Easton's Bible Dictionary A word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word "pastor" is used instead (Jeremiah 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Psalm 23:1; 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; 44:28; Jeremiah 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4). The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief (see 1 Samuel 17:34).", Deane's David. Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large. 2. (n.) The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of others. 3. (v. t.) To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a shepherd. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SHEPHERD shep'-erd (ro`eh, ro`i; poimen, "a feeder"): The sheep owner frequently tends the flocks himself (Genesis 4:4; Genesis 30:40; compare Ezekiel 34:12), but more often he delegates the work to his children (Genesis 29:9 1 Samuel 16:19; 1 Samuel 17:15) or relatives (Genesis 31:6). In such cases the sheep have good care because the keepers have a personal interest in the well-being of the animals, but when they are attended by a hireling (1 Samuel 17:20) the flocks may be neglected or abused (Isaiah 56:10, 11 Ezekiel 34:8, 10 Zechariah 11:15, 17 John 10:12). The chief care of the shepherd is to see that the sheep find plenty to eat and drink. The flocks are not fed in pens or folds, but, summer and winter, must depend upon foraging for their sustenance (Psalm 23:2). In the winter of 1910-11 an unprecedented storm ravaged Northern Syria. It was accompanied by a snowfall of more than 3 ft., which covered the ground for weeks. During that time, hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats perished, not so much from the cold as from the fact that they could get no food. Goats hunt out the best feeding-grounds, but sheep are more helpless and have to be led to their food (compare Numbers 27:16, 17); nor do they possess the instinct of many other animals for finding their way home (compare Ezekiel 34:6-8). Flocks should be watered at least once a day. Where there are springs or streams this is an easy matter. Frequently the nearest water is hours away. One needs to travel in the dry places in Syria or Palestine, and then enter the watered valleys like those in Edom where the flocks are constantly being led for water, to appreciate the Psalmist's words, "He leadcth me beside still waters." Sometimes water can be obtained by digging shallow wells (Genesis 26:18-22, 25, 32). The shepherd frequently carries with him a pail from which the sheep can drink when the water is not accessible to them. On the mountain tops the melting snows supply the needed water. In other districts it is drawn from deep wells (Genesis 29:2 John 4:6). The usual time for watering is at noon, at which time the flocks are led to the watering-places (Genesis 29:2, 3). After drinking, the animals lie down or huddle together in the shade of a rock while the shepherd sleeps. At the first sound of his call, which is usually a peculiar guttural sound, hard to imitate, the flock follow off to new feeding-grounds. Even should two shepherds call their flocks at the same time and the sheep be intermingled, they never mistake their own master's voice (John 10:3-5). The shepherd's equipment is a simple one. His chief garment is a cloak woven from wool or made from sheepskins. This is sleeveless, and so made that it hangs like a cloak on his shoulders. When he sleeps he curls up under it, head and all. During the summer a lighter, short-sleeved `aba or coat is worn. He carries a staff or club (see STAFF), and a characteristic attitude is to make a rest for his arms by placing his staff on his shoulders against the back of his neck. When an especially productive spot is found, the shepherd may pass the time, while the animals are grazing, by playing on his pipe (Judges 5:16). He sometimes carries a sling (qela`) of goat's hair (1 Samuel 17:40). His chief belongings are kept in a skin pouch or bag (keli) (1 Samuel 17:40). This bag is usually a whole tawed skin turned wrong side out, with the legs tied up and the neck forming the opening. He is usually aided in the keeping and the defending of the sheep by a dog (Job 30:1). In Syria the Kurdish dogs make the best protectors of the sheep, as, unlike the cowardly city dogs, they are fearless and will drive away the wild beasts. The shepherd is often called upon to aid the dogs in defending the sheep (Genesis 31:39 1 Samuel 17:34, 35 Isaiah 31:4 Jeremiah 5:6 Amos 3:12). Figurative: The frequent use of the word "shepherd" to indicate a spiritual overseer is familiar to Bible readers (Psalm 23:1; Psalm 80:1 Ecclesiastes 12:11 Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 63:14 Jeremiah 31:10 Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24 John 21:15-17 Ephesians 4:11 1 Peter 5:1-4). We still use the term "pastor," literally, "a shepherd." Leaders in temporal affairs were also called shepherds (Genesis 47:17 margin; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 63:11). "Sheep without a shepherd" typified individuals or nations who had forgotten Yahweh (Numbers 27:17 1 Kings 22:17 2 Chronicles 18:16 Ezekiel 34:5, 8 Zechariah 10:2 Matthew 9:36 Mark 6:34). Jesus is spoken of as the good shepherd (John 10:14); chief shepherd (1 Peter 5:4); great shepherd (Hebrews 13:20); the one shepherd (John 10:16). "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young" (Isaiah 40:11) is a picture drawn from pastoral life of Yahweh's care over His children. A strong sympathy for helpless animals, though sometimes misdirected, is a marked characteristic of the people of Bible lands. The birth of offspring in a flock often occurs far off on the mountain side. The shepherd solicitously guards the mother during her helpless moments and picks up the lamb and carries it to the fold. For the few days, until it is able to walk, he may carry it in his arms or in the loose folds of his coat above his girdle. See also SHEEP. James A. Patch

Multi-Version Concordance Shepherd (76 Occurrences) Matthew 2:6 'You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come forth a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.'" (WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS NIV) Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Matthew 25:32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written,'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Mark 6:34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Mark 14:27 Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written,'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 10:2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 10:12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 10:16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) John 21:16 Again a second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master," he said, "you know that you are dear to me." "Then be a shepherd to my sheep," He said. (WEY DBY NAS) Acts 20:28 Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. (WEB WEY DBY NAS NIV) Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Peter 2:25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; (WEB WEY DBY NAS NIV) 1 Peter 5:4 When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn't fade away. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Revelation 2:27 And he shall be their shepherd, ruling them with a rod of iron, just as earthenware jars are broken to pieces; and his power over them shall be like that which I Myself have received from My Father; (WEY DBY) Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Root in WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV) Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a male son, who shall shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to his throne. (DBY) Revelation 19:15 From His mouth there comes a sharp sword with which He will smite the nations; and He will Himself be their Shepherd, ruling them with a scepter of iron; and it is His work to tread the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Ruler of all. (WEY DBY) Genesis 4:2 And she further bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd, but Cain was a husbandman. (DBY) Genesis 46:34 that you shall say,'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day, (See JPS DBY NAS NIV) Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel), (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 27:17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the barricade, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle. (See NIV) 1 Samuel 17:34 And David saith unto Saul, 'A shepherd hath thy servant been to his father among the sheep, and the lion hath come -- and the bear -- and hath taken away a sheep out of the drove, (YLT) 1 Samuel 21:7 (Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah; and his name was Doeg, the Edomite, chief of the shepherds that belonged to Saul.) (Root in DBY YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh said to you,'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'" (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV) 2 Samuel 7:7 In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying,'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"' (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 22:17 He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Yahweh said,'These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 11:2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you,'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.'" (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 17:6 In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying,'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"' (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV) 2 Chronicles 18:16 He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 23:1 A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 28:9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever. (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 49:14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV) Psalms 78:71 from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 78:72 So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. (WEB JPS ASV NAS NIV) Psalms 80:1 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine forth. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 13:14 And it shall come to pass, that as the chased gazelle, and as sheep that no man gathereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land. (See NIV) Isaiah 13:20 It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 44:28 Who says of Cyrus,'He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,' even saying of Jerusalem,'She will be built;' and of the temple,'Your foundation will be laid.'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 61:5 And men from strange countries will be your herdsmen, and those who are not Israelites will be your ploughmen and vine-keepers. (See NIV) Isaiah 63:11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he who put his holy Spirit in the midst of them? (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 17:16 As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you; neither have I desired the woeful day; you know: that which came out of my lips was before your face. (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS NIV) Jeremiah 22:22 The wind shall feed all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go into captivity: surely then you will be ashamed and confounded for all your wickedness. (Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 31:10 Hear the word of Yahweh, you nations, and declare it in the islands afar off; and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd does his flock. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 43:12 I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captive: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment; and he shall go forth from there in peace. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 49:19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd who will stand before me? (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 50:44 Behold, the enemy shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd who can stand before me? (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Jeremiah 51:23 and with you will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with you will I break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; and with you will I break in pieces governors and deputies. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 34:5 They were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the animals of the field, and were scattered. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 34:8 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely because my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the animals of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and didn't feed my sheep; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 34:15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord Yahweh. (WEB ASV RSV) Ezekiel 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice. (See NIV) Ezekiel 34:23 I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 37:24 My servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Amos 3:12 Thus says Yahweh: "As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Amos 7:14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; (See NIV) Micah 5:4 He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God: and they will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth. (WEB NAS NIV) Micah 5:6 They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its gates. He will deliver us from the Assyrian, when he invades our land, and when he marches within our border. (See NAS) Micah 7:14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. (WEB NAS RSV NIV) Zechariah 10:2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Zechariah 11:4 Thus says Yahweh my God: "Feed the flock of slaughter. (See RSV) Zechariah 11:6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land," says Yahweh; "but, behold, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king. They will strike the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them." (See RSV) Zechariah 11:7 So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called "Favor," and the other I called "Union," and I fed the flock. (See RSV) Zechariah 11:9 Then I said, "I will not feed you. That which dies, let it die; and that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let those who are left eat each other's flesh." (See RSV NIV) Zechariah 11:15 Yahweh said to me, "Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Zechariah 11:16 For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those who are cut off, neither will seek those who are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat sheep, and will tear their hoofs in pieces. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!" (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me," says Yahweh of Armies. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)