Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
JEREMIAH 23:2KJVWhat does Jeremiah 23:2 mean?
Jeremiah 23:2 says that God is holding the leaders of Israel responsible for scattering and neglecting His people, promising that He will punish them for the harm they have caused. The verse is a warning to those in charge who have failed to care for and protect the people as they should have.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to address the "pastors" or shepherds—meaning the leaders of Israel—who were supposed to guide and care for the nation. Instead, these leaders have driven the people away and failed to look after them. God declares that He will "visit upon" or bring consequences for the evil actions of these leaders, making it clear that their neglect and wrongdoing will not go unnoticed.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:2
- "pastors" (רֹעִים, ro‘im): This word means "shepherds" and refers to leaders, especially those responsible for the spiritual and practical well-being of the people. The image is of someone who should guide and protect, not scatter.
- "scattered" (פָּרַץ, parats): This word means to disperse or break apart. The leaders are accused of causing division and harm, not just neglect.
- "visited" / "visit" (פָּקַד, paqad): In Hebrew, this word can mean to attend to, care for, or to call to account. Here, it is used both negatively (the leaders did not "visit" the people) and positively (God will "visit" the leaders with consequences), showing a play on words about responsibility and judgment.
- "evil" (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word means harm, trouble, or wickedness. God is saying He will bring the results of the leaders’ own wrongdoing back upon them.
Why Jeremiah 23:2 matters
- Jeremiah 23:2 clarifies that God holds leaders accountable for how they treat those under their care, especially when they cause harm or neglect their responsibilities.
- The verse highlights a strong contrast between what leaders should do (care for and gather) and what these leaders actually did (scatter and drive away), emphasizing the seriousness of their failure.
- This warning sets up the rest of Jeremiah 23, where God promises to raise up better shepherds and ultimately a righteous leader, showing that God’s concern for His people continues even when human leaders fail.