Zechariah 11:7
5 whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them.
6 For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.”
So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock.
8 And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.
9 Then I said, “I will no longer shepherd you. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish; and let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.”
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
- So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock.
- KJV
- And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
- WEB
- So I fed the flock to be slaughtered, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called “Favor” and the other I called “Union”, and I fed the flock.
- ASV
- So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
- DARBY
- So I fed the flock of slaughter, truly the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
- BLB
- And I pastured the flock of slaughter, the afflicted of the flock, and I took for myself two staffs—to one I called Favor, and to one I called Union—and I pastured the flock.
- ÅB
- Så røktet jeg slaktesauene, endog de usleste av sauene; og jeg tok meg to staver, den ene kalte jeg liflighet, og den andre kalte jeg bånd[^3], og jeg røktet sauene,
- OTB
- Så jeg voktet flokken som var bestemt for slakt, særlig de lidende i flokken. Jeg tok to staver, kalte den ene Nåde og den andre Enhet, og jeg voktet flokken.
- B1930
- Så røktet jeg slaktefårene, endog de usleste av fårene; og jeg tok mig to staver, den ene kalte jeg liflighet, og den andre kalte jeg bånd, og jeg røktet fårene, / < SKR 11, 14.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Zechariah 11:14
Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Read in contextIsaiah 11:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Read in contextZechariah 11:4
This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter,
Read in contextEzekiel 37:16–23
“And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’
Read in contextZechariah 11:10–11
Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.
Read in contextPsalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Read in contextIsaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Read in contextZephaniah 3:12
But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
Read in context