Chapter Overview
Summary
Woe to the shepherds / the Righteous Branch / false prophets. LXX slightly shorter.
Notable Variants
LXX is shorter in the false-prophets section (vv. 14-32). Some phrases in MT appear to be later expansions. The messianic 'Branch' passage (vv. 5-6) is present in both.
Structural Notes
Chapter/verse numbering identical.
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! — declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not attended to them. Now I am about to attend to you — for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch. He will reign as king and act wisely, and he will establish justice and righteousness in the land.
The Righteous Branch prophecy is present in both LXX and MT.
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Is Our Righteousness.
The name 'The LORD our Righteousness' (יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ / κύριος Ιωσεδεκ) is present in both.
Therefore the days are coming, declares the LORD, when people will no longer say, 'As the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel up from the land of Egypt,'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
but rather, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and from all the lands where he had driven them.' Then they will live on their own soil.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Concerning the prophets: My heart is shattered within me; all my bones tremble. I have become like a drunk, like a man overcome by wine — because of the LORD and because of his holy words.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil and their power is misused.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For both prophet and priest are godless — even in my own house I have found their wickedness, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore their path will become slippery ground in the darkness — they will be pushed and fall on it, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their reckoning, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Among the prophets of Samaria I saw something repulsive: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
But among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrifying: they commit adultery and walk in deception, and they strengthen the hands of evildoers so that no one turns from his wickedness. All of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: I am about to feed them wormwood and make them drink poisoned water, for from the prophets of Jerusalem godlessness has spread throughout the entire land.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They fill you with empty hopes. They speak visions from their own hearts, not from the mouth of the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
They keep saying to those who despise me, 'The LORD has spoken: You will have peace.' And to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, 'No disaster will come upon you.'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For who has stood in the council of the LORD, to see and hear his word? Who has paid attention to his word and truly listened?
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Look — a storm of the LORD has gone out in fury, a whirling tempest! It will burst upon the heads of the wicked.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has carried out and fulfilled the purposes of his heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I did not send these prophets, yet they ran. I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
But if they had stood in my council and proclaimed my words to my people, they would have turned them from their evil way and from the wickedness of their deeds.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Am I only a God who is near, declares the LORD, and not a God who is far off?
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I have heard what the prophets say — those who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
How long will this continue? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies — the prophets of their own heart's deceit?
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
They plan to make my people forget my name through their dreams, which they tell one to another — just as their ancestors forgot my name because of Baal.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The prophet who has a dream — let him tell his dream. But the one who has my word — let him speak my word truthfully. What does straw have in common with grain? declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that shatters rock?
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Therefore I am against the prophets, declares the LORD — those who steal my words from one another.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I am against the prophets, declares the LORD — those who wag their own tongues and declare, 'He declares!'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, who tell them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness — though I never sent them or commanded them. They are of no benefit whatsoever to this people, declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
When this people or a prophet or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' — you shall say to them, 'You are the burden! And I will cast you off,' declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
As for the prophet or the priest or any of the people who says, 'The burden of the LORD' — I will punish that person and his household.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Instead, this is what you should say to one another, each to his neighbor: 'What has the LORD answered?' and 'What has the LORD spoken?'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
But 'the burden of the LORD' you must not mention again, for each person's own word becomes his burden — because you have twisted the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This is how you shall speak to a prophet: 'What has the LORD answered you?' and 'What has the LORD spoken?'
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
But if you say, 'The burden of the LORD' — then this is what the LORD says: Because you used this phrase, 'The burden of the LORD,' even though I sent word to you saying, 'You must not say, "The burden of the LORD"' —
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
therefore I will surely lift you up and hurl you away from my presence — both you and the city that I gave to you and your ancestors.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.