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Zechariah 11:16

Zechariah 11:17 net — Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither…

NET Bible

"Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”"

— Zechariah 11:17, NET Bible

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Zechariah 11:17 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Zechariah 11 — Context

14

Then I cut the second staff“Union” in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15

Again the LORD said to me,“Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

16

Indeed, I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not take heed to the sheep headed to slaughter, will not seek the scattered, and will not heal the injured. Moreover, he will not nourish the one that is healthy but instead will eat the meat of the fat sheep and tear off their hooves.

17

Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”

Zechariah 11:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Zechariah 11:17 say?
Zechariah 11:17 in the NET Bible reads: “Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!””
Where is Zechariah 11:17 in the Bible?
Zechariah 11:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Zechariah, chapter 11, verse 17.
Who wrote Zechariah?
Zechariah is traditionally attributed to Zechariah son of Berechiah. It was written c. 520–470 BC.
What is the book of Zechariah about?
Zechariah encourages the temple builders with a series of eight night visions and oracles, all pointing forward to the coming King who will enter Jerusalem on a donkey and be "pierced" for his people. It is one of the most messianic books in the Old Testament.
What are the major themes of Zechariah?
Zechariah explores themes including Vision, Coming King, Messiah, Temple, Day of the LORD. These themes shape the meaning and context of Zechariah 11:17.
What translation should I read Zechariah 11:17 in?
Zechariah 11:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Zechariah 11:17?
Zechariah 11:17 reads (NET): “Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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