Difference between revisions of "Shepherd"

<p> (See [[Sheep]] .) The nomadic state is one of the earliest stages of society, and was regarded as honourable even to a chief (&nbsp;Genesis 4:2; &nbsp;Genesis 4:20; &nbsp;Genesis 30:29 ff; [[Genesis]] 37); chiefs' daughters did not disdain to tend flocks (&nbsp;Genesis 29:6, etc.; &nbsp;Exodus 2:19). The long stay in Egypt elevated [[Israel]] from the nomadic to a settled life. The two and a half nomadic tribes received their portion in the outlying regions beyond [[Jordan]] (Numbers 32). As agriculture increased pasturage decreased, and was limited to particular spots, the border of the wilderness of Judah, [[Carmel]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 25:2), [[Bethlehem]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 16:11; &nbsp;Luke 2:8), [[Tekoa]] (&nbsp;Amos 1:1), and [[Gedor]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:39). Hence the "shepherd's tent" came to symbolize desolation (&nbsp;Ezekiel 25:4; &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:6). The shepherd's occupation was now no longer dignified (&nbsp;Psalms 78:70; &nbsp;2 Samuel 7:8; &nbsp;Amos 7:14). </p> <p> The shepherd's office represents Jehovah's tender care of His people (Psalm 23; &nbsp;Isaiah 40:11; &nbsp;Isaiah 49:9-10; &nbsp;Jeremiah 23:3-4; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:11-12; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:23). Allusions occur to the exposure to heat and cold (&nbsp;Genesis 31:40), the precarious food (&nbsp;Amos 7:14), the husks of the carob (&nbsp;Luke 15:16), the attacks of beasts (&nbsp;1 Samuel 17:34; &nbsp;Isaiah 31:4; &nbsp;Amos 3:12), robbers (&nbsp;Genesis 31:39). The shepherd had a mantle of sheepskin with the fleece on (&nbsp;Jeremiah 43:12), a wallet for food (&nbsp;1 Samuel 17:40), a sling such as the Bedouin still carries, a staff to ward off foes and to guide the flock with its crook (&nbsp;Psalms 23:4; &nbsp;Zechariah 11:7; so [[Jehovah]] "lifts up His staff against" His people's foes, &nbsp;Isaiah 10:1-24; His word is at once our prop of support and our defense against Satan). The shepherd, when far from home, had his light tent (&nbsp;Song of [[Solomon]] 1:8), easily taken down and shifted (&nbsp;Isaiah 38:12). </p> <p> [[Towers]] were sometimes erected to spy a foe afar off, and to guard the flock (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 26:10; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4, compare "tower of Edar," &nbsp;Genesis 35:21; &nbsp;Micah 4:8). (See [[Edar]] .) His duty was to go before and call by name the sheep (&nbsp;John 10:4), watch it with dogs, a sorry animal in the East (&nbsp;Job 30:1), to search for stray sheep (&nbsp;Ezekiel 34:12; &nbsp;Luke 15:4), to supply water, either at a stream or at troughs by wells (&nbsp;Genesis 29:7; &nbsp;Genesis 30:38; &nbsp;Exodus 2:16), ''(So Jesus, '' &nbsp;Psalms 23:2 '')'' , to bring back to the fold at evening and to reckon the sheep that none be missing ''(Compare As To Jesus '' &nbsp;John 18:9 ''; '' &nbsp;John 17:11-12 ''; '' &nbsp;John 10:28-29 '')'' , passing one by one "under the rod" (&nbsp;Leviticus 27:32; &nbsp;Jeremiah 33:13; &nbsp;Ezekiel 20:37), ''(I.E. You Shall Be [[Counted]] As Mine, And [[Subjected]] To My [[Chastening]] [[Discipline]] With A View To My Ultimate [[Saving]] Of The Elect, '' &nbsp;Micah 7:14 '')'' , checking each sheep as it passed; to act as porter, guarding the entrance to the fold by night (&nbsp;John 10:3). </p> <p> The shepherds kept watches ''(Plural In Greek, '' &nbsp;Luke 2:8 '', Not "Slumbering," '' &nbsp;Nahum 3:18 '')'' by turns at night, not on duty both night and day as Jacob (&nbsp;Genesis 31:40). [[Tenderness]] to the young and feeble was the shepherd's duty, not to overdrive them (&nbsp;Genesis 33:13); so Jesus (&nbsp;Isaiah 40:11-29; &nbsp;Mark 6:31; &nbsp;Mark 8:2; &nbsp;Mark 4:33; &nbsp;John 16:12). There were chief and under shepherds (&nbsp;Genesis 47:6; &nbsp;1 Peter 5:4), and hirelings not of the family (&nbsp;John 10:11-13; &nbsp;1 Samuel 21:7). The shepherd had responsibility, and at the same time personal interest in the flock (&nbsp;1 Samuel 31:39; &nbsp;1 Samuel 30:32; &nbsp;1 Corinthians 9:7). </p> <p> Playing on the pipe beguiled the monotony, and a feast at shearing time gave a yearly variety (&nbsp;1 Samuel 16:17; &nbsp;Genesis 31:19; &nbsp;Genesis 38:12; &nbsp;2 Samuel 13:23). [[Shepherds]] often contended with one another as to water (&nbsp;Genesis 26:17-22; &nbsp;Exodus 2:17). The [[Egyptian]] antipathy to shepherds ''(Whom The [[Monuments]] Always Represent As Mean)'' was due to their being themselves agriculturists, whereas the neighbouring Arabs with whom they so often strove were nomads. The seizure of Lower Egypt by shepherd kings (Hyksos) for centuries aggravated this dislike, though the [[Hyksos]] were subsequent to [[Joseph]] (&nbsp;Genesis 46:34). Princes, and even hostile leaders, are called shepherds: &nbsp;Isaiah 44:28; &nbsp;Jeremiah 2:8; &nbsp;Jeremiah 3:15; &nbsp;Jeremiah 6:3; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:2; &nbsp;Micah 5:5. Teachers: &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 12:11. Messiah: &nbsp;Genesis 49:24; &nbsp;Psalms 80:1; &nbsp;Zechariah 13:7; &nbsp;John 10:14; &nbsp;Hebrews 13:20. </p>

<p> '''A. Verb.''' </p> <p> <em> Râ‛âh </em> ( '''''רָעָה''''' , Strong'S #7462), “to pasture, shepherd.” This common Semitic root appears in Akkadian, Phoenician, Ugaritic, Aramaic, and Arabic. It is attested in all periods of [[Hebrew]] and about 170 times in the Bible. (The word should be distinguished from the verb “to have dealings with or associate with.”) </p> <p> <em> Râ‛âh </em> represents what a shepherd allows domestic animals to do when they feed on grasses in the fields. In its first appearance Jacob tells the shepherds: “Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them” (Gen. 29:7). </p> <p> <em> Râ‛âh </em> can also represent the entire job of a shepherd. So “Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and [he was still a youth]” (Gen. 37:2). Used metaphorically this verb represents a leader’s or a ruler’s relationship to his people. At [[Hebron]] the people said to David: “Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel” (2 Sam. 5:2). The verb is used figuratively in the sense “to provide with nourishment” or “to enliven”: “The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom” (Prov. 10:21). </p> <p> <em> Râ‛âh </em> is used intransitively describing what cattle do when they feed on the grass of the field. So [[Pharaoh]] dreamed that “there came up out of the river seven well-favored kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow” (Gen. 41:2). This usage is applied metaphorically to men in Isa. 14:30: “And [those who are most helpless] shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety.…” This word is used to describe destruction: “Also the children of [[Noph]] and [[Tahapanes]] have broken [literally, “consumed as a domestic animal utterly bares a pasture”] the crown of thy head” (Jer. 2:16). </p> <p> '''B. Nouns. ''' </p> <p> <em> Ro’eh </em> ( '''''רָעָה''''' , Strong'S #7462), “shepherd.” This noun occurs about 62 times in the Old Testament. It is applied to God, the Great Shepherd, who pastures or feeds His sheep (Ps. 23:1-4; cf. John 10:11). This concept of God, the Great Shepherd, is very old, having first appeared in the Bible on Jacob’s lips in Gen. 49:24: “… From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.” </p> <p> When applied to human kings, <em> ro’eh </em> recalls its usage among non-Israelites. There it depicts the king as the head of the cultus (official public worship) and the mediator between the god(s) and men. It also suggests that he is the center of national unity, the supreme protector and leader of the nation, the bestower of every earthly blessing, and the dispenser of justice. Interestingly, no biblical king claimed the title <em> ro’eh </em> for himself (cf. 2 Sam. 5:2). In later times leaders other than the kings were also called “shepherds” (cf. Isa. 44:28; Ezek. 34:2). </p> <p> Other nouns derived from the verb <em> râ‛âh </em> occur infrequently. <em> Mir’eh </em> , which occurs 12 times, means “pasture or pasturage” in the sense of where animals graze, and/or what they graze on (Gen. 47:4). <em> Mar’it </em> appears 10 times and refers to a “pasture” (Ps. 74:1). <em> Re’l </em> is found once and means “pasture” (1 Kings 4:23). </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Ποιμήν''''' ''' (Strong'S #4166 — Noun Masculine — poimen — poy-mane' ) </div> <p> is used (a) in its natural significance, &nbsp;Matthew 9:36; &nbsp;25:32; &nbsp;Mark 6:34; &nbsp;Luke 2:8,15,18,20; &nbsp;John 10:2,12; (b) metaphorically of Christ, &nbsp;Matthew 26:31; &nbsp;Mark 14:27; &nbsp;John 10:11,14,16; &nbsp;Hebrews 13:20; &nbsp;1—Peter 2:25; (c) metaphorically of those who act as pastors in the churches, &nbsp;Ephesians 4:11 . See Pastor. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Isaiah 44:28 (a) It is used to represent King [[Cyrus]] as he took a leading place in the rebuilding of the temple, and restoring Israel to their land. &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:23 (a) This represents King David as he would guide the affairs and the destinies of Israel. Probably it also is prophetic of [[Christ]] when He returns to reign. &nbsp;John 10:14 (a) This is a type of the Lord [[Jesus]] He cares for, protects and leads His people. </p>

<p> ''''' shep´ẽrd ''''' ( רעה , <i> ''''' rō‛eh ''''' </i> , רעי , <i> ''''' rō‛ı̄ ''''' </i> ; ποιμήν , <i> ''''' poimḗn ''''' </i> , "a feeder"): The sheep owner frequently tends the flocks himself (&nbsp; Genesis 4:4; &nbsp;Genesis 30:40; compare &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:12 ), but more often he delegates the work to his children (&nbsp;Genesis 29:9; &nbsp;1 Samuel 16:19; &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:15 ) or relatives (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;1 Samuel 17:20 ) the flocks may be neglected or abused (&nbsp;Isaiah 56:10 , &nbsp;Isaiah 56:11; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:8 , &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:10; &nbsp;Zechariah 11:15 , &nbsp;Zechariah 11:17; &nbsp;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 (&nbsp;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 &nbsp;Numbers 27:16 , &nbsp;Numbers 27:17 ); nor do they possess the instinct of many other animals for finding their way home (compare &nbsp;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 (&nbsp;Genesis 26:18-22 , &nbsp;Genesis 26:25 , &nbsp;Genesis 26:32 ). 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 (&nbsp;Genesis 29:2; &nbsp;John 4:6 ). The usual time for watering is at noon, at which time the flocks are led to the watering-places (&nbsp;Genesis 29:2 , &nbsp;Genesis 29:3 ). 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 (&nbsp;John 10:3-5 ). </p> <p> 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 <i> ''''' ‛aba ''''' </i> 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 (&nbsp;Judges 5:16 ). He sometimes carries a sling ( קלע , <i> ''''' ḳela‛ ''''' </i> ) of goat's hair (&nbsp;1 Samuel 17:40 ). His chief belongings are kept in a skin pouch or bag (כּלי , <i> ''''' kelı̄ ''''' </i> ) (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;Genesis 31:39; &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:34 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:35; &nbsp;Isaiah 31:4; &nbsp;Jeremiah 5:6; &nbsp;Amos 3:12 ). </p> Figurative: <p> The frequent use of the word "shepherd" to indicate a spiritual overseer is familiar to Bible readers (&nbsp;Psalm 23:1; &nbsp;Psalm 80:1; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 12:11; &nbsp;Isaiah 40:4; &nbsp;Isaiah 63:14; &nbsp;Jeremiah 31:10; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:23; &nbsp;Ezekiel 37:24; &nbsp;John 21:15-17; &nbsp;Ephesians 4:11; &nbsp;1 Peter 5:1-4 ). We still use the term "pastor," literally, "a shepherd." Leaders in temporal affairs were also called shepherds (&nbsp;Genesis 47:17 margin; &nbsp; Isaiah 44:28; &nbsp;Isaiah 63:11 ). "Sheep without a shepherd" typified individuals or nations who had forgotten [[Yahweh]] (&nbsp;Numbers 27:17; &nbsp;1 Kings 22:17; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 18:16; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:5 , &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:8; &nbsp;Zechariah 10:2; &nbsp;Matthew 9:36; &nbsp;Mark 6:34 ). </p> <p> Jesus is spoken of as the good shepherd (&nbsp;John 10:14 ); chief shepherd (&nbsp;1 Peter 5:4 ); great shepherd (&nbsp;Hebrews 13:20 ); the one shepherd (&nbsp;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" (&nbsp;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 . </p>