Zechariah 11:5
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 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. | whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them. | whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe LORD tells the prophet to feed a flock marked for slaughter (v.4). This verse explains why: their buyers kill them without guilt, their sellers thank God for the profit, and their own shepherds have no pity. The next verse says the LORD himself will no longer pity the land (v.6). Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:6
SpeakingThe prophet passes on what "the LORD my God" said to him. The book names the prophet as Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah overview
ToThe command is given to the prophet, who is told to feed the flock. The book as a whole was given to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe "flock of the slaughter" suffers. This is the people, whom v.6 calls "the inhabitants of the land" and v.7 calls "the poor of the flock." Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:7
Three groups abuse the flock. Buyers kill them and feel no guilt. Sellers praise the LORD for making them rich. Their own shepherds, a picture of rulers, do not spare them. The text does not name who these buyers, sellers and shepherds were. Zechariah 11:5Strong's H7462BStrong's H0816
The scene is "the land" of God's people, Judah and Israel (v.6, v.14). The book was written in Jerusalem, among the returned exiles. Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:14Zechariah overview
The eventsThe passage gives no date for these events. Chapters 9-14 carry no dates. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book; his dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree that chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah, but many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse exposes leaders and traders who profit from the people and care nothing for them. It explains why judgment falls on the land in v.6. Jeremiah brings the same charge against shepherds who scatter God's flock and do not visit them. Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:6Jeremiah 23:1Jeremiah 23:2
In the whole of ScriptureThis opens the story of the rejected shepherd. In that story the flock values the true shepherd at thirty pieces of silver (v.12-13), and a foolish shepherd is raised up (v.15-17). The book later says "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered," which Matthew 26:31 quotes. Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13Zechariah 11:16Zechariah overview
For readersCalling wealth a blessing from God does not excuse getting it by harming others. Hosea shows Ephraim saying "I am become rich" and claiming no sin. Paul warns against those "supposing that gain is godliness" and says "the love of money is the root of all evil." Zechariah 11:5Hosea 12:81 Timothy 6:51 Timothy 6:10
The word means to offend or be guilty, and it can also mean to be held guilty. The buyers kill and feel no guilt. Jeremiah 50:7 has the same attitude: "We offend not." Strong's H0816Jeremiah 50:7
- Blessed beבָּרַךְ
This is the ordinary word for blessing and praise. The sellers use God's name to thank him for wealth gained from slaughter. Deuteronomy 29:19 describes the same kind of person, who will "bless himself in his heart" while walking in sin. Strong's H1288Deuteronomy 29:19
- shepherdsרָעָה
The word means to tend or pasture a flock. It is also used as a picture of a ruler, with the people as the flock. That makes this a charge against the people's own leaders. Strong's H7462BJeremiah 23:2
- pityחָמַל
The word means to spare or have compassion. The shepherds do not pity the flock (v.5), and the LORD answers, "I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land" (v.6). Strong's H2550Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:6
Takeaway
God sees leaders and traders who exploit people and then thank him for their profit. He counts it as guilt and judges it. Wealth gained this way is no proof of his blessing. Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:6Jeremiah 23:21 Timothy 6:5
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| which | אֲשֶׁ֨ר | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| [those who] buy them | קֹנֵיהֶ֤ן | ko-nei-HEN | H7069 | to buyקְנָא (qe.na) (P'al) to acquire, buy, purchase Aramaic of qa.nah (קָנָה "to buy" H7069) |
| they will kill them | יַֽהֲרְגֻן֙ | ya-har-GUN | H2026 | to killהָרַג (ha.rag) 1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to kill, slay 1a2) to destroy, ruin 1b) (Niphal) to be killed 1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain |
| and not | וְלֹ֣א | ve-LO' | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| they will be held guilty | יֶאְשָׁ֔מוּ | ye'-SHA-mu | H0816 | be guiltyאָשַׁם (a.sham) 1) to offend, be guilty, trespass 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do wrong, offend, trespass, commit an offense, do injury 1a2) to be or become guilty 1a3) to be held guilty 1a4) to be incriminated 1b) (Niphal) to suffer punishment 1c) (Hiphil) to declare guilty 2) (TWOT) to be desolate, acknowledge offense |
| and [those who] sell them | וּמֹכְרֵיהֶ֣ן | u-mo-khe-rei-HEN | H4376 | to sellמָכַר (ma.khar) 1) to sell 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sell 1a2) seller (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be sold 1b2) to sell oneself 1b3) to be given over to death 1c) (Hithpael) to sell oneself |
| he will say | יֹאמַ֔ר | yo-MAR | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560) |
| [be] blessed | בָּר֥וּךְ | ba-RUKH | H1288 | to blessבָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) 1) to bless, kneel 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to kneel 1a2) to bless 1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself 1c) (Piel) to bless 1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored 1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel 1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself 2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289) |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֖ה | YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| so I may gain riches | וַאעְשִׁ֑ר | va'-SHIR | H6238 | to enrichעָשַׁר (a.shar) 1) to be or become rich or wealthy, enrich, pretend to be rich 1a) (Qal) to be or become rich 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to make rich 1b2) to gain riches 1c) (Hithpael) to enrich oneself, pretend to be rich |
| and shepherds their | וְרֹ֣עֵיהֶ֔ם | ve-RO-'ei-HEM | H7462B | to pastureרָעָה (ra.ah) 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tend, pasture 1a1a) to shepherd 1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig) 1a1c) of people as flock (fig) 1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst) 1a2) to feed, graze 1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal) 1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig) 1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473) |
| not | לֹ֥א | lo' | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| he will have compassion | יַחְמ֖וֹל | yach-MOL | H2550 | to spareחָמַל (cha.mal) (Qal) to spare, pity, have compassion on |
| on them | עֲלֵיהֶֽן׃ | 'a-lei-HEN | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.