Shepherd

The shepherd was a central figure in the pastoral economy of the ancient Near East, responsible for guiding flocks to pasture and water, protecting them from predators and thieves, tending the injured and sick, and keeping account of every animal. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all shepherds; Moses tended his father-in-law's flocks at Midian when God appeared to him in the burning bush; and David was called from following the sheep to shepherd God's people Israel (Psalm 78:70–72).

The shepherd metaphor pervades biblical theology as the primary image for divine and human leadership. God is Israel's shepherd (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11), the leaders of Israel are shepherds whose failure brings prophetic condemnation (Ezekiel 34; Jeremiah 23:1–4; Zechariah 11), and God promises to shepherd his flock directly through the Davidic Messiah (Ezekiel 34:23–24). Jesus claimed this role explicitly: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (John 10:11). The birth announcement of the Messiah was made first to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8–20), and the risen Christ commissioned Peter with the pastoral charge to feed my sheep (John 21:16–17).