Zechariah 11:8
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. | And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me. | And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe prophet acts out the part of a shepherd sent by the LORD to feed a flock headed for slaughter (11:4, 11:7). In one month he cuts off three shepherds, but the bond between him and the flock breaks down: his soul grows weary of them, and their soul loathes him. In the next verses he stops feeding them and breaks his staff Beauty as a sign of a broken covenant (11:9-10). Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:9Zechariah 11:10
SpeakingThe prophet speaks in the first person as the shepherd the LORD told to feed the flock (11:4, 11:7). Zechariah son of Berechiah is named as the book's prophet. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedThree unnamed shepherds who are cut off, and the flock, meaning the people, who abhor their shepherd. Earlier the chapter says the flock's own shepherds do not pity them (11:5). Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:8
The shepherd cuts off three shepherds within one month. Then the relationship between the shepherd and the flock turns to rejection on both sides. His soul grows short with them, and their soul loathes him. After this he gives the flock up, saying 'I will not feed you' (11:9). Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:9Strong's H7114AStrong's H0973AStrong's H3582
The message was given among the returned exiles in Jerusalem and Judah. The chapter opens with images of Lebanon, Bashan and the Jordan to picture judgment falling on the land. Zechariah overviewZechariah 11:1Zechariah 11:2Zechariah 11:3
The eventsThe text gives no date for this action, and it does not say which three shepherds are meant. It belongs to the first undated 'burden' of chapters 9-11. Zechariah 11:8Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book; his dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 1-8 are from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, but many scholars assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse is the turning point of the chapter. The shepherd removes three shepherds, but he and the flock reject each other, so the covenant is broken and a foolish shepherd is raised up instead (11:10, 11:15-17). Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:15Zechariah 11:16Zechariah 11:17
In the whole of ScriptureThis section of the book is about the coming king and the rejected shepherd. Other Scripture shows the same pattern of one sent to lead who is despised: Isaiah speaks of one 'whom the nation abhorreth' (Isaiah 49:7), and in Luke 19:14 citizens hated their ruler and said, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' The book also speaks of a smitten shepherd in 13:7, which is quoted in Matthew 26:31. Zechariah overviewIsaiah 49:7Luke 19:14
For readersRejecting the shepherd God sends has consequences, as 11:9 shows. John 7:7 says the world hated the one who testified that its works were evil. Matthew 23:34 and 23:36 warn that judgment would come on a generation that killed and persecuted the prophets sent to it. Zechariah 11:9John 7:7John 15:18Matthew 23:34Matthew 23:36
Christians read this differently
The verse does not name the three shepherds, and no cited Scripture does. Some readers take them as particular leaders in Israel's history removed in quick succession. Others take them as standing for the people's leaders as a whole. Others read the rejected shepherd of this chapter as pointing ahead to the Messiah, whom the book links to the smitten shepherd quoted in Matthew 26:31. Zechariah 11:8Zechariah overview
- cut offכָּחַד
The word can mean to hide, conceal, efface, cut off, destroy or annihilate. Here the KJV renders it 'cut off', and the interlinear gloss for this verse is 'and I annihilated'. Strong's H3582
The word means to be short, impatient, vexed or grieved. The shepherd's soul 'was short' with the flock: he ran out of patience with them, and next he refuses to feed them (11:9). Strong's H7114AZechariah 11:9
- abhorredבָּחֵל
It means to loathe or abhor, and it describes the flock's feeling toward their shepherd. Together with the shepherd's weariness of them, it shows the rejection runs both ways. Strong's H0973AZechariah 11:8
- soulנֶ֫פֶשׁ
The word means the soul or inner self, the seat of emotions and desire. Both sides turn from each other from within. Compare God's promise in Leviticus 26:11, 'my soul shall not abhor you.' Strong's H5315ILeviticus 26:11
Takeaway
The shepherd sent to feed the flock and the flock come to reject each other, and the flock then loses his care (11:9). Scripture warns elsewhere that turning away those God sends brings judgment (Matthew 23:34, 23:36). Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:9Matthew 23:34Matthew 23:36
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 annihilated | וָאַכְחִ֛ד | va-'akh-CHID | H3582 | to hideכָּחַד (ka.chad) 1) to hide, conceal, cut off, cut down, make desolate, kick 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be hidden 1a2) to be effaced, be destroyed, be cut off 1b) (Piel) to cover, hide 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to hide 1c2) to efface, annihilate |
| [the] three | שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת | she-LO-shet | H7969 | threeשָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) 1) three, triad 1a) 3, 300, third Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532) |
| the shepherds | הָרֹעִ֖ים | ha-ro-'IM | 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) |
| in a month | בְּיֶ֣רַח | be-YE-rach | H3391 | monthיֶ֫רַח (ye.rach) 1) month (lunar cycle), moon 1a) month 1b) calendar month Aramaic equivalent: ye.rach (יְרַח "month" H3393) |
| one | אֶחָ֑ד | 'e-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) |
| and it was short | וַתִּקְצַ֤ר | va-tik-TZAR | H7114A | be shortקָצֵר (qa.tser) 1) to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved 1a) (Qal) to be short 1b) (Piel) to shorten 1c) (Hiphil) to shorten |
| self my | נַפְשִׁי֙ | naf-SHI | H5315I | soulנֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain |
| and also | וְגַם־ | ve-gam- | H1571 | alsoגַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike |
| self their | נַפְשָׁ֖ם | naf-SHAM | H5315I | soulנֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain |
| it loathed | בָּחֲלָ֥ה | ba-cha-LAH | H0973A | to loathבָּחֵל (ba.chal) to loathe, abhor, feel loathing |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.