10 Bible Verses about Shepherds

Most Relevant Verses

1 Peter 5:2-4

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly, and not as lording it over {those under your care}, but being examples for the flock. And [when] the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Isaiah 44:28

who says of Cyrus, 'My shepherd,' and he shall carry out all my wishes; and saying of Jerusalem, 'It shall be rebuilt,' and [the] temple, 'It shall be founded.'"

From Thematic Bible


Christian ministers » Servants » Shepherds

Jeremiah 23:4

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

Ministers » Remuneration of » Shepherds

John 21:17

He said to him a third [time], "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third [time], "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

Ezekiel 34:23

And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them; [that is], my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be for them as a shepherd.

Jeremiah 23:4

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

More verses: 1 Peter 5:2

Names » Of ministers » Shepherds

Jeremiah 23:4

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

Religious zeal » Instances of » Shepherds

Luke 2:17-18

And [when they] saw [it], they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child. And all who heard [it] were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds.

Shepherds » Illustrative » (ignorant and foolish,) of bad ministers

Ezekiel 34:10

'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I [am] against the shepherds, and I will seek my flock from their hand, and I will put an end to them from shepherding flocks, and the shepherds will {no longer} feed themselves, and I will deliver my flocks from their mouth, so that they will not be as food for them."

Isaiah 56:11

And the dogs {have a greedy appetite}; they {are never satisfied}. And they are [the] shepherds! They do not have understanding. They all turn to their [own] way, each one for his [own] gain, {every one of them}.

Ezekiel 34:2

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe [to] the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock?

Jeremiah 50:6

My people have become lost sheep, their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They led them away [to the] mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their resting place.

Shepherds » Illustrative » Of Christ as the good shepherd

Zechariah 13:7

"O sword, awake against my shepherd, against [the] man [who is] my associate," {declares} Yahweh of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, so that the sheep may be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the small [ones].

Ezekiel 34:23

And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them; [that is], my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be for them as a shepherd.

Shepherds » Members of the family both male and female acted as

1 Samuel 17:15

but David went {back and forth} from Saul to feed the sheep of his father in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 16:11

Then Samuel said to Jesse, "{Are all the young men here}?" And he said, "The youngest still remains, but look, he [is] shepherding the flock." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him, for we cannot {sit down} until he comes here."

Genesis 29:6

And he said to them, "{Is he well}?" And they said, "[He is] well. Now look, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep."

Shepherds » Illustrative » Of kings as the leaders of the people

Isaiah 44:28

who says of Cyrus, 'My shepherd,' and he shall carry out all my wishes; and saying of Jerusalem, 'It shall be rebuilt,' and [the] temple, 'It shall be founded.'"

Jeremiah 49:19

Look, like a lion he comes up from the thickets of the Jordan to {a pastureland by a constantly flowing stream}. So {I will chase him away hurriedly} from it. And whoever [is] chosen I will appoint over it. For who [is] like me, and who can summon me? And who [is] this, [the] shepherd who can stand {before me}?"

Jeremiah 6:3

Shepherds and their flocks will come against her, they will pitch [their] tents against her all around, they will pasture, each his {portion}.

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Going before and leading them

Psalm 78:52

Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them like a herd in the wilderness.

Shepherds » Dwelt in tents while tending their flocks

Song of Songs 1:8

If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow {the tracks} of the flock, and pasture your little lambs beside the tents of the shepherds.

Isaiah 38:12

My dwelling place is pulled up and removed from me like the tent of my shepherd; I have rolled up my life like weaver. He cuts me off from [the] thrum; from day to night you bring me to an end.

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Seeking out good pasture for them

1 Chronicles 4:39-41

And they went to the entrance of Gedor, up to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. And they found fertile and good pasture, and the land [was] very broad, quiet, and at ease, for the former inhabitants there [were] from Ham. These, mentioned by name, came in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there. And they devoted them to destruction to this day, and they settled among them because [there was] pasture there for their flocks.

Shepherds » FALSE » Prey upon the flock instead of feeding it

Ezekiel 34:2-3

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe [to] the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock? The fat you eat, and you clothe [yourself] [with] the wool; the well-nourished [animals] you slaughter, [but] you do not feed the flock.

Zechariah 11:17

"Woe, my worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! [May] a sword [fall] on his arm and on {his right eye}! May his arm wither completely and {his right eye} be utterly blinded!"

Shepherds » Illustrative » (their care and tenderness,) of tenderness of Christ

Ezekiel 34:13-16

And I will bring them out from the peoples, and I will gather them from the countries, and I will bring them to their soil, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys, and in all of the settlements of the land. I will feed them in good pasture, and their pasture will be on the mountains of the heights of Israel; there they will lie down in good pasture, and [on] lush pasture they will feed on the mountains of Israel. {I myself} will feed my flock and {I myself} will allow them to lie down," {declares} the Lord Yahweh. read more.
"I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the scattered, and I will bind [up] the one hurt, and I will strengthen the sick; and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed her with justice."

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Defending them when attacked by wild beasts

Amos 3:12

Thus says Yahweh, "Just as the shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear from the mouth of the lion, so shall the {people} of Israel who dwell in Samaria, with the corner of a couch and the damask of a bed."

1 Samuel 17:34-36

And David said to Saul, "Your servant has been a shepherd of the flock for his father. If the lion or the bear would come and carry off a sheep from the group, I would go out after it and strike it down and rescue [the sheep] from its mouth. If it rose against me, I would grab [it] by its beard and strike it down and kill it. Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he defied the battle lines of the living God."

Shepherds » Carried a staff or rod

Leviticus 27:32

As for every tithe of cattle or of the flock, all which crosses under the rod, the tenth shall be a holy object for Yahweh.

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Searching them out when lost and straying

Ezekiel 34:12

[just] like [the] caring of a shepherd [for] his herd on the day when he is in the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will look after my flock, and I will deliver them from all the places {to which they were scattered} on [the] day {of storm and stress}.

Luke 15:4-5

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? And [when he] has found [it], he places [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Shepherds » Illustrative » (searching out straying sheep,) of Christ seeking the lost

Ezekiel 34:12

[just] like [the] caring of a shepherd [for] his herd on the day when he is in the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will look after my flock, and I will deliver them from all the places {to which they were scattered} on [the] day {of storm and stress}.

Luke 15:2-7

And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!" So he told them this parable, saying, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? read more.
And [when he] has found [it], he places [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing. And [when he] returns to [his] home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!' I tell you that in the [same] way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

Shepherds » Illustrative » Of God as leader of israel

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Tenderness to the ewes in lamb, and to the young

Genesis 33:13-14

But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children [are] frail, and the flocks and the cattle [which are] nursing [are a concern] to me. Now [if] they drove them hard for a day all the flocks would die. Let my lord pass on before his servant and I will move along slowly at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me, and at the pace of the children until I come to my lord in Seir."

Shepherds » FALSE » Insentiate and pleasure-loving

Isaiah 56:10-12

His watchmen [are] blind, none of them know. They [are] all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber. And the dogs {have a greedy appetite}; they {are never satisfied}. And they are [the] shepherds! They do not have understanding. They all turn to their [own] way, each one for his [own] gain, {every one of them}. "Come, let me take wine, and let us carouse [with] intoxicating drink, and tomorrow will be like today, {very great indeed}."

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Numbering them when they return from pasture

Jeremiah 33:13

In the towns of the hill country, in the towns of the Shephelah, and in the towns of the Negev, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the surroundings [of] Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under [the] hands of [the] counter,' says Yahweh.

Shepherds » Usually carried a scrip or bag

1 Samuel 17:40

Then he took his staff in his hand, picked out for himself five smooth stones from the wadi, and he put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch. And with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

Shepherds » Had hired keepers under them

1 Samuel 17:20

David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and he took [the provisions] and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment while the troops [were] going to the battle line, and they raised the war cry.

Shepherds » FALSE » Lead the sheep astray

Jeremiah 50:6

My people have become lost sheep, their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They led them away [to the] mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their resting place.

Shepherds » FALSE » Scatter the flock

Jeremiah 23:2

{Therefore} thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people, "You yourselves have scattered my flock, and you have driven them away, and you do not attend to them. Look, I [will] punish you [for] the evil of your deeds," {declares} Yahweh.

Shepherds » Illustrative » Ministers » Of the gospel

Jeremiah 23:4

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Attending them when sick

Shepherds » An abomination to the egyptians

Genesis 46:34

Then you must say, 'You servants [are] men of livestock from our childhood until now, both we and also our ancestors,' so that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd [is] a detestable thing to Egyptians."

Shepherds » Early mention of

Shepherds » FALSE » Hirelings forsake the sheep

John 10:12

The hired hand, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf approaching and abandons the sheep and runs away--and the wolf seizes them and scatters [them]--

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Knowing them

Shepherds » The unfaithfulness of hireling, alluded to

John 10:12

The hired hand, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf approaching and abandons the sheep and runs away--and the wolf seizes them and scatters [them]--

Shepherds » Care of the sheep by, exhibited in » Watching over them by night

Titles and names of ministers » Shepherds

Jeremiah 23:4

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

FALSE » Shepherds » Teachers

1 Timothy 6:3

If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not devote himself to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching [that is] in accordance with godliness,

1 Timothy 1:7

wanting to be teachers of the law, [although they] do not understand either [the things] which they are saying or [the things] concerning which they are speaking confidently.

2 Timothy 4:3

For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, {because they have an insatiable curiosity},

FALSE » Shepherds » Prey upon the flock instead of feeding it

Ezekiel 34:2-3

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe [to] the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock? The fat you eat, and you clothe [yourself] [with] the wool; the well-nourished [animals] you slaughter, [but] you do not feed the flock.

Zechariah 11:17

"Woe, my worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! [May] a sword [fall] on his arm and on {his right eye}! May his arm wither completely and {his right eye} be utterly blinded!"

FALSE » Shepherds » Insentiate and pleasure-loving

Isaiah 56:10-12

His watchmen [are] blind, none of them know. They [are] all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber. And the dogs {have a greedy appetite}; they {are never satisfied}. And they are [the] shepherds! They do not have understanding. They all turn to their [own] way, each one for his [own] gain, {every one of them}. "Come, let me take wine, and let us carouse [with] intoxicating drink, and tomorrow will be like today, {very great indeed}."

FALSE » Shepherds » Lead the sheep astray

Jeremiah 50:6

My people have become lost sheep, their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They led them away [to the] mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their resting place.

FALSE » Shepherds » Scatter the flock

Jeremiah 23:2

{Therefore} thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people, "You yourselves have scattered my flock, and you have driven them away, and you do not attend to them. Look, I [will] punish you [for] the evil of your deeds," {declares} Yahweh.

FALSE » Shepherds » Hirelings forsake the sheep

John 10:12

The hired hand, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf approaching and abandons the sheep and runs away--and the wolf seizes them and scatters [them]--

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