Jeremiah 23:1

New Leaders over a Regathered Remnant

23:1 The Lord says, ¹  “The leaders of my people are sure to be judged. ²  They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered. ³ 

Jeremiah 25:36

25:36 Listen to the cries of anguish of the leaders.

Listen to the wails of the shepherds of the flocks.

They are wailing because the Lord

is about to destroy their lands. ⁴ 

Jeremiah 10:21

10:21 For our leaders ⁵  are stupid.

They have not sought the Lord’s advice. ⁶ 

So they do not act wisely,

and the people they are responsible for ⁷  have all been scattered.

[23:1]  ¹ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[23:1]  ² sn Heb This particle once again introduces a judgment speech. The indictment is found in v. 1 and the announcement of judgment in v. 2. This leads into an oracle of deliverance in vv. 3-4. See also the note on the word “judged” in 22:13.

[23:1]  ³ tn Heb “Woe to the shepherds who are killing and scattering the sheep of my pasture.” See the study note on 22:13 for the significance of “Sure to be judged” (Heb “Woe”) See the study note for the significance of the metaphor introduced here.

[25:36]  ⁴ tn Heb “their pastures,” i.e., the place where they “shepherd” their “flocks.” The verb tenses in this section are not as clear as in the preceding. The participle in this verse is followed by a vav consecutive perfect like the imperatives in v. 34. The verbs in v. 38 are perfects but they can be and probably should be understood as prophetic like the perfect in v. 31 (נְתָנָם, nÿtanam) which is surrounded by imperfects, participles, and vav consecutive perfects.

[10:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “the shepherds.”

[10:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “They have not sought the Lord.”

[10:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “all their flock (or “pasturage”).”