios: Apacienta las ovejas de 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 Aúlla, oh haya, porque el cedro cayó, porque los magníficos son talados. Aullad, alcornoques de Basán, porque el fuerte monte es derribado

3 Voz de aullido de pastores se oyó, porque su magnificencia es asolada; estruendo de bramidos de cachorros de leones, porque la soberbia del Jordán es destruida

4 Así dijo el SEÑOR mi Dios: Apacienta las ovejas de la matanza

5 a las cuales mataban sus compradores, y no se tenían por culpables; y el que las vendía, decía: Bendito sea el SEÑOR, porque he enriquecido; ni sus pastores tenían piedad de ellas

6 Por tanto, no tendré piedad más de los moradores de la tierra, dice el SEÑOR; porque he aquí, yo entregaré los hombres, cada cual en mano de su compañero, y en mano de su rey; y quebrantarán la tierra, y yo no los libraré de sus manos