Zechariah 11:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

God, having shown the misery of this people in their being justly abandoned by the good Shepherd, here shows their further misery in being shamefully abused by a foolish shepherd. The prophet is himself to personate and represent this pretended shepherd (Zech. 11:15): Take unto thee the instruments or accoutrements of a foolish shepherd, that are no way fit for the business, such a shepherd's coat, and bag, and staff, as a foolish shepherd would appear in; for such a shepherd shall be set over... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:17

Woe to the idol shepherd ,.... Or, "the shepherd of nothing" F23 רעי האליל "pastori nihili", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, So R. So. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 4. 2. ; that is, no true shepherd, that is good for nothing, for an idol is nothing in the world, 1 Corinthians 8:4 and who is an idol himself, sits in the temple of God, and is worshipped as if he was God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and is an encourager and defender of idolatry: that leaveth the flock ; has no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:17

Wo to the idol shepherd - האליל רעי roi haelil , "the worthless," or "good for nothing shepherd." The shepherd in name and office, but not performing the work of one. See John 10:11 . The sword shall be upon his arm - Punishment shall be executed upon the wicked Jews, and especially their wicked kings and priests. See Zechariah 11:16 . Arm - the secular power; right eye - the ecclesiastical state. His arm shall be clean dried up - The secular power shall be broken, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:17

Verse 17 In this verse the Prophet teaches us, that though God would inflict a deserved punishment on the Jews, yet the shepherds themselves would not escape his vengeance; and thus he reminds them, that even in such a confused and depressed state of things, he would still in some degree remember his covenant. He addresses the Shepherds themselves, for he speaks not of one, but of the whole number, as it has already been stated. Woe to the baseless shepherd, he says; the word אליל, alil, means... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

§ 10. In retribution for their rejection of the good Shepherd the people are given over to a foolish shepherd, who shall destroy them, but shall himself, in turn, perish miserably. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

A picture of antichrist. "And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd," etc. After the experience of the good Shepherd comes the description of the bad; after the right "instruments," the wrong ones; after the Christ, the anti christ , the person usurping the true Christ's position, that is to say, and so opposing his work. See ( Zechariah 11:17 ) the "idol shepherd"—the shepherd making himself the object of worship to his flock; and comp. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

The evil shepherd. I. CHARACTER . Vain. Selfish. Hypocritical Greedy of gain and popularity. Worthless for real good. Permitted, but not approved. II. OFFENCE . 1 . Coldness. No "pity." His heart is not in his work. 2 . Neglect . Takes no pains to seek out the poor and needy. Does not "visit." 3 . Unfaithfulness, No warnings. False teaching. Making gain of godliness. God's ideal of the shepherd lost. God's benign purposes in the ministry of grace frustrated. Souls... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

Fraudulent shepherds of the people. "And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye:... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:17

Woe to the idol shepherd! rather, woe to the worthless shepherd! literally, shepherd of vanity, or nothingness, as Job 13:4 , "physicians of no value." The LXX ; recognizing that no special shepherd is signified, renders, ὦ οἱ ποιμαίνοντες τὰ μάταια , "Alas for those who tend vanities!" St. Jerome, expounding the verse of antichrist, " O pastor, et idolum !" That leaveth the flock. Thus Christ speaks of the hireling ( John 10:12 ). The sword shall be upon his arm,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 11:17

Woe to the idol shepherd - (A shepherd of nothingness, one who hath no quality of a shepherd ;) “who leaveth the flock.” The condemnation of the evil shepherd is complete in the abandonment of the sheep; as our Lord says, “He that is an hireling and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling and careth not for the sheep” John 10:12-13.Or... read more

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