Jeremiah 10:21
New International Version
The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.

New Living Translation
The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the LORD. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.

English Standard Version
For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

Berean Standard Bible
For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

King James Bible
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

New King James Version
For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.

New American Standard Bible
For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.

NASB 1995
For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.

NASB 1977
For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the shepherds have become senseless And have not sought Yahweh; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.

Amplified Bible
For the shepherds [of the people] have become [like brutes,] irrational and stupid, And have not searched for the LORD or asked about Him or realized their need for Him; Therefore they have not been wise and have not prospered, And all their flocks are scattered.

Christian Standard Bible
For the shepherds are stupid: They don’t seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and their whole flock is scattered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the shepherds are stupid: they don’t seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and their whole flock is scattered.

American Standard Version
For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

Contemporary English Version
But I told them, "Our leaders were stupid failures, because they refused to listen to the LORD. And so we've been scattered like sheep.

English Revised Version
For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of the LORD: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The shepherds are foolish. They don't look to the LORD for help. That is why they won't succeed, and all their flocks will be scattered.

Good News Translation
I answered, "Our leaders are stupid; they do not ask the LORD for guidance. This is why they have failed, and our people have been scattered.

International Standard Version
Because the shepherds are stupid and don't seek the LORD, therefore, they don't prosper, and their flock is scattered.

Majority Standard Bible
For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

NET Bible
For our leaders are stupid. They have not sought the LORD's advice. So they do not act wisely, and the people they are responsible for have all been scattered.

New Heart English Bible
For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of the LORD: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the pastors have become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

World English Bible
For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have scattered.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For the shepherds have become brutish, "" And they have not sought YHWH, "" Therefore they have not acted wisely, "" And all their flock is scattered.

Young's Literal Translation
For the shepherds have become brutish, And Jehovah they have not sought, Therefore they have not acted wisely, And all their flock is scattered.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the shepherds were brutish, and they sought not Jehovah: for this they considered not, and all their flock was scattered.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because the pastors have done foolishly, and have not sought the Lord: therefore have they not understood, and all their flock is scattered.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the pastors have acted foolishly, and they have not sought the Lord. Because of this, they have not understood, and all their flock has been dispersed.

New American Bible
How stupid are the shepherds! The LORD they have not sought; For this reason they have failed, and all their flocks scattered.

New Revised Standard Version
For the shepherds are stupid, and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the shepherds have misbehaved, and have not sought the LORD; and because they did not prosper, all of their flocks have been scattered.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because they are insane Shepherds, and they have not desired LORD JEHOVAH, and because they did not prosper, all their flocks were scattered
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the shepherds are become brutish, And have not inquired of the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flocks are scattered.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the shepherds have become foolish, and have not sought the Lord; therefore the whole pasture has failed, and the sheep have been scattered.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Coming Destruction
20My 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. 21For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered. 22Listen! 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.…

Cross References
Ezekiel 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? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. ...

Zechariah 11:15-17
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. / 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!”

Isaiah 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. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: / “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

Jeremiah 23:1-4
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / 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. / Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. ...

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

John 10:11-13
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / 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. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. / And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Ezekiel 22:25-28
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. / Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. / Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. ...

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”

Isaiah 9:16
For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Luke 6:39
Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Acts 20:28-30
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. / I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.


Treasury of Scripture

For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

the pastors.

Jeremiah 10:8,14
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities…

Jeremiah 2:8
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

their.

Jeremiah 23:1
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:32
And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 50:17
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

Jump to Previous
Acted Beasts Brutish Directions Flight Flock Flocks Inquire Inquired Keepers Pastors Prosper Prospered Scattered Senseless Sheep Shepherds Sought Stupid Wisely
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Acted Beasts Brutish Directions Flight Flock Flocks Inquire Inquired Keepers Pastors Prosper Prospered Scattered Senseless Sheep Shepherds Sought Stupid Wisely
Jeremiah 10
1. The unequal comparison of God and idols.
17. The prophet exhorts to flee from the calamity to come.
19. He laments the spoil of the tabernacle by foolish pastors.
23. He makes an humble supplication.














For the shepherds
The term "shepherds" in this context refers to the leaders of Israel, both spiritual and political. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "רֹעִים" (ro'im), which literally means "shepherds" but is often used metaphorically for leaders. Shepherds were responsible for the care and guidance of their flock, a role that required vigilance, wisdom, and compassion. Historically, shepherds were seen as protectors and providers, and their failure to fulfill these duties would lead to the scattering and vulnerability of the sheep. In the biblical narrative, leaders are often compared to shepherds, with God Himself being the ultimate Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 23). The failure of these shepherds is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature, highlighting the importance of godly leadership.

have become senseless
The Hebrew word here is "בָּעַר" (ba'ar), which can mean to be brutish or foolish. This word choice indicates a lack of understanding or wisdom, suggesting that the leaders have lost their ability to discern and act according to God's will. In the biblical context, wisdom is closely associated with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), and to be senseless is to be disconnected from divine guidance. The senselessness of the shepherds is a grave indictment, as it implies a willful ignorance or neglect of their responsibilities, leading to disastrous consequences for those they lead.

and do not seek the LORD
Seeking the LORD is a fundamental aspect of a faithful life in the Hebrew Scriptures. The phrase implies a deliberate turning away from God, a failure to pursue His presence, guidance, and wisdom. In the Hebrew, "seek" is "דָּרַשׁ" (darash), which conveys the idea of inquiring, requiring, or worshiping. This neglect is not merely a passive oversight but an active choice to ignore the covenant relationship with God. Throughout the Bible, seeking the LORD is associated with blessing, guidance, and prosperity (2 Chronicles 7:14), and the failure to do so results in spiritual and often physical desolation.

Therefore they have not prospered
The consequence of the shepherds' senselessness and failure to seek the LORD is their lack of prosperity. The Hebrew word for "prospered" is "הִשְׂכִּילוּ" (hiskilu), which can also mean to act wisely or to succeed. This indicates that true prosperity is not merely material wealth but is deeply connected to wisdom and alignment with God's will. The lack of prosperity here is a direct result of the leaders' spiritual failings, underscoring the biblical principle that obedience to God leads to blessing, while disobedience leads to ruin.

and all their flock is scattered
The imagery of a scattered flock is poignant and powerful. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a scattered flock was vulnerable to predators and lacked the safety and provision that a shepherd provides. The scattering of the flock symbolizes the disintegration of the community and the loss of divine protection and guidance. This phrase echoes the consequences of poor leadership and spiritual neglect, as seen in other prophetic writings (Ezekiel 34:5-6). The scattering is both a judgment and a natural outcome of the leaders' failure to fulfill their God-given roles. It serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the need for faithful, God-seeking leadership.

(21) The pastors.--The "shepherds," used, as in Jeremiah 2:8; Jeremiah 3:15, and elsewhere, of rulers generally, rather than of priests as such.

Therefore they shall not prosper.--Better, therefore they have not done wisely. This is the primary meaning of the word (that of prosperity, as the result of prudence, the secondary), and is adopted by the LXX., Vulg., and most other versions.

All their flocks.--Literally, all their pasture, the place, or the act, of pasturing, taken practically for the sheep that fed on it.

Verse 21. - The pastors; i.e. the civil authorities (see on Jeremiah 2:8). They shall not prosper; rather, they have not prospered; or, better still, they have not acted wisely, the notion of prospering being rather suggested than expressed (the same word is used in Isaiah lit. 13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the shepherds
הָֽרֹעִ֔ים (hā·rō·‘îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

have become senseless
נִבְעֲרוּ֙ (niḇ·‘ă·rū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

seek
דָרָ֑שׁוּ (ḏā·rā·šū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Therefore
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

they have not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

prospered,
הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ (hiś·kî·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent

and all their
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

flock
מַרְעִיתָ֖ם (mar·‘î·ṯām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4830: A pasturing, shepherding, pasturage

is scattered.
נָפֽוֹצָה׃ (nā·p̄ō·w·ṣāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 10:21 For the shepherds are become brutish (Jer.)
Jeremiah 10:20
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