THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
I will bring together the remaining portion of my sheep from every place where I have cast them away. After a period of seventy years, I will assemble the remnant of my flock.
Jeremiah 23:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And I will gather together the remnant of my flock, out of all the lands into which I have cast them out: and I will make them return to their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied.
וַאֲנִ֗י אֲקַבֵּץ֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִ֣ית צֹאנִ֔י מִכֹּל֙ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִדַּ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם שָׁ֑ם וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י אֶתְהֶ֛ן עַל־נְוֵהֶ֖ן וּפָר֥וּ וְרָבֽוּ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jerome of Stridon
The prophetic message is directed towards shepherds or pertains to their role. Concerning Jechoniah, the second-to-last king of Judah from David's lineage, it is written: ‘Earth, earth, earth! Hear the word of the Lord: write this man down as rejected or barren, and there shall be no man of his seed to sit on the throne of David’ (Jer. 22:29, 30). This declaration strips away any hope for the continuation of Judah's monarchy and shifts focus to the leaders of the Church. After the synagogue and its leaders faced abandonment and condemnation, the message turns towards the apostles.
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Scripture states: "I will set shepherds over them, and they shall fall, they shall fear no more, neither shall they be dismayed, and none shall be sought from among them, saith the Lord." The apostles will lead the Church’s flock boldly and without trepidation, ensuring that the remnant of Israel will be saved, returning to their home communities, resulting in a flourishing and multiplying flock. However, the Lord will confront the unworthy shepherds, the scribes and Pharisees, due to their deceptive ambitions. Figuratively, this can also apply to church leaders who inadequately tend to the Lord's sheep. Their rejection and condemnation will pave the way for salvation through others deemed suitable, ensuring preservation of the remnant. The flock suffers at the hands of shepherds who propagate heresy, are tormented by those who create division, scattered by unjust excommunication, and neglected by those lacking compassion for the repentant. The Lord will show mercy to such individuals, restoring them to their rightful pastures and ridding the flock of corrupt shepherds.
Theodoret of Cyrus
He then proceeds to hold their leaders, the kings, accountable for the dispersion of the flock. He warns them of impending ruin, while also assuring that he will bring the sheep back. For he declares, Jeremiah 23:3, "I will gather the remnant of My people out of all the lands where I have cast them out, into their villages, and they shall grow and multiply." He assures them of even greater blessings to come.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Jer 32:37Behold I will gather them together out of all the lands to which I have cast them out in my anger, and in my wrath, and in my great indignation: and I will bring them again into this place, and will cause them to dwell securely.
- Amos 9:14And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel: and they shall build the abandoned cities, and inhabit them: and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them: and shall make gardens, and eat the fruits of them.
- Amos 9:15And I will plant them upon their own land: and I will no more pluck them out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.
- Isa 43:5Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west.
- Isa 43:6I will say to the north: Give up: and to the south: Keep not back: bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.
- Jer 29:14And I will be found by you, saith the Lord: and I will bring back your captivity, and I will gather you out of all nations, and from all the places to which I have driven you out, saith the Lord: and I will bring you back from the place to which I caused you to be carried away captive.
- Jer 30:3For behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Juda, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
- Zeph 3:19Behold I will cut off all that have afflicted thee at that time: and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was cast out: and I will get them praise, and a name, in all the land where they had been put to confusion.