Read & explore together
David’s Righteous Branch
Jeremiah 23:1 to 8 begins with a strong warning against harmful shepherds and then turns to Yahweh’s promise to gather, care for, and restore his flock. It also announces a future king raised up for David.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh speaks against shepherds who have scattered his people instead of caring for them. He says he will deal with those shepherds, gather the remnant of his flock from many countries, appoint shepherds who will feed them, and raise up for David a righteous Branch. The passage closes with a future confession about Yahweh bringing his people back to their land.
Jeremiah 23:1–8Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh judges unfaithful leaders and promises restored care, righteous rule, and the return of his people.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A warning to the shepherdsThe passage opens with “Woe” against the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of Yahweh’s pasture.
Explanation
The passage opens with “Woe” against the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of Yahweh’s pasture. Yahweh says these shepherds have scattered the flock, driven them away, and not visited them. Because of that, he says he will visit on them the evil of their doings. Their failure to care for the flock brings Yahweh’s judgement.
02Yahweh gathers his flock and provides careYahweh then speaks about what he will do himself. He will gather the remnant of his flock out of all the countries where they were driven and bring them again to their folds.
Explanation
Yahweh then speaks about what he will do himself. He will gather the remnant of his flock out of all the countries where they were driven and bring them again to their folds. The flock will be fruitful and multiply. He will also set up shepherds over them who will feed them so they are no longer afraid, dismayed, or lacking.
03A righteous Branch raised up for DavidYahweh says days are coming when he will raise up for David a righteous Branch. The text explains this promised ruler by what he will do: he will reign as king, deal wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Explanation
Yahweh says days are coming when he will raise up for David a righteous Branch. The text explains this promised ruler by what he will do: he will reign as king, deal wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, Israel will dwell safely, and he will be called “Yahweh our righteousness”.
04A future return that will be rememberedThe final verses describe days when people will speak of Yahweh bringing up and leading the offspring of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where they had been driven.
Explanation
The final verses describe days when people will speak of Yahweh bringing up and leading the offspring of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where they had been driven. The result named here is clear: they will dwell in their own land. The focus is on Yahweh’s restoring work.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Yahweh say the shepherds have done to his flock?
Look closely at the verbs in the passage: destroy, scatter, drive away, and not visit.
02What does Yahweh promise to do for the remnant of his flock?
List the actions named in the text, including gathering, bringing back, and setting up shepherds who will feed them.
03How does this passage describe the righteous Branch and his rule?
Notice both his connection to David and the works named in the verses: reigning, dealing wisely, and executing justice and righteousness.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 23:1–8
1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
2Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says Yahweh.
3“I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply.
4I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lacking,” says Yahweh.
5“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: Yahweh our righteousness.
7“Therefore, behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that they will no more say, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’
8but, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land.”