Zechariah 11
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter a cry of lament over Lebanon, Bashan and Jordan, the prophet is told to "feed the flock of the slaughter," whose own shepherds "pity them not." He takes two staves, Beauty and Bands, breaks Beauty to break the covenant, and is paid "thirty pieces of silver," which the LORD tells him to "cast... unto the potter," calling it "a goodly price that I was prised at of them." He breaks Bands, "the brotherhood between Judah and Israel," and is told to take the instruments of "a foolish shepherd," for the LORD will raise up a shepherd who will not care for the flock. Zechariah 11:1Zechariah 11:2Zechariah 11:3Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13Zechariah 11:14Zechariah 11:15Zechariah 11:16
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
The prophet, who speaks of "the LORD my God"; the flock's possessors and sellers; "the poor of the flock"; three shepherds "cut off in one month"; and "the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock." Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:11Zechariah 11:17
Where
The lament covers Lebanon, "the oaks of Bashan," and "the pride of Jordan." The silver is cast "to the potter in the house of the LORD." Zechariah 11:1Zechariah 11:2Zechariah 11:3Zechariah 11:13LebanonBashanJordan
When
Chapters 9-14 carry no dates. Traditionally written by Zechariah; many scholars assign these chapters to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview
How it fits
Chapter 10 ended with God gathering and strengthening his people; here the shepherd who feeds the flock is rejected and priced at thirty pieces of silver. Chapter 12 begins the second "burden of the word of the LORD." Zechariah 10:8Zechariah 10:12Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 12:1Zechariah overview
Key verses
- Verse 7
"I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands." Zechariah 11:7
- Verse 13
"A goodly price that I was prised at of them." Thirty shekels of silver is the sum Exodus 21:32 sets for a servant gored by an ox. In Matthew 27:3 Judas "brought again the thirty pieces of silver," and Matthew 27:10 says it was given "for the potter's field." Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13Exodus 21:32Matthew 27:3Matthew 27:10
- Verse 17
"Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock." Jeremiah 23:1 also says, "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture." Zechariah 11:16Zechariah 11:17Jeremiah 23:1
Takeaway
Those who lead God's people are to seek, heal and feed them; the LORD notices when his shepherd is despised and when leaders abandon the flock. Zechariah 11:13Zechariah 11:16Zechariah 11:17
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
Howl, for the cedar is fallen
1Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 2Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. 3There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
Two staves and thirty pieces of silver
4Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; 5Whose 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. 6For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. 7And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. 8Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 9Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. 10And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 11And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 14Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
The foolish shepherd
15And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16For, 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. 17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.