Leaders who fail to seek the LORD ultimately mislead their people into ruin.
“For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.” (v.21)
Jeremiah the prophet, who ministered primarily from around 627 BC to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, rebukes the leaders of Judah for failing to seek God’s guidance. For the shepherds have become stupid implies that Judah’s leaders are characterized by utter foolishness instead of God-centered wisdom. By not submitting themselves to the LORD’s counsel, these leaders forfeited divine blessing and placed both themselves and their flock in peril. In Jeremiah’s day, “shepherd” was often used figuratively to refer to kings, priests, and prophets—the leaders who were meant to guide the people in obedience to God. Instead, these shepherds neglected His ways, showing that they have not sought the LORD and thereby causing all their flock—the people of Judah—to suffer calamity and be scattered.
The phrase Therefore they have not prospered highlights the direct connection between abandoning God and losing His blessing. Throughout the Scriptures, prosperity and well-being often depend on the covenant faithfulness of both the leaders and the people (Deuteronomy 28). Judah’s neglect of divine instruction forced them to face devastating trials. Historically, Jerusalem’s eventual fall to Babylon in 586 BC served as the harsh culmination of this leadership failure. Jeremiah repeatedly warned that if they continued to worship other gods and ignore God’s commands, they would be subjected to foreign conquest (Jeremiah 7). Thus, Jeremiah 10:21 speaks to a deep-rooted problem of spiritual negligence among leaders, underscoring that dire consequences await anyone who fails to seek and obey the LORD.
Even though Jeremiah’s warnings were directed at the religious and civil leaders of ancient Judah, the principle remains relevant for believers. From a broader biblical perspective, Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), shows how a true shepherd seeks the Father’s will, cares for the sheep, and unites them in love and truth (Matthew 9:36). Self-focused leadership that forsakes reliance on God inevitably leads to suffering, loss, and the scattering of those who need guidance.
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Jeremiah 10:21 meaning
“For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.” (v.21)
Jeremiah the prophet, who ministered primarily from around 627 BC to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, rebukes the leaders of Judah for failing to seek God’s guidance. For the shepherds have become stupid implies that Judah’s leaders are characterized by utter foolishness instead of God-centered wisdom. By not submitting themselves to the LORD’s counsel, these leaders forfeited divine blessing and placed both themselves and their flock in peril. In Jeremiah’s day, “shepherd” was often used figuratively to refer to kings, priests, and prophets—the leaders who were meant to guide the people in obedience to God. Instead, these shepherds neglected His ways, showing that they have not sought the LORD and thereby causing all their flock—the people of Judah—to suffer calamity and be scattered.
The phrase Therefore they have not prospered highlights the direct connection between abandoning God and losing His blessing. Throughout the Scriptures, prosperity and well-being often depend on the covenant faithfulness of both the leaders and the people (Deuteronomy 28). Judah’s neglect of divine instruction forced them to face devastating trials. Historically, Jerusalem’s eventual fall to Babylon in 586 BC served as the harsh culmination of this leadership failure. Jeremiah repeatedly warned that if they continued to worship other gods and ignore God’s commands, they would be subjected to foreign conquest (Jeremiah 7). Thus, Jeremiah 10:21 speaks to a deep-rooted problem of spiritual negligence among leaders, underscoring that dire consequences await anyone who fails to seek and obey the LORD.
Even though Jeremiah’s warnings were directed at the religious and civil leaders of ancient Judah, the principle remains relevant for believers. From a broader biblical perspective, Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), shows how a true shepherd seeks the Father’s will, cares for the sheep, and unites them in love and truth (Matthew 9:36). Self-focused leadership that forsakes reliance on God inevitably leads to suffering, loss, and the scattering of those who need guidance.