Jeremiah 50:6 Meaning: Why the Shepherds Are Blamed and What Rest You Forgot
My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting-place.
A perishing flock hath My people been, Their shepherds have caused them to err, To the mountains causing them to go back, From mountain unto hill they have gone, They have forgotten their crouching-place.
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they turned them away on the mountains: they went from mountain to hill, they forgot their resting-place.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does God blame the shepherds for the lost sheep in Jeremiah 50:6? What is the resting place they forgot? Find the answer here.
Context
The prophecy against Babylon in Jeremiah 50 starts with a startling claim: before Babylon falls, God explains why it must happen. His own people have suffered. Verse 6 shows the root cause. The people are described as lost sheep, wandering aimlessly. The shepherds, their kings, priests, and prophets, have led them into the mountains, the very places where idolatry was practiced. They went from one false worship to another. And they forgot their resting place, which was God Himself. This sets the stage for God to judge Babylon for how it treated His wandering flock, and to bring His people home.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind lost is avad (H0006). It means more than just misplaced, it means perishing, being destroyed. These sheep were not merely confused; they were in danger of death. Then the word for caused them to go astray is hit’u (H8582), an active form that means the shepherds deliberately led them to wander. They didn't just fail to guide; they pushed the sheep into the wrong places. The resting place they forgot is rivtza (H7258), the fold where sheep lie down safely. In Psalm 23, David says God makes him lie down in green pastures, that is the resting place. To forget it is to lose the one place where you can stop and be safe. And the word for forgotten (shakhach, H7911) carries the sense of ignoring something vital, not merely misremembering. The people had abandoned the very idea of rest in God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Many Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry and Calvin, emphasize that the shepherds are civil and religious leaders, kings and priests who actively turned the people away from God. But they also note that the people are not innocent; they themselves forgot the resting place. Some Catholic and Orthodox readings see the mountains as representing the heights where idolatry was practiced, and the restless wandering as the soul’s condition when it rejects God. Across traditions, Christians agree that this verse holds leaders accountable while also showing that every heart can forget its true home in God. The hope is that God still calls them, and us, back to Himself.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the verse makes the people innocent victims, that only the shepherds are at fault. In fact, the verse says both: the shepherds led them astray, and the people themselves forgot their resting place. They bear responsibility for abandoning God. The blame is shared, which matches what Jeremiah says elsewhere: everyone has wandered (Jeremiah 2:13; 3:6). The good news is that God still calls them His people even in their lost state.
Living This Out
This week, ask yourself two questions. First, who are the shepherds in your life? Pastors, teachers, authors, influencers, do they lead you toward God or away from Him? Second, have you forgotten your resting place? You might be exhausted from going from mountain to hill, one obligation to another, one worry to the next. The resting place is God Himself, where you can lie down and be safe. You don't need to climb another hill to find Him. He is your fold. Return to quiet trust in Him today.
Main takeaway: God's people wander when leaders mislead and when we forget that God alone is our true resting place.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sheep need a shepherd to stay safe. When the shepherds lead them wrong, the sheep get lost. God is our good shepherd. He wants us to come back to Him and rest.
For ages 9, 12
This verse compares God's people to lost sheep. The shepherds are the leaders, like kings and priests, who were supposed to guide them to God, but instead took them to worship false gods on the mountains. The people also forgot their resting place, which is God. Even when leaders fail, each of us can choose to remember God as our safe place. If you feel lost or tired, you can come back to Him and find rest for your soul.
Questions People Ask
Who are the 'shepherds' in Jeremiah 50:6?
The shepherds are the leaders of Israel, kings, priests, prophets, and others in authority. They were responsible for guiding the people toward God, but instead they led them into idolatry and away from true worship. The Hebrew word for shepherds here is the same one used for pastors (ro'im), making it a strong warning for all spiritual leaders.
What does 'resting place' mean in this verse?
The resting place (Hebrew: rivtza) refers to the fold or place where a flock lies down in safety and comfort. In the Bible, God Himself is the ultimate resting place for His people, as seen in Psalm 23:2 and Psalm 90:1. The people forgot that safety in God was their true home, and they wandered after other sources of security and worship.
Are the people or the shepherds more to blame for the wandering?
The verse blames both. The shepherds 'caused them to go astray', they actively misled the flock. But the people also 'forgot their resting place,' meaning they chose to ignore God. The prophet emphasizes shared responsibility; leaders have greater accountability, but every person is guilty of turning away from God. This is consistent with the Bible's teaching that everyone has sinned.
How does Jeremiah 50:6 fit into the judgment against Babylon?
Jeremiah 50 describes God's coming judgment on Babylon for its pride and cruelty. Verse 6 explains why God allowed His people to suffer: because they had strayed under bad shepherds and forgotten Him. But God still calls them 'My people,' showing His mercy. The judgment on Babylon is part of restoring His flock, He will punish their enemies and bring them back to their true rest.
What does 'turned them away on the mountains' mean?
Mountains and hills in the Old Testament often refer to the high places where people worshiped idols (Jeremiah 2:20, 3:6). The shepherds led the people to these places, turning them away from God to false gods. The movement 'from mountain to hill' suggests they went from one form of idolatry to another, never finding true rest. Mountains also represent barren, dangerous areas, a picture of spiritual starvation.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study