The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

JEREMIAH 6:3KJV
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Jeremiah 6:3 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 6:3 mean?

Jeremiah 6:3 pictures Jerusalem surrounded by invading forces. The verse compares their leaders to shepherds and their troops to flocks, as each group settles in its assigned area around the city.

The image follows the picture of the “daughter of Zion” in verse 2. “Her” refers to Jerusalem and its people. The peaceful scene of shepherds setting up camp becomes a picture of danger when the next verse calls for an attack.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 6:3

  • “shepherds” — רָעָה (raʿah): This word can refer to tending a flock. Here it gives the invading leaders the role of shepherds in the picture.
  • “feed” — רָעָה (raʿah): This is the same Hebrew word behind “shepherds.” The repeated word keeps the picture of tending flocks going through the verse.
  • “place” — יָד (yad): This word commonly means “hand,” but it can also refer to a portion or area. Here the KJV’s “his place” fits the picture of each group occupying its own section.

Why Jeremiah 6:3 matters

  • The verse presents the threat as organized, not random. The groups pitch their tents “round about” the city, and each has its own place.
  • The surrounding camp is a picture of an attack, not simply ordinary grazing. In verse 4, the call to prepare for war makes the purpose of the gathering clear.

Where else these words appear

“flocks” Hebrew H5739 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
  • Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
  • Jeremiah 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

“pitch” Hebrew H8628 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 31:25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
  • Judges 7:19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
  • Psalms 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

“shepherds” Hebrew H7462 · used in 144 verses

  • Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
  • Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
  • Jeremiah 33:12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.