Zechariah 11:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-14

The prophet here is made a type of Christ, as the prophet Isaiah sometimes was; and the scope of these verses is to show that for judgment Christ came into this world (John 9:39), for judgment to the Jewish church and nation, which were, about the time of his coming, wretchedly corrupted and degenerated by the worldliness and hypocrisy of their rulers. Christ would have healed them, but they would not be healed; they are therefore left desolate, and abandoned to ruin. Observe here, I. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:4

Thus saith the Lord my God ,.... The Syriac version adds, "to me"; not the Prophet Zechariah, but the Messiah, who calls the Lord his God, as he was man and Mediator, John 20:17 for what follow are the words of God the Father to him, calling upon him, and giving him a commission to Feed the flock of the slaughter ; meaning the people of the Jews in general, to whom Christ was sent as a prophet, to teach and instruct them by the ministry of the word; so "feeding" is interpreted of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:4

Feed the flock of the slaughter - This people resemble a flock of sheep fattened for the shambles; feed, instruct, this people who are about to be slaughtered. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:4

Verse 4 Here is given a reason why God purposed to deal so severely with his people — even because their obstinacy deserved no pardon. As then in the beginning of the chapter the Prophet threatened ruin to the Jews, so now he reminds them that their punishment was nigh, and that they could not be more gently treated, because their wickedness was wholly incurable. We now perceive the design of the Prophet; but he charges the Jews especially with ingratitude, because they responded so basely and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:1-6

A final warning. "Open thy doors, O Lebanon," etc. The prophet, after having foretold ( Zechariah 10:6-12 ) the great future and final glory of the literal Israel, seems here, as it were, to "hark back" to a previous and very different scene, viz.—as most commentators, both Jewish and Christian, believe—to that which should happen in those evil days when Jerusalem should be destroyed. We noted a very similar transition at the beginning of ch, 9. (comp. also Luke 17:24 , Luke 17:25 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4

Thus saith the Lord. The person addressed is Zechariah himself, who in a vision is commanded to assume the office of the good Shepherd (see verse 15), and to tend the chosen people, the sheep of the Lord's pasture. God herein designs to show his care for his people from the earliest times amid the various trials which have beset them both from external enemies and from unworthy rulers at home. The flock of the slaughter; rather, the flock of slaughter— destined for, exposed to,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-5

Oppressed people, and their oppressors. "Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not." Notice two things. I. HERE IS A DUTY ENJOINED TOWARDS OPPRESSED PEOPLES . "Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock [sheep] of the slaughter." These shepherds, these rulers of the Hebrew people,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-14

§ 9. The punishment falls upon the people of Israel because they reject the good Shepherd, personified by the prophet, who rules the flock and chastises evildoers in vain, and at last flings up his office in indignation at their contumacy. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 11:4

Thus saith the Lord my God, Feed the flock of the slaughter - The fulfillment of the whole prophecy shows, that the person addressed is the prophet, not in, or for himself, but (as belongs to symbolic prophecy) as representing Another, our Lord. It is addressed, in the first instance, to Zechariah. For Zechariah is bidden, “take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd” Zechariah 11:15, in words addressed to himself, personally; “And the Lord said unto me.” But he who was to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 11:4-5

Zechariah 11:4-5. Feed the flock of the slaughter That is, the people, who are so denominated, because they were devoted to ruin by the following mischievous counsels of their false teachers, and the oppressions of their rulers. This command seems to be addressed to Zechariah; but an insuperable objection lies against its being understood as given to him in his own person, because he did not live in such times as are here described; for Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high-priest,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 11:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 11:4-5

Group of Brands