Zechariah 11:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | And 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. | So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. | So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the 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. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe LORD told the prophet to "feed the flock of the slaughter," a people abused by owners, sellers and their own shepherds. In this verse the prophet takes up that shepherd's job. He takes two staffs named Beauty and Bands and tends the flock, especially its poor. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:7
SpeakingThe prophet speaks in the first person. He acts as shepherd because "the LORD my God" commanded him to. The book names the prophet as Zechariah son of Berechiah. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7Zechariah overview
ToThe words are addressed to "you, O poor of the flock." These are the afflicted sheep. Later the same chapter calls them the poor "that waited upon me." Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:11Strong's H6041
Also involvedThe flock stands for "the inhabitants of the land." That is the whole people, whom the LORD warns he will no longer pity. It includes both Judah and Israel, whose brotherhood the second staff stands for. Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:14
This is an acted-out sign. The prophet shepherds a doomed flock, carrying two named staffs. The chapter itself explains them: breaking Beauty breaks "my covenant which I had made with all the people," and breaking Bands breaks "the brotherhood between Judah and Israel." Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:14
The sign concerns "the land" and its people, Judah and Israel. The book was written in Jerusalem for the people of Jerusalem and Judah who had returned from exile. Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:14Zechariah overview
The eventsThe passage gives no date for this sign. It belongs to the undated chapters 9-14. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 1-8 are widely dated to Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Many scholars assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe two staffs show what God's shepherd offered the flock: his covenant favour, and unity between Judah and Israel. Both staffs were broken, and the shepherd's price was weighed out at thirty pieces of silver, which the LORD called, with irony, "a goodly price that I was prised at of them." Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13Zechariah 11:14
In the whole of ScriptureThis verse falls within the book's first burden, "the coming king and the rejected shepherd" (9:1-11:17). The chapter then turns to a foolish, idol shepherd who devours the flock. Ezekiel 37:16 uses a similar picture of two sticks for Judah and Israel, and Ephesians 2:13-16 speaks of Christ Jesus reconciling both unto God "in one body by the cross." Zechariah overviewZechariah 11:15Zechariah 11:16Zechariah 11:17Ezekiel 37:16Ephesians 2:13Ephesians 2:16
For readersGod's care reaches the afflicted even inside a judged people. In 11:11 it was the poor who waited on the shepherd who recognised "the word of the LORD." Zephaniah 3:12 likewise promises an afflicted and poor people who "shall trust in the name of the LORD." Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:11Zephaniah 3:12
- Beautyנֹ֫עַם
The word means kindness, pleasantness or favour. Its definition also names it as the symbolic name of one of the two staves. The staff stands for God's covenant with the people, which is broken in 11:10. Strong's H5278Zechariah 11:10
- Bandsחֹבְלִים
The word means "union." That matches its meaning in 11:14, the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Strong's H2256CZechariah 11:14
- poorעָנִי
The word means poor, afflicted, humble or lowly. It marks out the suffering part of the flock, the ones who in 11:11 waited on the shepherd and knew the LORD's word. Strong's H6041Zechariah 11:11
- slaughterהֲרֵגָה
The word means a killing or slaughter. The flock is called this because its owners slay them and hold themselves not guilty. Strong's H2028HZechariah 11:5
Takeaway
God sent a shepherd to a flock headed for slaughter, offering favour and union. He was valued at thirty pieces of silver, and both were taken away. Through it all, the poor of the flock who waited on him recognised his word. Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:11Zechariah 11:14Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and I shepherded | וָֽאֶרְעֶה֙ | va-'er-'EH | 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) |
| [the] flock of | צֹ֣אן | tzon | H6629G | flockצֹאן (tson) 1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks 1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats) 1b) of multitude (simile) 1c) of multitude (metaphor) |
| the slaughter | הַֽהֲרֵגָ֔ה | ha-ha-re-GAH | H2028H | slaughterהֲרֵגָה (ha.re.gah) a killing, slaughter |
| to therefore | לָכֵ֖ן | la-KHEN | H3651C | rightכֵּן (ken) adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable |
| [the] afflicted [ones] of | עֲנִיֵּ֣י | 'a-ni-YEI | H6041 | afflictedעָנִי (a.ni) 1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched 1a) poor, needy 1b) poor and weak 1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched 1d) humble, lowly |
| the flock | הַצֹּ֑אן | ha-TZON | H6629G | flockצֹאן (tson) 1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks 1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats) 1b) of multitude (simile) 1c) of multitude (metaphor) |
| and I took | וָאֶקַּֽח־ | va-'e-kach- | H3947G | to take: takeלָקַח (la.qach) : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed … |
| two | שְׁנֵ֣י | she-NEI | H8147 | twoשְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number) |
| staffs | מַקְל֗וֹת | mak-LOT | H4731 | rodמַקֵּל (maq.qel) 1) rod, staff 1a) rod, stick 1b) staff (in travel) 1c) wand (of diviner) |
| to one | לְאַחַ֞ד | le-'a-CHAD | H0259 | oneאֶחָד (e.chad) 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal) |
| I called | קָרָ֤אתִי | ka-RA-ti | H7121H | to call: call toקָרָא (qa.ra) : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen |
| Favor | נֹ֙עַם֙ | no-'am | H5278 | pleasantnessנֹ֫עַם (no.am) 1) kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favour 1a) delightfulness 1b) symbolic name of one of two staves 1c) pleasantness |
| and to one | וּלְאַחַד֙ | u-le-'a-CHAD | H0259 | oneאֶחָד (e.chad) 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal) |
| I called | קָרָ֣אתִי | ka-RA-ti | H7121H | to call: call toקָרָא (qa.ra) : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen |
| Union | חֹֽבְלִ֔ים | choe-LIM | H2256C | unionחֹבְלִים (chov.lim) union |
| and I shepherded | וָאֶרְעֶ֖ה | va-'er-'EH | 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) |
| the flock | הַצֹּֽאן׃ | ha-TZON | H6629G | flockצֹאן (tson) 1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks 1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats) 1b) of multitude (simile) 1c) of multitude (metaphor) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.