Isaiah 9 gives the reason why the Lord will take charge as One Shepherd, no

more human shepherds

ISAIAH 9
.‫ אֹור נָגַּה עֲ לֵיהֶ ם‬,‫ י ֹׁשְ בֵי ּבְאֶ ֶרץ ַצלְמָ ו ֶת‬:‫ ָראּו אֹור ּגָדֹול‬,‫ י ְׁשַ עְ י ָהּו א הָ עָ ם הַ ה ֹ ְלכִים ּבַח ֹׁשֶ ְך‬1 The people that
walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon
them hath the light shined.
Hebrew Bible 9:1 = NIV Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

.‫ ּכַאֲ ׁשֶ ר יָגִילּו ּבְחַ ּלְקָ ם ׁשָ לָל‬,‫ לא (לֹו) הִ גְּדַ לְּתָ הַ ּׂשִ מְ חָ ה; ׂשָ מְ חּו לְפָ נֶיָך ּכְׂשִ מְ חַ ת ּבַּקָ צִיר‬,‫ב הִ ְרּבִיתָ הַ ּגֹוי‬ 2 Thou
hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast increased their joy; they joy before Thee according to the joy in
harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Hebrew Bible 9:2 = NIV Isaiah 9:3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.

.‫ ּכְיֹום מִ דְ י ָן‬,‫הַ חִ ּת ָֹת‬--‫ הַ ּנֹגֵׂש ּבֹו‬,‫ ׁשֵ בֶט‬,‫ ו ְאֵ ת מַ ּטֵ ה ׁשִ כְמֹו‬,‫ע ֹל סֻ ּבֳלֹו‬-‫ ג ּכִי אֶ ת‬3 For the yoke of his burden, and the
staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, Thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.
Hebrew Bible 9:3 = NIV Isaiah 9:4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

.‫ מַ אֲ כֹלֶת אֵ ׁש‬,‫ ו ְׂשִ מְ לָה מְ גֹו ָללָה בְדָ מִ ים; ו ְהָ י ְָתה לִׂשְ ֵרפָ ה‬,‫סְ אֹון ס ֹאֵ ן ּב ְַרעַ ׁש‬-‫ ד ּכִי כָל‬4 For every boot stamped
with fierceness, and every cloak rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.
Hebrew Bible 9:4 = NIV Isaiah 9:5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

‫ׁשָ לֹום‬-‫ ׂשַ ר‬,‫עַ ד‬-‫ אֲ בִי‬,‫ אֵ ל ּגִּבֹור‬,‫ׁשִ כְמֹו; וַּיִקְ ָרא ׁשְ מֹו ּפֶ לֶא יֹועֵ ץ‬-‫ עַ ל‬,‫ ו ַּתְ הִ י הַ ּמִ ׂשְ ָרה‬,‫לָנּו‬-‫ ּבֵן נִּתַ ן‬,‫לָנּו‬-‫יֶלֶד יֻּלַד‬-‫ה ּכִי‬.
5 For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his
name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom;
Hebrew Bible 9:5 = NIV Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
 and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

;‫ ּבְמִ ׁשְ ּפָ ט ּו ִבצְדָ קָ ה‬,‫ לְהָ כִין א ָֹתּה ּולְסַ עֲ דָ ּה‬,‫מַ מְ ַלכְּתֹו‬-‫ּכִּסֵ א דָ ו ִד ו ְעַ ל‬-‫ עַ ל‬,‫קֵ ץ‬-‫ו לם רבה (לְמַ ְרּבֵה) הַ ּמִ ׂשְ ָרה ּולְׁשָ לֹום אֵ ין‬
}‫ {פ‬.‫ּז ֹאת‬-‫ ַּתעֲ ׂשֶ ה‬,‫ קִ נְַאת י ְהו ָה ְצבָאֹות‬,‫עֹולָם‬-‫ ו ְעַ ד‬,‫מֵ עַ ּתָ ה‬ 6 That the government may be increased,
and of peace there be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to
uphold it through justice and through righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the
LORD of hosts doth perform this. {P}
Hebrew Bible 9:6 = NIV Isaiah 9:7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel

.‫ ְּבי ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל‬,‫ ְּבי ַעֲ ק ֹב; וְנָפַ ל‬,‫ז ּדָ בָר ׁשָ לַח אֲ דֹנָי‬ 7 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon
Israel.
Hebrew Bible 9:7 = NIV Isaiah 9:8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
it will fall on Israel.

.‫ לֵאמ ֹר‬,‫ ְּבגַאֲ ו ָה ּובְג ֹדֶ ל ֵלבָב‬,‫ אֶ פ ְַרי ִם ו ְיֹוׁשֵ ב ׁש ֹמְ רֹון‬,‫ח וְי ָדְ עּו הָ עָ ם ּכֻּלֹו‬ 8 And all the people shall know,
even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in arrogancy of heart:
Hebrew Bible 9:8 = NIV Isaiah 9:9 All the people will know it—
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—
who say with pride
and arrogance of heart,

.‫ ו ַאֲ ָרזִים נַחֲ לִיף‬,‫ ו ְ ָגזִית נִ ְבנֶה; ׁשִ קְ מִ ים ּגֻּדָ עּו‬,‫ט ְל ֵבנִים נָפָ לּו‬ 9 'The bricks are fallen, but we will build
with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but cedars will we put in their place.'
Hebrew Bible 9:9 = NIV Isaiah 9:10 “The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.”

.‫ י ְסַ כְסֵ ְך‬,‫אֹיְבָיו‬-‫ עָ לָיו; ו ְאֶ ת‬,‫צ ֵָרי ְרצִין‬-‫י וַי ְׂשַ ּגֵב י ְהו ָה אֶ ת‬ 10 Therefore the LORD doth set upon high the
adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies;
Hebrew Bible 9:10 = NIV Isaiah 9:11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them
and has spurred their enemies on.
.‫ ו ְעֹוד י ָדֹו נְטּוי ָה‬,‫ׁשָ ב אַ ּפֹו‬-‫ז ֹאת ֹלא‬-‫ּפֶ ה; ְּבכָל‬-‫ ְּבכָל‬,‫י ִׂשְ ָראֵ ל‬-‫ ו ַּי ֹאכְלּו אֶ ת‬,‫ ּו ְפלִׁשְ ּתִ ים מֵ ָאחֹור‬,‫ יא אֲ ָרם מִ ּקֶ דֶ ם‬11 The
Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west; and they devour Israel with open mouth. For all
this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
Hebrew Bible 9:11 = NIV Isaiah 9:12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west
have devoured Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

his hand is still upraised.

}‫ {ס‬.‫ ֹלא דָ ָרׁשּו‬,‫י ְהו ָה ְצבָאֹות‬-‫הַ ּמַ ּכֵהּו; ו ְאֶ ת‬-‫ עַ ד‬,‫ׁשָ ב‬-‫ יב ו ְהָ עָ ם ֹלא‬12 Yet the people turneth not unto Him that
smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. {S}
Hebrew Bible 9:12 = NIV Isaiah 9:13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them,
nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.

.‫יֹום אֶ חָ ד‬--‫ ר ֹאׁש ו ְ ָזנָב ּכִּפָ ה ו ְַאגְמֹון‬,‫יג וַּיַכ ְֵרת י ְהו ָה מִ ּיִׂשְ ָראֵ ל‬ 13 Therefore the LORD doth cut off from
Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
Hebrew Bible 9:13 = NIV Isaiah 9:14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
both palm branch and reed in a single day;

.‫ הּוא הַ ָּזנָב‬,‫ּׁשֶ קֶ ר‬-‫מֹורה‬

ֶ ‫ הּוא הָ ר ֹאׁש; וְנָבִיא‬,‫פָ נִים‬-‫ יד זָקֵ ן ּונְׂשּוא‬14 The elder and the man of rank, he is the
head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
Hebrew Bible 9:14 = NIV Isaiah 9:15 the elders and dignitaries are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

.‫ מְ ֻבּלָעִ ים‬,‫ מַ תְ עִ ים; ּומְ אֻ ּׁשָ ָריו‬,‫הַ ּזֶה‬-‫טו וַּיִהְ יּו מְ אַ ּׁשְ ֵרי הָ עָ ם‬ 15 For they that lead this people cause them
to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Hebrew Bible 9:15 = NIV Isaiah 9:16 Those who guide this people mislead them,
and those who are guided are led astray.

;‫ּפֶ ה ּדֹבֵר נְ ָבלָה‬-‫ וְכָל‬,‫ּכִי כֻּלֹו חָ נֵף ּומֵ ַרע‬--‫ַאלְמְ נֹותָ יו ֹלא י ְַרחֵ ם‬-‫י ְת ֹמָ יו ו ְאֶ ת‬-‫ ו ְאֶ ת‬,‫י ִׂשְ מַ ח אֲ דֹנָי‬-‫ַחּוריו ֹלא‬
ָ ‫ּב‬-‫ּכֵן עַ ל‬-‫טז עַ ל‬
.‫ ו ְעֹוד י ָדֹו נְטּוי ָה‬,‫ׁשָ ב אַ ּפֹו‬-‫ז ֹאת ֹלא‬-‫ ְּבכָל‬16 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men,
neither shall He have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is ungodly and an evil-
doer, and every mouth speaketh wantonness. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is
stretched out still.
Hebrew Bible 9:16 = NIV Isaiah 9:17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,
nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly and wicked,
every mouth speaks folly.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

his hand is still upraised.
.‫ וַּיִתְ אַ ּבְכּו ּגֵאּות עָ ׁשָ ן‬,‫ ׁשָ מִ יר ו ָׁשַ י ִת ּת ֹאכֵל; ו ַּתִ ּצַת ּבְסִ ְבכֵי הַ ּיַעַ ר‬,‫בָעֲ ָרה כָאֵ ׁש ִרׁשְ עָ ה‬-‫ יז ּכִי‬17 For wickedness
burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and
they roll upward in thick clouds of smoke.
‫יח ּבְעֶ ב ְַרת י ְהו ָה ְצבָאֹות‬,
Hebrew Bible 9:17 = NIV Isaiah 9:18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire;
it consumes briers and thorns,
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,
so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.

.‫ָאחִ יו ֹלא י ַחְ מ ֹלּו‬-‫ אִ יׁש אֶ ל‬,‫ָארץ; וַי ְהִ י הָ עָ ם ּכְמַ אֲ כֹלֶת אֵ ׁש‬
ֶ ‫ נֶעְ ַּתם‬18 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts
is the land burnt up; the people also are as the fuel of fire; no man spareth his brother.
Hebrew Bible 9:18 = NIV Isaiah 9:19 By the wrath of the Lord Almighty
the land will be scorched
and the people will be fuel for the fire;
they will not spare one another.

.‫ י ֹאכֵלּו‬,‫זְר ֹעֹו‬-‫ אִ יׁש ּבְׂשַ ר‬:‫ׂשְ מ ֹאול ו ְֹלא ׂשָ בֵעּו‬-‫ ו ַּי ֹאכַל עַ ל‬,‫י ָמִ ין ו ְָרעֵ ב‬-‫ יט וַּיִגְז ֹר עַ ל‬19 And one snatcheth on the
right hand, and is hungry; and he eateth on the left hand, and is not satisfied; they eat every man the
flesh of his own arm:
Hebrew Bible 9:19 = NIV Isaiah 9:20 On the right they will devour,
but still be hungry;
on the left they will eat,
but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:

}‫ {ס‬.‫ ו ְעֹוד י ָדֹו נְטּוי ָה‬,‫ׁשָ ב אַ ּפֹו‬-‫ז ֹאת ֹלא‬-‫י ְהּודָ ה; ְּבכָל‬-‫ עַ ל‬,‫י ַחְ ּדָ ו הֵ ּמָ ה‬--‫מְ נַּׁשֶ ה‬-‫ ו ְאֶ פ ְַרי ִם אֶ ת‬,‫אֶ פ ְַרי ִם‬-‫כ מְ נַּׁשֶ ה אֶ ת‬
20 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together are against Judah. For all this His
anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. {S}
Hebrew Bible 9:20 = NIV 9:21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;
together they will turn against Judah.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

his hand is still upraised.

John 10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in

by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by

name and leads them out.

 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because

they know his voice.

 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not

recognize a stranger’s voice.”

 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find

pasture.

 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it

to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming,

he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my

voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.

 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and

authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”