Jeremiah 10:21
19 Woe to me because of my brokenness; my wound is grievous! But I said, “This is truly my sickness, and I must bear it.”
20 My tent is destroyed, and all its ropes are snapped. My sons have departed from me and are no more. I have no one left to pitch my tent or set up my curtains.
For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
22 Listen! The sound of a report is coming— a great commotion from the land to the north. The cities of Judah will be made a desolation, a haunt for jackals.
23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
- KJV
- For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
- WEB
- For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have scattered.
- ASV
- For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.
- DARBY
- For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not sought Jehovah; therefore have they not acted wisely, and all their flock is scattered.
- BLB
- For the shepherds have become stupid, and they have not sought YHWH! Upon thus they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
- ÅB
- For hyrdene var uforstandige og søkte ikke Herren; derfor fór de ikke vist fram, og hele deres flokk ble adspredt.
- OTB
- Hyrdene er uforstandige og har ikke søkt Herren; derfor lykkes de ikke, og hele deres flokk er spredt.
- B1930
- For hyrdene var uforstandige og søkte ikke Herren; derfor fór de ikke vist frem, og hele deres hjord blev adspredt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 12:10
Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.
Read in contextEzekiel 34:2–10
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
Read in contextJeremiah 23:1–2
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
Read in contextIsaiah 56:10–12
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Read in contextEzekiel 22:25–30
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.
Read in contextJeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?
Read in contextJeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
Read in contextJohn 10:12–13
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
Read in context