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Jeremiah 6:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 6:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction.
2The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.
3Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
4Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
5Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
← Jeremiah 6:2Jeremiah 6:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her, etc.] Kings and their armies, as the Targum paraphrases it; kings and generals are compared to shepherds, and their armies to flocks, who are under their command and direction; here they design Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, with his generals and armies, who should come up against Jerusalem, as to a good pasture: they shall pitch their tents against her round about; their military tents, in allusion to pastoral ones. The phrase is expressive of the Chaldean army surrounding and besieging Jerusalem: they shall feed everyone in his place; where he is ordered and fixed by his head general: or, “everyone shall feed his hand”f135: the sheep of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“shepherds--hostile leaders with their armies (Jer 1:15; Jer 4:17; Jer 49:20; Jer 50:45). feed--They shall consume each one all that is near him; literally, "his hand," that is, the place which he occupies (Num 2:17; see on Isa 56:5).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To it shall come “shepherds with their flocks:” They have pitched upon it “their tents round about:” They have pastured each his hand, “i. e., side.” The pasture is so abundant that each feeds his flock, i. e., plunders Jerusalem, at the side of his own tent. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The shepherds - The Chaldean princes, with their armies, as so many flocks, shall come into this pleasant land. In his place - Each one in his quarter or station. Jeremiah 6:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shepherds: Nah 3:18 they shall: Jer 4:16, Jer 4:17, Jer 39:1-3; Kg2 24:2, Kg2 24:10-12, Kg2 25:1-4; Luk 19:43 Jeremiah 6:4”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification