Zechariah 11:3 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wailing of shepherds and the roar of young lions rise together, because their pasture and the thickets of the Jordan are laid waste.
What Does Zechariah 11:3 Mean?
The dirge shifts from trees to living creatures. Shepherds wail because their rich pastures, their glory, are stripped bare, and young lions roar because the dense thickets along the Jordan where they lurked are destroyed. From the heights of Lebanon down to the river valley, the whole land joins in lament.
Shepherds here begin a theme that will dominate the chapter: leaders entrusted with a flock. Their cry of loss prepares for a deeper sorrow over leaders who fail those in their care. The verse asks the reader to feel the weight of judgment that reaches every level of life, and to long for a faithful Shepherd whose pasture is never taken away.
Zechariah 11:3 in the Original Language
ga'on (גָּאוֹן), 'pride' -- here the lush thickets of the Jordan, the river's majestic growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 11:3
What does Zechariah 11:3 mean?
The wailing of shepherds and the roar of young lions rise together, because their pasture and the thickets of the Jordan are laid waste.