Things New and Old: Three shepherds also I cut off in one month

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, March 23, 2026

Three shepherds also I cut off in one month

A good knife keeps cutting,
It keeps asking apt questions.
Thus, it must be sharpened;
Sharpen it with sound Sense,
Soundbytes shall dull it fast.

An inquiring soul asked:

Zechariah 11 - NIV
8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them
9 and said, "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

Q. What do these two verses mean?

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Let me quote from the King James's translation:

Zechariah 11 KJT
8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

KJT : 8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

NIV : 8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them

Do you notice the vast difference in the translations?

Shepherds are guides and protectors of their flocks, those entrusted to their care.

The three shepherds refer to the three great institutions in Israel, represented by the three offices of prophets, priests, and kings.

The LORD God instituted these three offices in Israel for the spiritual good of His people. BUT all these three had become so corrupted at the time of Jesus; it explained their great opposition and animosity against Christ.
"... their souls ALSO abhorred me."
Christ's "soul loathed them."

Christ LOATHED them! Why? They abused their offices and did harm to Christ's people.

Christ cut them off - those offices of OT ceased by Christ's redemptive work; He fulfilled all those three offices in Himself - He is the Prophet, the Priest, and the King - the fulfilment of what typified in the old covenant. The three great institutions of the OT converged in and were fulfilled by the promised Messiah.

Verse 9 describes the forsakenness of all represented by the three shepherds, and the horrendous desolation and utter destruction of the theocratic Israel in 70AD.

I hope the above helps.

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p/s
Can you spot the differences? How good is your eyesight?

KJT: 8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

NIV: 8 In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them.

1. The pronouns "them" and "their" in the KJT refer to the "three shepherds".
- Where does the NIV's "flock" come from?

2. KJT's "cut off" versus NIV's "got rid of":
- Do they convey the same meaning?

3. KJT "my soul loathed them" versus NIV's "I grew weary of them":
- Do they convey the same meaning?

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picture:

A good knife keeps cutting,

It keeps asking apt questions.

Thus, it must be sharpened;

Sharpen it with sound sense,

Soundbytes shall dull it fast.