Lexical Summary roi: Shepherd Original Word: רֹעִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance shipherd From active participle of ra'ah; pastoral; as noun, a shepherd -- shipherd. see HEBREW ra'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom raah Definition shepherd NASB Translation shepherd (1), shepherd's (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רֹעִי Isaiah 38:12; Zechariah 11:17, see v 1d (I), (2). above Topical Lexicon Pastoral Life in the Patriarchal Narratives The term first surfaces in Genesis 13:7-8 and Genesis 26:20, designating the herdsmen who served Abram, Lot, and later Isaac. These accounts expose both the economic importance of shepherding and the spiritual lessons drawn from it. Quarrels over grazing rights and wells threatened unity, yet Abram said, “Let there be no quarreling between you and me… for we are brothers” (Genesis 13:8). Isaac likewise withdrew from strife (Genesis 26:20-22), demonstrating that peace and trust in God can triumph over territorial rivalry. From Household Service to Royal Office In 1 Samuel 21:7 Doeg the Edomite appears as “the chief of Saul’s shepherds.” The post reflects the scale of a monarch’s holdings and the integration of pastoral wealth into the kingdom’s economy. Doeg’s later cruelty underscores how power corrupts when a shepherd’s authority is severed from compassion. A Tent’s Fragility and Human Mortality Isaiah 38:12 likens life to “a shepherd’s tent”—quickly pitched, easily removed. Hezekiah’s lament there reminds worshipers that earthly stability is temporary, urging them to seek the eternal security only the Lord can grant (Isaiah 38:16-17). Cyrus: God’s Unexpected Shepherd Isaiah 44:28 records the Lord calling Cyrus “My shepherd,” commissioning a pagan ruler to oversee Judah’s restoration. The title asserts divine sovereignty over nations and illustrates how God can appoint unlikely guardians for His flock when covenant promises are in view. Woe to Worthless Shepherds Zechariah 11:17 pronounces judgment on exploitative leaders: “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock!” Their self-interest invites God’s sword against the very arm and eye that ought to have protected. The warning applies to every sphere of stewardship—spiritual, civil, or familial. The Stricken Shepherd and Messianic Fulfillment Zechariah 13:7 declares, “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,” a prophecy Jesus applies to His own arrest (Matthew 26:31). The singular Shepherd bears the blow for the flock’s salvation, uniting all earlier usages into a redemptive climax. After the scattering comes regathering, secured by the risen Shepherd’s ongoing intercession (Hebrews 13:20-21). A Theology of רֹעִי Across its eleven appearances, רֹעִי traces a line from literal livestock caretakers to royal administrators, prophetic metaphors, and ultimately the Messiah. The shepherd’s charge—provide, guide, protect—remains constant and climaxes in Christ, “the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), who lays down His life for the sheep. Ministry Implications • Leaders reflect God’s heart when they prefer peace to contention and concession to strife. Forms and Transliterations הָרֹעִ֖ים הרעים רֹעִ֑י רֹעִ֔י רֹעִ֤י רֹעִי֙ רֹעֵ֣י רֹעֵ֥י רֹעֶ֑יךָ רֹעַ֖י רעי רעיך hā·rō·‘îm hārō‘îm haroIm rō‘ay rō‘ê rō‘eḵā rō‘î rō·‘ay rō·‘ê rō·‘e·ḵā rō·‘î roAi roEi roEicha roILinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 13:7 HEB: רִ֗יב בֵּ֚ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵֽה־ אַבְרָ֔ם INT: strife between shipherd livestock of Abram's Genesis 13:7 Genesis 13:8 Genesis 13:8 Genesis 26:20 Genesis 26:20 1 Samuel 21:8 Isaiah 38:12 Isaiah 44:28 Zechariah 11:17 Zechariah 13:7 11 Occurrences |
    |