Zechariah 11:3
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
In Zechariah's time, the Jewish community had returned from exile with renewed hope for restoration. Yet this prophecy warns that future unfaithful shepherds will bring renewed judgment. Throughout Israel's history, corrupt leadership led to national disaster: wicked kings led to Assyrian and Babylonian conquest, and corrupt priests in Jesus's day collaborated with Rome while rejecting Messiah.
The "pride of Jordan" being spoiled had literal fulfillment: the Jordan valley's thick vegetation (where lions once lived) was devastated during Rome's campaign against Jewish resistance. But the deeper meaning is spiritual: the leaders' pride—their self-exaltation and rejection of God's authority—brought judgment. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and chief priests who rejected Jesus lost everything in AD 70: the temple, the priesthood, national sovereignty, and their positions of power.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the imagery of shepherds and lions howling over their lost glory warn against leadership motivated by pride and self-interest rather than service?
- What responsibility do spiritual leaders bear for the state of God's people, and what judgment awaits those who fail in their calling?
- How does Jesus as the Good Shepherd contrast with the false shepherds described here?
Analysis & Commentary
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. The lament shifts from trees to "shepherds" (ro'im, רֹעִים) and "young lions" (kephirim, כְּפִרִים), both representing Israel's leaders. The "howling" (yelalah, יְלָלָה) and "roaring" (sha'agah, שַׁאֲגָה) are cries of anguish—the leaders who should have protected God's flock now wail over their own destruction.
"For their glory is spoiled" (ki shuddad adartem, כִּי שֻׁדַּד אַדַּרְתָּם) explains the shepherds' anguish: their majesty, honor, and authority are devastated. The term adarah can mean a glorious robe or mantle (1 Kings 19:13, 19), symbolizing office and authority. Israel's shepherds (kings, priests, prophets) will lose their positions and prestige. The "pride of Jordan" (ge'on ha-Yarden, גְּאוֹן הַיַּרְדֵּן) refers to the Jordan River's thickets where lions once dwelled (Jeremiah 49:19; 50:44). Even the lions' impenetrable refuge is destroyed.
This verse connects the botanical imagery (vv. 1-2) with the shepherd allegory that follows (vv. 4-17). Israel's leaders—the shepherds who should feed the flock—have failed, leading to national judgment. Jesus explicitly condemned the religious leaders of His day as false shepherds (Matthew 23; John 10:12-13).