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Jeremiah 23:1

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Jeremiah 23:1

Verse 1 of 40

Scripture focus

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

Jeremiah 23:1 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 23:1

Theological / Devotional

Woe. There is no indication in ch. 23 itself as to the date of this message of woe. However, seeing that the prophecy is placed between a message given before Jehoiachin’s captivity (ch. 22:20-30) and a message that immediately follows Jehoiachin’s captivity (ch. 24), it is not unreasonable to suppose that this message of ch. 23 came during the year 597 B.C.

Pastors. Literally, “shepherds”; the civil rulers of Judah as well as the priests and the prophets (see on ch. 2:8). Jeremiah presents (ch. 23:1-8) the contrast between these false shepherds and the true ones that God will raise up. It is significant that about this same time, in the land of exile, Ezekiel should similarly contrast the false shepherds with the true (see Eze. 34).

My pasture. A pointed reminder to the leaders of Judah that the Lord is the true Shepherd of His flock (see Ps. 23; 79:13; 100:3; John 10:11-15).

By SdaBc