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.
Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478} against the pastors {H7462} that feed {H7462} my people {H5971}; Ye have scattered {H6327} my flock {H6629}, and driven them away {H5080}, and have not visited {H6485} them: behold, I will visit {H6485} upon you the evil {H7455} of your doings {H4611}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.
Therefore this is what ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, says against the shepherds who shepherd my people: "You have scattered my flock, driven them away and not taken care of them. So I will 'take care of' you because of your evil deeds," says ADONAI.
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.
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.
-
Exodus 32:34
Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. -
Jeremiah 21:12
O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver [him that is] spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings. -
Micah 7:4
The best of them [is] as a brier: the most upright [is sharper] than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen [and] thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. -
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. -
Hosea 2:13
And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. -
Matthew 25:43
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. -
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.
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:2 (KJV)
Jeremiah 23:2 delivers a powerful and stern rebuke from the Lord God of Israel against the nation's corrupt leaders, whom He metaphorically calls "pastors" or shepherds. This verse encapsulates God's righteous indignation over their profound failure to care for His people, leading to dire consequences for both the leaders and the flock.
Context
The prophet Jeremiah ministered in Judah during a turbulent period leading up to the Babylonian exile (late 7th and early 6th centuries BC). His prophecies often condemned the moral and spiritual decay of the nation, particularly the unfaithfulness of its leaders—kings, priests, and false prophets. This chapter opens with a specific indictment against these "pastors" who, instead of guiding and protecting God's people, had exploited, neglected, and misled them. Their actions directly contributed to the spiritual scattering and eventual physical dispersion of Judah, fulfilling Jeremiah's earlier warnings about impending judgment and exile.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "pastors" is ro'im (רֹעִים), which literally means "shepherds." This metaphor is foundational throughout the Old Testament for depicting leadership, whether kings, priests, or prophets. A good shepherd provides for the flock, leads them to pasture, protects them from predators, and seeks out the lost. The indictment here is that the leaders did the opposite: they "scattered" and "drove away" the flock, acting like wolves rather than true shepherds. The word paqad (פָּקַד), translated as "visited" (or "have not visited them" and "I will visit upon you"), carries a dual meaning: to inspect, attend to, or care for, and also to punish or hold accountable. The verse brilliantly uses this double meaning to show the reciprocal nature of their neglect and God's impending judgment.
Related Scriptures
This verse sets the stage for a broader discussion of leadership in the Bible. It finds a strong parallel in the prophetic book of Ezekiel 34, where God similarly condemns the shepherds of Israel for feeding themselves instead of the flock. In contrast to these unfaithful leaders, Jeremiah immediately follows this denunciation with a glorious promise of a righteous King, the "Branch of David," who will truly shepherd His people (Jeremiah 23:5-6). This foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 23:2 holds timeless relevance for all forms of leadership, particularly within spiritual communities. It serves as a stark reminder of the profound responsibility that comes with guiding others. For leaders, it emphasizes the call to selfless service, genuine care for the well-being of those under their charge, and accountability to God. For followers, it encourages discernment, reminding them that true spiritual leaders nurture and protect, rather than exploit or neglect. Ultimately, this verse underscores God's unwavering concern for His people and His commitment to justice, ensuring that those who abuse their power will face His righteous judgment.