Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, July 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Zechariah 11:5

The buyers slaughter their sheep without remorse. The sellers say, ‘Praise the Lord ! Now I'm rich!' Even the shepherds have no compassion for them.

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Zechariah, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Zechariah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Apocalyptic Literature;   Ekron;   Micah, Book of;   Prophecy, Prophets;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bar Kokba and Bar Kokba War;   Liturgy;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Those who buy them slaughter them but are not punished. Those who sell them say: Blessed be the Lord because I have become rich! Even their own shepherds have no compassion for them.
Hebrew Names Version
Their buyers slaughter them, and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich;' and their own shepherds don't pity them.
King James Version (1611)
Whose possessours slay them, and hold themselues not guiltie: and they that sell the say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their owne shepheards pitie them not.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord , I have become rich,' and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
New American Standard Bible
"Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich!' And their own shepherds have no compassion for them.
New Century Version
Their buyers kill them and are not punished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord , I am rich.' Even the shepherds don't feel sorry for their sheep.
Amplified Bible
whose buyers slay them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich!' And their own shepherds have no pity on them nor protect them [from the wolves].
Geneva Bible (1587)
They that possesse them, slay them and sinne not: and they that sell them, say, Blessed be the Lord: for I am riche, and their owne shepherds spare them not.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich!' And their own shepherds have no pity on them.
Legacy Standard Bible
Those who buy them slaughter them and are not held guilty, and each of those who sell them says, ‘Blessed be Yahweh. Indeed, I have become rich!' And their own shepherds do not spare them.
Berean Standard Bible
whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, 'Praise the LORD, for I am rich!' Even their own shepherds have no compassion for them.
Contemporary English Version
The people who buy and butcher them go unpunished, while everyone who sells them says, "Praise the Lord ! I'm rich." Not even their shepherds have pity on them.
Complete Jewish Bible
Their buyers kill them and go unpunished; while those who sell them say, ‘Barukh Adonai ! Now I'm rich!' Even their own shepherds show them no pity.
Darby Translation
whose possessors slay them without being held guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah! for I am become rich; and their own shepherds pity them not.
Easy-to-Read Version
Buyers kill their sheep and are not punished. Those who sell the sheep say, ‘Praise the Lord , I am rich!' The shepherds don't feel sorry for their sheep.
George Lamsa Translation
Whose buyers slaughter them, and hold themselves not guilty; and those who sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for he has enriched us; and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
Good News Translation
Their owners kill them and go unpunished. They sell the meat and say, ‘Praise the Lord ! We are rich!' Even their own shepherds have no pity on them."
Lexham English Bible
The ones buying them kill them and go unpunished, and the ones selling them say, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, for I have become rich.' Their own shepherds have no compassion for them.
Literal Translation
Those who buy them kill them and are not held guilty. And those who sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah, for I am rich. And their shepherds do not pity them.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
Whose owners put them to death and have no sense of sin; and those who get a price for them say, May the Lord be praised for I have much wealth: and the keepers of the flock have no pity for them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
whose buyers 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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which haue ben slaine of those that possessed them, yet they [toke it] for no sinne, but they that solde them said, The Lorde be thanked, for I am riche: yea their owne shepheardes spare the not.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
which their possessors have slain, and have not repented: and they that sold them said, Blessed be the Lord; for we have become rich: and their shepherds have suffered no sorrow for them.
English Revised Version
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.
World English Bible
Their buyers slaughter them, and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, 'Blessed be Yahweh, for I am rich;' and their own shepherds don't pity them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
whiche thei that weldiden slowen; and `sorewiden not, and selden hem, and seiden, Blessid be the Lord, we ben maad riche. And schepherdis of hem spariden not hem,
Update Bible Version
whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and those that sell them say, Blessed be Yahweh, for I am rich; and their own shepherds don't pity them.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
New English Translation
Those who buy them slaughter them and are not held guilty; those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord , for I am rich.' Their own shepherds have no compassion for them.
New King James Version
whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, "Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich'; and their shepherds do not pity them.
New Life Bible
Those who buy them kill them and are not punished. And those who sell them say, ‘Thanks and honor be to the Lord, for I have become rich!' Their own shepherds have no pity on them.
New Revised Standard
Those who buy them kill them and go unpunished; and those who sell them say, "Blessed be the Lord , for I have become rich"; and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Whose, buyers, slay them, and are not held guilty, and whose, sellers, say - Blessed be Yahweh, that I am become rich, And so, their own shepherds, have no pity upon them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which they that possessed, slew, and repented not, and they sold them, saying: Blessed be the Lord, we are become rich: and their shepherds spared them not.
Revised Standard Version
Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished; and those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, I have become rich'; and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
Young's Literal Translation
Whose buyers slay them, and are not guilty, And their sellers say, Blessed [is] Jehovah, And I am rich, And their shepherds have no pity on them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which shalbe slayne of those that possesse them: yet they take it for no synne, but they yt sell the, saye: The LORDE be thanked, I am rich: Yee their owne shepherdes spare them not.
THE MESSAGE
class="poetry"> Open your borders to the immigrants, proud Lebanon! Your sentinel trees will burn. Weep, great pine trees! Mourn, you sister cedars! Your towering trees are cordwood. Weep Bashan oak trees! Your thick forest is now a field of stumps. Do you hear the wailing of shepherds? They've lost everything they once owned. Do you hear the outrage of the lions? The mighty jungle of the Jordan is wasted. Make room for the returning exiles! God commanded me, "Shepherd the sheep that are soon to be slaughtered. The people who buy them will butcher them for quick and easy money. What's worse, they'll get away with it. The people who sell them will say, ‘Lucky me! God's on my side; I've got it made!' They have shepherds who couldn't care less about them."

Contextual Overview

4 This is what the Lord my God says: "Go and care for the flock that is intended for slaughter. 5 The buyers slaughter their sheep without remorse. The sellers say, ‘Praise the Lord ! Now I'm rich!' Even the shepherds have no compassion for them. 6 Likewise, I will no longer have pity on the people of the land," says the Lord . "I will let them fall into each other's hands and into the hands of their king. They will turn the land into a wilderness, and I will not rescue them." 7 So I cared for the flock intended for slaughter—the flock that was oppressed. Then I took two shepherd's staffs and named one Favor and the other Union. 8 I got rid of their three evil shepherds in a single month. But I became impatient with these sheep, and they hated me, too. 9 So I told them, "I won't be your shepherd any longer. If you die, you die. If you are killed, you are killed. And let those who remain devour each other!" 10 Then I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, showing that I had revoked the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11 That was the end of my covenant with them. The suffering flock was watching me, and they knew that the Lord was speaking through my actions. 12 And I said to them, "If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to." So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter"—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord .

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

possessors: Jeremiah 23:1, Jeremiah 23:2, Ezekiel 22:25-27, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 34:3, Ezekiel 34:10, Micah 3:1-3, Micah 3:9-12, Matthew 23:14, John 16:2

hold: Jeremiah 2:3, Jeremiah 50:7

sell: Genesis 37:26-28, 2 Kings 4:1, Nehemiah 5:8, Matthew 21:12, Matthew 21:13, 2 Peter 2:3, Revelation 18:13

Blessed: Deuteronomy 29:19-21, Hosea 12:8, 1 Timothy 6:5-10

and their: Ezekiel 34:4, Ezekiel 34:6, Ezekiel 34:18, Ezekiel 34:19, Ezekiel 34:21, John 10:1, John 10:12, John 10:13

Reciprocal: Psalms 10:3 - and blesseth Lamentations 2:2 - swallowed Micah 3:2 - pluck Zechariah 10:3 - anger Zechariah 11:6 - I will no Luke 10:2 - are John 10:2 - the shepherd 1 Timothy 6:9 - they Revelation 3:17 - I am Revelation 18:15 - which

Cross-References

Genesis 11:13
After the birth of Shelah, Arphaxad lived another 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:14
When Shelah was 30 years old, he became the father of Eber.
Genesis 11:23
After the birth of Nahor, Serug lived another 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:24
When Nahor was 29 years old, he became the father of Terah.
Genesis 18:21
I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know."
Exodus 3:8
So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
Exodus 19:11
Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.
Exodus 19:18
All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.
Exodus 19:20
The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.
Psalms 11:4
But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty,.... Not the Romans after Christ came, into whose hands they were delivered, and by whom they were slain in great numbers, not accounting it any sin to put them to death; but the priests, Scribes, Pharisees, and doctors, among the Jews, who ruined and destroyed their souls, by feeding them with poisonous doctrines; teaching them the commandments of men, and to observe the traditions of the elders; and to seek for life and salvation by the works of the law, which was a ministration of condemnation and death to them; and yet thought they did God and the souls of men good service:

and they that sell them; as false teachers make merchandise of the souls of men:

say, Blessed [be] the Lord, for I am rich; having devoured widows' houses and substances, under a pretence of long prayers; and enriched themselves through tithes of everything, and by other methods; as the Scribes and Pharisees did:

and their own shepherds pity them not; those who should have been concerned for the welfare of their souls had no compassion on them. Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpret this of God, the Shepherd of Israel; the verb being singular, though the noun is plural: so God is called Makers, Creators, Psalms 149:2 and this sense agrees with the following words.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whose possessors - (buyers) slay them and hold themselves not guilty, rather, are not guilty either in their own eyes, or in the sight of God, since He gave them up and would no more avenge them. They contract no guilt. Aforetime God said; “Israel was holiness to the Lord, the first-fruits of His increase; all that devour him shall be guilty: evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord” Jeremiah 2:3. Now God reversed this, as He said by the same prophet, “My people hath been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; all that found them have devoured them; and their adversaries say, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, yea, the hope of their fathers, the Lord” Jeremiah 50:6-7. The offence of injuring Israel was that they were God’s people: when He cast them forth, they who chastened them were His servants Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10, His instruments, and offended only when through pride they knew not in whose hands they themselves were Isaiah 10:7; Habakkuk 1:11, or through cruelty exceeded their office Isaiah 47:6; Zechariah 1:18, and so they became guilty.

And they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich - Even Sennacherib felt himself in part, or thought best to own himself, to be an instrument in God’s hand Isaiah 36:10. But Titus when he “entered Jerusalem, marveled at the strength of the city and its towers, which ‘he tyrants’ in phrensy abandoned. When then he had beheld their solid strength and the greatness of each rock, and how accurately they were fitted in, and how great their length and breadth, he said ‘By the help of God we have warred: and God it was who brought down the Jews from those bulwarks: for what avail the hands of man or his engines against such towers?’ Much of this sort he said to his friends.” The Jews also were “sold” in this war, as they had not been in former captures; and that, not by chance, but because the Roman policy was different from all, known by “experience” in the time of Zechariah. Into Babylon they had been carried captive, as a whole, because it was the will of God, after the “seventy years” to restore them. In this war, it was His will to destroy or disperse them; and so those above 17 were sent to Egypt to the works; those below 17 were sold. : “The whole number taken prisoners during the wars were 1,100,000,” beside those who perished elsewhere. Jerome: “Read we the ancient histories and the traditions of the mourning Jews, that at the Tabernaculum Abrahae (where now is a very thronged mart every year) after the last destruction, which they endured from Adrian, many thousands were sold, and what could not be sold were removed into Egypt, and destroyed by shipwreck or famine and slaughter by the people. No displeasure came upon the Romans for the utter destruction, as there had upon the Assyrians and Chaldaeans.”

And their own shepherds - (In contrast to those who “bought” and “sold” them, who accordingly were not their own, temporal or spiritual) they to whom God had assigned them, who should have fed them with the word of God, strengthened the diseased, healed the sick, bound up the broken, and sought the lost, “pity them not” Ezekiel 34:4. He says what they should have done, in blaming them for what they did not do. They owed them a tender compassionate love; they laid aside all mercy, and became wolves, as Paul says; “After my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” Acts 20:29-30. They who owed them all love, shall have none. Jerome: “No marvel then, he says, if enemies shall use the right of conquest, when their very shepherds and teachers spared them not, and, through their fault, the flock was given over to the wolves.” All were corrupted, high priest, priests, scribes, lawyers, Pharisees, Sadducees. No one had pity on them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Zechariah 11:5. Whose possessors — Governors and false prophets, slay them, by leading them to those things that will bring them to destruction.

And they that sell them — Give them up to idolatry; and bless God, strange to tell, that they get secular advantage by the establishment of this false religion.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile