Jeremiah 23:2
New International Version
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds: “Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them.

English Standard Version
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

New King James Version
Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel says concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not been concerned about them; behold, I am going to call you to account for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.

NASB 1995
Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.

NASB 1977
Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who are shepherding My people: “You have scattered My flock and banished them and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, in regard to the shepherds who care for and feed My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; hear this, I am about to visit and attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
“Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I am about to attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd My people: You have scattered My flock, banished them, and have not attended to them. I will attend to you because of your evil acts"—this is the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
You were supposed to take care of my people, but instead you chased them away. So now I'll punish you severely and make you pay for your crimes!

English Revised Version
Therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"This is what I, the LORD God of Israel, said to the shepherds who take care of my people: You have scattered my sheep and chased them away. You have not taken care of them, so now I will take care of you by punishing you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the rulers who were supposed to take care of his people: "You have not taken care of my people; you have scattered them and driven them away. Now I am going to punish you for the evil you have done.

International Standard Version
Therefore, this is what the LORD God of Israel says about the shepherds who are shepherding my people, "You have scattered my flock and driven them away. You haven't taken care of them, and now I'm about to take care of you because of your evil deeds," declares the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
So the LORD God of Israel has this to say about the leaders who are ruling over his people: "You have caused my people to be dispersed and driven into exile. You have not taken care of them. So I will punish you for the evil that you have done. I, the LORD, affirm it!

New Heart English Bible
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who feed my people: "You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; look, I will visit on you the evil of your doings," says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore, thus said YHWH, God of Israel, "" Against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, and drive them away, "" And have not inspected them, "" Behold, I am charging on you the evil of your doings,” "" A declaration of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Against the shepherds who feed My people, Ye have scattered My flock, and drive them away, And have not inspected them, Lo, I am charging on you the evil of your doings, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, thus said Jehovah God of Israel, against the shepherds feeding my people: Ye scattered my flock and ye will thrust them away, and ye reviewed them not: behold me reviewing over you the evil of your doings, says Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the pastors that feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold I will visit upon you for the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Because of this, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to the shepherds who pasture my people: You have scattered my flock, and you have driven them away, and you have not visited them. Behold, I will visit upon you because of your evil pursuits, says the Lord.

New American Bible
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore thus speaks the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and have caused them to go astray, and have not visited them; behold, I will punish you according to your evil doings, says the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, thus says LORD JEHOVAH, God of Israel, to the Shepherds who shepherd my people: “You have scattered my sheep and you have led them astray, and you have not visited them. Behold, I visit upon you according to the evil of your works, says LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed My people: Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not taken care of them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore thus saith the Lord against them that tend my people; Ye have scattered my sheep, and driven them out, and ye have not visited them: behold, I will take vengeance upon you according to your evil practices.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Righteous Branch
1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. 2Therefore 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. 3Then 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.…

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 11:17
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!”

Matthew 23:13-15
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. / 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. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

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. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

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!”

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.

1 Peter 5:2-3
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.

Zechariah 10:3
“My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. For the LORD of Hosts attends to His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His royal steed in battle.

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.

James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Micah 3:1-3
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

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.

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

Luke 11:52
Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore thus said the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings, said the LORD.

and have.

Matthew 25:36,43
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me…

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I.

Jeremiah 23:34
And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.

Jeremiah 5:9,29
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? …

Jeremiah 8:12
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

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Jeremiah 23
1. He prophesies a restoration of the scattered flock.
5. Christ shall rule and save them.
9. Against false prophets;
33. and mockers of the true prophets.














Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people
Therefore
This word serves as a pivotal transition, indicating a conclusion or result based on prior statements. In the context of Jeremiah 23, it connects the preceding condemnation of the false prophets and leaders with the forthcoming divine judgment. The Hebrew word "לָכֵן" (lakhen) underscores the certainty and inevitability of God's response to the actions of the shepherds. It is a reminder that God's justice is not arbitrary but is a direct consequence of human actions.

this is what the LORD
The phrase emphasizes the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew term "יְהוָה" (YHWH) is the sacred name of God, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations. It signifies the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, highlighting His role as the ultimate judge and ruler. This declaration is not merely a human opinion but a divine pronouncement, carrying the weight of God's eternal truth.

the God of Israel
This title reaffirms God's special relationship with Israel, His chosen people. The Hebrew "אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (Elohei Yisrael) reflects the historical and covenantal bond established with the patriarchs. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the expectations He has for His people, especially their leaders. The phrase underscores the accountability of the shepherds to the God who has consistently guided and protected Israel.

says about the shepherds
The term "shepherds" is metaphorical, representing the leaders and rulers of Israel, including kings, priests, and prophets. In Hebrew, "רֹעִים" (ro'im) conveys the idea of those entrusted with the care and guidance of God's people. Historically, shepherds were responsible for the well-being of their flock, a role that required diligence and compassion. The use of this metaphor highlights the failure of Israel's leaders to fulfill their God-given responsibilities.

who tend My people
This phrase underscores the intended role of the leaders as caretakers of God's people. The Hebrew "רוֹעִים אֶת־עַמִּי" (ro'im et-ami) implies a duty of nurturing, guiding, and protecting the community. The possessive "My" emphasizes that the people belong to God, not the leaders, and that their primary allegiance should be to Him. The leaders' failure to tend to the people properly is a grave offense, as it directly impacts the spiritual and moral health of the nation.

(2) Ye have scattered my flock.--The charge was true literally as well as spiritually. The dispersion of the people in Egypt, Assyria, and Chaldaea was the result of the neglect, the tyranny, the feebleness of their rulers. They had been led, not as the Eastern shepherd leads (John 10:4-5), but "driven"--not to the fold, but "away" into far lands.

Have not visited.--i.e., cared for and regarded. They were negligent, but God was not, and He therefore would "visit" them by reproof and chastisement.

Verse 2. - The Lord God of Israel; strictly, Jehovah the God of Israel. This national title of Jehovah suggests, in such a connection, that the crime of the kings is nothing short of sacrilege. Ye have scattered, etc.; i.e. been the cause of their scattering, Have not visited them. "To visit" often, by a natural association of ideas, means "to give attention to." By an equally natural association, it means "to fall upon, to punish." Hence, in the next clause, I will visit upon you. We have the same combination of meanings in Zechariah 10:3.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore,
לָ֠כֵן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

this is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

says
אָמַ֨ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

the shepherds
הָרֹעִים֮ (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

who tend
הָרֹעִ֣ים (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

My people:
עַמִּי֒ (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

“You
אַתֶּ֞ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

have scattered
הֲפִצֹתֶ֤ם (hă·p̄i·ṣō·ṯem)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered

My flock
צֹאנִי֙ (ṣō·nî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and driven them away,
וַתַּדִּח֔וּם (wat·tad·di·ḥūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5080: To impel, thrust, banish

and have not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

attended to them.
פְקַדְתֶּ֖ם (p̄ə·qaḏ·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

Behold,
הִנְנִ֨י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I will attend
פֹקֵ֧ד (p̄ō·qêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

to
עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

you
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

for the evil
רֹ֥עַ (rō·a‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7455: Badness, evil

of your deeds,
מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם (ma·‘al·lê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4611: A deed, practice

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

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


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 23:2 Therefore thus says Yahweh the God (Jer.)
Jeremiah 23:1
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