Zechariah 11:7

So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Zechariah speaks as a divinely appointed shepherd to the people of the land. He delivers this message during a period of impending judgment and fractured leadership.

The words — The Hebrew verb וָֽ/אֶרְעֶה (va./'er.'Eh) translates to "and I shepherded," marking the prophet’s active role. The noun הַֽ/הֲרֵגָ֔ה (ha./ha.re.Gah) means "the slaughter," defining the flock’s destined condition.

The thread — The motif of a shepherd tending a doomed flock appears in Zechariah 11:4, while the cutting of a staff named Union echoes the broken covenant in Zechariah 11:14. The care for the afflicted parallels the righteous judgment described in Isaiah 11:4.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine leadership can be temporarily withdrawn while judgment proceeds. It requires the reader to observe how symbolic actions map directly onto historical and spiritual consequences.

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

וָֽאֶרְעֶה֙va./'er.'Ehand/ I shepherded אֶת־'et-<obj.>צֹ֣אןtzon[the] flock of הַֽהֲרֵגָ֔הha./ha.re.Gah<the>/ slaughter לָכֵ֖ןla./Khen<to>/ therefore עֲנִיֵּ֣י'a.ni.Yei[the] afflicted [ones] of הַצֹּ֑אןha./Tzonthe/ flock וָאֶקַּֽח־va./'e.kach-and/ I tookלִ֞יl/ifor/ myselfשְׁנֵ֣יshe.Neitwo מַקְל֗וֹתmak.Lotstaffs לְאַחַ֞דle./'a.Chad<to>/ one קָרָ֤אתִיka.Ra.tiI called נֹ֙עַם֙no.'amFavor וּלְאַחַד֙u./le./'a.Chadand/ <to>/ one קָרָ֣אתִיka.Ra.tiI called חֹֽבְלִ֔יםchoe.LimUnion וָאֶרְעֶ֖הva./'er.'Ehand/ I shepherded אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַצֹּֽאן׃ha./Tzonthe/ flock

King James Version

And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.

Cross-references

Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Zechariah 11:4 This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter,
Zechariah 11:14 Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Ezekiel 37:16 “And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’
Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Zephaniah 3:12 But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
Zechariah 11:10 Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Leviticus 27:32 Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD.