Zechariah 10:2

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because [there was] no shepherd.

For the idols {H8655} have spoken {H1696} vanity {H205}, and the diviners {H7080} have seen {H2372} a lie {H8267}, and have told {H1696} false {H7723} dreams {H2472}; they comfort {H5162} in vain {H1892}: therefore they went {H5265} their way as a flock {H6629}, they were troubled {H6031}, because there was no shepherd {H7462}.

For the household gods talk nonsense, the diviners have seen a lie; their dreams convey delusions, and the comfort they offer is in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep in distress from lack of a shepherd.

For idols speak deceitand diviners see illusions;they tell false dreamsand offer empty comfort.Therefore the people wander like sheep,oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams, they comfort in vain: therefore they go their way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.

Commentary

Zechariah 10:2 vividly portrays the spiritual chaos and deception prevalent in ancient Israel, highlighting the devastating consequences of turning away from the Lord.

Context

The prophet Zechariah ministered to the Jewish people who had returned from Babylonian exile, a time when they were rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple. Despite having experienced God's judgment and restoration, many were still tempted by pagan practices and false religious guidance. This verse specifically addresses the dangers of relying on forbidden divination and idolatry, which were common in the surrounding cultures and unfortunately, sometimes practiced within Israel. The people were seeking answers and comfort from sources other than God.

Key Themes

  • Futility of Falsehood: The phrase "idols have spoken vanity" (Hebrew: hevel, meaning 'breath,' 'emptiness,' or 'futility') emphasizes that pagan deities and their oracles offer no substance or truth. Similarly, "the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams" condemns those who claim to speak for God but propagate deception. Their comfort is "in vain" because it is based on illusion, leading only to greater despair.
  • Consequences of Misguidance: The people, misled by these deceptive sources, "went their way as a flock, they were troubled." This imagery depicts a scattered, disoriented, and distressed populace. Without genuine spiritual direction, they were vulnerable and lost, much like sheep without a shepherd, a common biblical metaphor for a people lacking proper leadership.
  • Need for True Leadership: The core problem highlighted is "no shepherd." In the Bible, a 'shepherd' often symbolizes a leader, whether political or spiritual. This verse laments the absence of righteous, God-appointed guidance, which leaves the people adrift. It implicitly calls for a return to God's true leadership and discernment, which is the only source of genuine peace and direction.

Practical Application

Zechariah 10:2 serves as a timeless warning against seeking guidance from deceptive sources. In our modern world, this can translate to discerning truth from falsehood in various forms: misleading ideologies, unbiblical teachings, or even empty promises from worldly systems that offer temporary comfort. We are called to rely on God's unchanging Word and seek true spiritual leadership that points to Him. The ultimate "shepherd" is Jesus Christ Himself, the Good Shepherd, who provides genuine comfort, direction, and protection for His flock, ensuring they are not troubled or scattered.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 9:36 (6 votes)

    But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

  • Hosea 3:4 (4 votes)

    For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim:

  • Jeremiah 27:9 (4 votes)

    Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

  • Genesis 31:19 (4 votes)

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's.

  • Habakkuk 2:18 (4 votes)

    What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

  • Ezekiel 34:5 (4 votes)

    And they were scattered, because [there is] no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

  • Ezekiel 34:8 (3 votes)

    [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because [there was] no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;