Search results
Discover the meaning of Shepherd in the Bible. Study the definition of Shepherd with multiple Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias and find scripture references in the Old and New Testaments.
Jan 4, 2022 · Question. What was a shepherd in the Bible? Answer. A shepherd during the time of the Old Testament was often, but not always, a child. Whatever his age, the shepherd’s job was to protect his flock and guide them to good pastures with plenty of food and slow-moving, easily accessible water.
Aug 14, 2019 · Shepherds and sheep are not merely token characters in a handful of stories in the Bible. They're integral to the stories of God. Learn more in this Bible Gateway Blog post.
Jul 22, 2023 · What does shepherd in the Bible mean? The term shepherd in the Bible refers to a leader or caretaker who guides and protects a flock of sheep. It is a metaphor used to describe the role of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd who lovingly cares for and leads His followers.
May 27, 2024 · Biblically, shepherding extends beyond the physical realm and encompasses spiritual guidance. It is often used as a metaphor to describe the relationship between God and his people. In this metaphorical sense, God is portrayed as the ultimate shepherd who cares for and protects his flock.
Nov 15, 2023 · A shepherd is someone who looks after and guides a flock of sheep. The Bible refers to God as being a shepherd, providing guidance and direction to His people, the Israelites. The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
In the literal sense of one who cares for a flock of sheep, it is first found in Genesis 4:2 to describe the occupation of Abel. Later Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s sons are identified as shepherds ( Gen 13:7; 26:20; 30:36; 37:22 ff.).
Study the meaning of Shepherd in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Learn more about the biblical context and references of Shepherd.
The Bible mentions shepherds and shepherding over 200 times. However, the Hebrew word for shepherding is often translated, “feeding.” Shepherds led sheep to pasture and water ( Psalm 23:1 ) and protected them from wild animals ( 1 Samuel 17:34-35 ).
Biblical texts preserve much evidence for a longstanding tradition of shepherding among the earliest peoples of the Bible. Notable biblical figures—such as Abel, Abraham, Lot, Laban, and Moses—tended sheep, often by way of contrast with others, such as Cain, the “tiller of the ground” (Gen 4:2).
