And I will give you pastors according to my own heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and doctrine.
וְנָתַתִּ֥י לָכֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים כְּלִבִּ֑י וְרָע֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם דֵּעָ֥ה וְהַשְׂכֵּֽיל׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
I will provide you with shepherds after my own heart. It is truly a gift to have righteous shepherds, for the lack thereof can lead to severe consequences; a shepherd requires substantial wisdom. If a physical shepherd manages all aspects, then a spiritual shepherd needs even greater strength, especially one who sacrifices his life for the flock.
I will provide you with shepherds that align with My own heart. While Zerubbabel, Jesus, and Nehemiah are referenced in a direct manner, the prophet clearly anticipates the arrival of the Messiah in a deeper sense. Through His advent, all prophecies regarding the salvation of the Gentiles and the fulfillment of the law of Moses were realized and brought to completion.
Turn back to me, O children who are returning, says the Lord; for I am your King, and I will bring you, one from the city and two from the tribe, to Zion. I will appoint shepherds after my own heart to guide you with wisdom and instruction. In those days, when you have multiplied and flourished in the land, the Lord declares, they will no longer refer to the ark of the covenant of the Lord; it will not occupy their thoughts, nor will they remember it, nor will it be sought after any longer. The Jewish tradition holds that this was realized after the return from Babylon under King Cyrus of Persia and Zerubbabel son of Shalatil; they interpret this as fulfillment, suggesting the partial return indicated by the phrase about taking one from the city and two from the tribe.
However, it is more fitting to recognize this fulfillment in the coming of the Lord, when the Remnant were saved, in accordance with the Apostle's statement: If the Lord of hosts had not left us, we would have been as Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah (Rom. 9:29). They were brought to Zion, of which it is written, Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God (Psalm 86:2). And according to His heart, He has appointed shepherds—apostles and faithful servants; they shall lead many to faith. Once the gospel has been proclaimed throughout the world, they will not rely on Jewish customs any longer, but will place their hope in the guidance of Christ and His teachings. They will not depend on the ark of the Lord, which held the law of Moses; instead, they themselves will become the temple of God. They will not engage in obsolete sacrifices, as some misguided Nazoreans do, but will embrace spiritual worship. Some interpret this in reference to the end times, when, with the completion of the Gentiles, all Israel will be saved.
"I will take you from the city, and two from the tribes, and I will bring you to Zion. I will provide you with shepherds after My own heart, who will lead you with wisdom." These words found their fulfillment during the time of Zerubbabel, when the Jews returned under King Cyrus of Persia, guided by shepherds such as Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jesus, son of Josedech, the high priest. Both exemplified devoutness and righteousness. Ultimately, however, this prophecy was fully realized with the Incarnation of our God and Savior, as He selected the holy Apostles from among the Jews—"one from the city and two from the tribe"—and appointed them as shepherds according to His heart. Thus, He said to the apostle Peter: "Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me? Feed My sheep" (John 21:16). The following further affirms that this prophecy carries such significance.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS