Bible Strands
Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses the "faithless children" of Israel in response to His call for them to return to Zion (Jeremiah 3:14). He promises to replace their broken leadership with divinely appointed guides.
The words — The text employs רֹעִים (ro'im, "shepherds") and דֵּעָה (de'ah, "knowledge") alongside הַשְׂכֵיל (haskeil, "insight") to describe the leaders God will supply. These terms frame the promised ministry as pastoral care grounded in divine instruction.
The thread — God's promise to raise shepherds reappears in Jeremiah 23:4, where He guarantees leaders who will eliminate fear and dismay. The New Testament applies this pastoral model to Spirit-appointed overseers in Acts 20:28 and to the apostolic gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to assess whether leadership claims are validated by the fruit of feeding others with knowledge and understanding. It demands a shift from relying on human prestige to recognizing divinely authorized teaching as the standard for spiritual care.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 23:4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD.
- Acts 20:28 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.
- Ephesians 4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Ezekiel 34:23 I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.
- John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
- Isaiah 30:20 The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him.
- Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
- Luke 12:42 And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
- 1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.
- Ezekiel 37:24 My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes.