Zechariah 11:4
Context11:4 The Lord my God says this: “Shepherd the flock set aside for slaughter.
Zechariah 11:15
Context11:15 Again the Lord said to me, “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 1
Zechariah 10:2
Context10:2 For the household gods 2 have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd. 3
Zechariah 11:16
Context11:16 Indeed, I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not take heed to the sheep headed to slaughter, will not seek the scattered, and will not heal the injured. 4 Moreover, he will not nourish the one that is healthy but instead will eat the meat of the fat sheep 5 and tear off their hooves.


[11:15] 1 sn The grammar (e.g., the incipient participle מֵקִים, maqim, “about to raise up,” v. 16) and overall sense of vv. 15-17 give the incident a future orientation. Zechariah once more is role-playing but this time he is a “foolish” shepherd, i.e., one who does not know God and who is opposed to him (cf. Prov 1:7; 15:5; 20:3; 27:22). The individual who best represents this eschatological enemy of God and his people is the Antichrist (cf. Matt 24:5, 24; 2 Thess 2:3-4; 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7).
[10:2] 1 tn The Hebrew word תְּרָפִים (tÿrafim, “teraphim”) refers to small images used as means of divination and in other occult practices (cf. Gen 31:19, 34-35; 1 Sam 19:13, 16; Hos 3:4). A number of English versions transliterate the Hebrew term (cf. ASV, NAB, NASB, NRSV) or simply use the generic term “idols” (so KJV, NIV, TEV).
[10:2] 2 sn Shepherd is a common OT metaphor for the king (see esp. Jer 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 23:1-2; 50:6; Ezek 34).
[11:16] 1 tn Heb “the broken” (so KJV, NASB; NRSV “the maimed”).
[11:16] 2 tn Heb “the fat [ones].” Cf. ASV “the fat sheep”; NIV “the choice sheep.”