Shepherd was a standard term for a leader or king throughout the ancient world. In this sense it often appears in the Bible.
General term for a king or leader
Isaiah 44:28 The prophet describes this non-Jewish king as God's shepherd; Jeremiah 6:3 See also 2 Samuel 7:7; Psalm 77:20; Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 12:10, Jeremiah 49:19, Jeremiah 50:44
who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion:
The LORD as shepherd
Of Israel
Psalm 80:1 See also Genesis 49:24; Psalm 28:9; Isaiah 40:11
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
Of the individual
Psalm 23:1 See also Genesis 48:15
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
David as the model of a good shepherd
Experience as a real shepherd
Psalm 78:70–71 See also 1 Samuel 17:34–37; 2 Samuel 12:1–7 The king is brought to his senses by a “shepherd” story; Psalm 23:1–4
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
The shepherd faces death for his flock
2 Samuel 24:17 See also Exodus 32:32; John 10:11, John 10:15, John 10:17
When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”
David as a model of the coming Messiah
Ezekiel 34:23 See also Jeremiah 23:4–5, Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.
A good shepherd as a leader ``after God's own heart''
Jeremiah 3:15 See also Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:12
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
A bad shepherd
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
Criticisms of the shepherds of Israel
Jeremiah 23:1–2 See also Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 22:21–22; Ezekiel 34:1–10
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.