King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 6:3 Mean?

Jeremiah 6:3 in the King James Version says “The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall fe...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.”

Jeremiah 6:3 · KJV

Context

1

O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

2

I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. comely: or, dwelling at home

3

The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

4

Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

5

Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

Read Jeremiah 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her—the image of ro'im (רֹעִים, shepherds) here refers to enemy military commanders who will lead their armies (edrehim, עֶדְרֵיהֶם, flocks) against Jerusalem. They shall pitch their tents against her round about depicts the siege tactics where armies surrounded the city completely, cutting off escape and supply. They shall feed every one in his place uses ra'ah (רָעָה, to feed/graze), continuing the pastoral metaphor but meaning the invading forces will systematically plunder and consume Jerusalem's resources sector by sector.

This vivid metaphor transforms the comforting image of shepherds into an instrument of judgment. Where God is the true Shepherd who feeds His flock (Psalm 23), these 'shepherds' come to devour. The organized, methodical nature of the attack ('every one in his place') reveals that this is not random chaos but divine judgment executed through pagan armies. This anticipates the Babylonian siege of 588-586 BC, where Nebuchadnezzar's commanders systematically dismantled Jerusalem's defenses. Jesus later wept over Jerusalem using similar language of encirclement (Luke 19:43-44), showing that rejection of God's word brings inevitable judgment.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Jeremiah 6 dates to the early reign of Josiah or Jehoiakim (circa 626-605 BC), warning of invasion from the north. The 'shepherds' metaphor would resonate with agricultural Judah, where shepherding was the primary economy. Military commanders were commonly called 'shepherds' in ancient Near Eastern texts. The siege tactics described—surrounding the city, pitching tents, systematic plundering—match Babylonian military practice documented in Assyrian and Babylonian annals. The fulfillment came when Nebuchadnezzar's officers surrounded Jerusalem completely, with each commander assigned a sector to attack (2 Kings 25:1-4). Archaeological evidence from the Lachish Letters confirms the systematic nature of Babylon's conquest of Judean cities before Jerusalem's fall.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the transformation of the 'shepherd' image from comfort to judgment illustrate the principle that God's blessings become curses when His people rebel?
  2. What does the organized, methodical nature of this judgment teach about God's sovereignty over pagan nations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
אֵלֶ֛יהָ1 of 12
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יָבֹ֥אוּ2 of 12

“shall come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

רָע֖וּ3 of 12

“The shepherds”

H7462

to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie

וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם4 of 12

“with their flocks”

H5739

an arrangement, i.e., muster (of animals)

תָּקְע֨וּ5 of 12

“unto her they shall pitch”

H8628

to clatter, i.e., slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become

עָלֶ֤יהָ6 of 12
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֹהָלִים֙7 of 12

“their tents”

H168

a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)

סָבִ֔יב8 of 12

“against her round about”

H5439

(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

רָע֖וּ9 of 12

“The shepherds”

H7462

to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie

אִ֥ישׁ10 of 12

“every one”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֶת11 of 12
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יָדֽוֹ׃12 of 12

“in his place”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 6:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 6:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 19:43Jeremiah 39:1-32 Kings 24:2Jeremiah 4:16-17Nahum 3:18Jeremiah 12:10

Test Your Knowledge

Jeremiah 6 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJeremiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Jeremiah 6 with CommentaryAll Jeremiah ChaptersComplete Jeremiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes