Zechariah 11:16

14 Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15 And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves.

17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”

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 behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves.
KJV
For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
WEB
For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not visit those who are cut off, neither will seek those who are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the meat of the fat sheep, and will tear their hoofs in pieces.
ASV
For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those that are cut off, neither will seek those that are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat [sheep], and will tear their hoofs in pieces.
DARBY
For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who shall not visit those that are about to perish, neither shall seek that which is strayed away, nor heal that which is wounded, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their hoofs in pieces.
BLB
For behold, I am raising up a shepherd in the land: Those being cut off he will not attend to; the young one he will not seek, and the one being broken he will not heal. The one standing still he will not sustain, and the flesh of the fat one he will devour, and their hooves he will tear off!
ÅB
For se, jeg lar en hyrde stå fram i landet, en som ikke ser til de sauene som er nær ved å omkomme, ikke søker etter det som er bortkommet, og ikke leger det som har fått skade, og ikke sørger for det som holder seg oppe, men spiser kjøttet av de fete og endog bryter deres klover i stykker.
OTB
For jeg er i ferd med å oppreise en hyrde i landet som ikke vil bry seg om de som går til grunne, ikke søke de spredte, ikke helbrede de sårede, ikke nære de friske, men vil fortære kjøttet av de fete sauene, rive av deres hover.
B1930
For se, jeg lar en hyrde stå frem i landet, en som ikke ser til de får som er nær ved å omkomme, ikke søker efter det som er bortkommet, og ikke læger det som har fått skade, og ikke sørger for det som holder sig oppe, men eter kjøttet av de fete og endog bryter deres klover i stykker.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 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
  • Jeremiah 23:2

    Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 34:2–6

    “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 context
  • John 10:1

    “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 23:13–29

    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.

    Read in context
  • Luke 12:45–46

    But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 33:13

    But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 34:21

    Since you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them abroad,

    Read in context