Jeremiah 25:35 — Word Study
WLCוְאָבַ֥ד מָנ֖וֹס מִן־ הָֽרֹעִ֑ים וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה מֵאַדִּירֵ֥י הַצֹּֽאן׃
BSAFlightmânôwç [to escape, flee away] will evadeʼâbad [perish, be lost from] the shepherdsrâʻâh [House of Shepherds, rulers] and escape [will elude]pᵉlêyṭâh [survivor, deliverance, have no way to flee] the leadersʼaddîyr [great, powerful ones] of the flocktsôʼn [sheep, people under care]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאָבַ֥ד | and it will be lost | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| מָנ֖וֹס | a place of escape | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מִן־ | from | Preposition |
| הָֽרֹעִ֑ים | the shepherds | Particle, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה | and escape | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| מֵאַדִּירֵ֥י | from [the] noble [ones] of | Preposition |
| הַצֹּֽאן׃ | the flock | Particle, noun common both singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Flight will evade the shepherds, and escape will elude the leaders of the flock. |
| KJV | And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. |
| ASV | And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. |
| YLT | And perished hath refuge from the shepherds, And escape from the honourable of the flock. |
| WEB | The shepherds will have no way to flee. The leader of the flock will have no escape. |
| BBE | There will be no way of flight for the keepers of sheep, no road for the chiefs of the flock to get away safely. |
Where they part company is מָנ֖וֹס — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses connected by a conjunction, with additional phrases providing context.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectמָנוֹס
verbאָבַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 25:35
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Judgment Against the Shepherdsgenerated
Jeremiah 25:35 is part of a prophetic warning where God speaks against the leaders of His people, indicating that they will not find safety or escape in the coming judgment. This follows a call for the shepherds to lament their fate, as seen in the surrounding verses. The passage emphasizes the consequences of their failure to guide and protect the flock entrusted to them.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 32:4 | Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hands of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 34:3 | And you yourself will not escape his grasp, but will surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you will go to Babylon. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 38:18–23 | But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’” |
| 4 | Job 11:20 | But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.” |
| 5 | Isaiah 2:12–22 | For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted— it will be humbled— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אָבַד, ve.'a.Vadgenerated
The verb אָבַד (abad) means to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The parsing indicates this is a sequential perfect form, showing that the loss is a completed action — it will happen.
The passive nature of the verb suggests that the shepherds are not the agents of their own loss; rather, it is a consequence of their failure to fulfill their roles. This word is often used in contexts of divine judgment, highlighting the seriousness of their situation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main clauses, each with a verb indicating the actions of evading and eluding. The structure emphasizes the futility of escape for both the shepherds and the leaders, with the prepositional phrases clarifying the subjects involved.
The finite verbs אָבַד and וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה govern the subjects, showing that both the shepherds and leaders are equally without recourse. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the shepherds first, indicating their primary role in the context of judgment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אָבַד as ἀπολεῖται — it will be lost — which carries a similar meaning, emphasizing the loss as a consequence of divine judgment.
The choice of φυγὴ for מָנ֖וֹס reflects a focus on escape, aligning with the overall theme of the verse where both flight and refuge are denied to the leaders.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 25:35 warns that the leaders of the people will not find escape from the coming judgment. The shepherds and leaders are called out for their failure to protect and guide the flock, and they will face the consequences of their actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the leaders will not be able to escape the judgment that is coming upon them for their failures.
The term 'shepherds' refers to the leaders and rulers who are responsible for caring for the people, likening their role to that of a shepherd tending to a flock.
The word 'escape' highlights the idea that those who should be leading and protecting will find themselves without a refuge or means of deliverance.
This verse is part of a larger message of judgment against the leaders, emphasizing their failures and the consequences they will face.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see leaders failing to protect those they are responsible for in today's world?
- How can I ensure that I am fulfilling my responsibilities to those I lead or care for?
- What does it mean for me to find refuge in God during times of trouble?
- How can I support those in leadership roles to be more effective in their duties?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 25:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the shepherds shall have no way to flee,.... Or, "and flight shall perish from the shepherds" (u); though they may attempt it, they shall not be able to accomplish it; neither the dignity of
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. The shepherds shall have no way to flee - literally, 'flight shall fail shepherds, etc., escaping (shall fail) the principal,' etc.
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn ordinary dispensations of judgment, there is some way left to escape, and if there be any way of escape, great men are likeliest to find it; but he telleth them that the greatest men should find no way to flee from or escape this terrible dispensation of God.
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 25 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 25:35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.Ver. 35. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee.] Who had formerly divers strongholds. See Amos 2:14.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges35. And the shepherds, etc.] For the idiom in mg. flight shall perish from the shepherds, and escape from, etc., cp. Job 11:20 mg.; Psalms 142:4 (Hebrews 5); Amos 2:14.
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 25 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Flight will evade the shepherds, and escape will elude the leaders of the flock.
The shepherds will have no way to flee. The leader of the flock will have no escape.
Flight will evade the shepherds, and escape will elude the leaders of the flock.
The leaders will not be able to run away and hide. The shepherds of the flocks will not be able to escape.
Tyndale line
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
And the flight shall faile from the shepherdes, and the escaping from the principall of the flocke.
Strictly literal
And refuge shall perish from the shepherds, and escape from the noble ones of the flock.
And perished hath refuge from the shepherds, And escape from the honourable of the flock.
And refuge has perished from the shepherds, || And escape from the majestic of the flock.
And lost shall be the place of refuge for the shepherds, and the escape for the leaders of the flocks to escape.
There is no refuge for the shepherds, there will be no escape for the leaders of the flock.
From the Latin
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the leaders of the flock to save themselves.
Simplified
The shepherds won't be able to run away; the leaders of the flock won't escape.
There will be no way of flight for the keepers of sheep, no road for the chiefs of the flock to get away safely.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording, with all seven words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in how this verse has been transmitted through different traditions.
וְאָבַ֥ד מָנ֖וֹס מִן־ הָֽרֹעִ֑ים וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה מֵאַדִּירֵ֥י הַצֹּֽאן׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 25:35
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) perish, die, be exterminated
1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)
1a3) be lost, strayed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate
1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)
1b3) cause to stray, lose
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to destroy, put to death
1c1a) of divine judgment
1c2) object name of kings (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
מָנוֹס (manowc) refers to a retreat or a place of escape, emphasizing concepts of flight and refuge. It is built from the root meaning to flee, covering both literal and figurative senses. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts relating to safety and escape.
מָנוֹס n.m. 1. flight. 2. place of escape, refuge
base
H4498 מָנוֹס
4498 manowc maw-noce'
from 5127; a retreat (literally or figuratively); abstractly,
a fleeing:--X apace, escape, way to flee, flight, refuge.
see HEBREW for 05127
מָנוֹס (ma.nos) — refuge.
1) flight, refuge, place of escape
1a) flight
1b) refuge, place of escape
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.
מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal
from, against
מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
of position, off, on the side of, on
Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
Partitively
Of time—
as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
towards, to
(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
In comparisons, beyond, above
מן is prefixed to an infin.:
with causal force, from, on account of, through
after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
with a temporal force, since, after
Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
In compounds:
base
H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against
. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
. of position, off, on the side of, on
. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
. Partitively
. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
. towards, to
. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
. In comparisons, beyond, above
. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through
. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
. with a temporal force, since, after
. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
4480 min min
or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)
{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;
hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as
follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason
of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,
since, X then, through, X whether, with.
see HEBREW for 04482
מִן־ (min) — from.
prep
1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than
1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of
1b) out of
1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)
1b2) (of material from which something is made)
1b3) (of source or origin)
1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)
1d) from, since, after (of time)
1e) than, more than (in comparison)
1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or
1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)
1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)
conj
2) that
Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
מֵן (men) — portion.
n.m.
portion
HR — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12
base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze
Qal
trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with
Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20
ref
H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend
7462 ra`ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;
intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);
generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a
friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat
up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,
herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,
shepherd, wander, waste.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.
Ra'ah = "pasturing"
perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tend, pasture
1a1a) to shepherd
1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
1a2) to feed, graze
1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.
1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1a) (Qal) to associate with
1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.
(Piel) to be a special friend
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHTd/Vqrmpa
- Early mention of
- Usually carried a scrip or bag
- Carried a staff or rod
- Dwelt in tents while tending their flocks
פְּלֵיטָה (pleytah) refers to concepts of escape and deliverance, often indicating a remnant that has survived. It is derived from the related word for escape, פָּלָט (palat). The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to survival and remnants.
פְּלֵיטָה n.f. escape
escape, deliverance
elsewh. prob. alw. escaped remnant
base
H6413 פְּלֵיטָה escape . escape, deliverance
. elsewh. prob. alw. escaped remnant
6413 pleytah pel-ay-taw'
or pletah {pel-ay-taw'}; feminine of 6412; deliverance;
concretely, an escaped portion:--deliverance, (that is)
escape(-d), remnant.
see HEBREW for 06412
פְּלֵיטָה (pe.le.tah) — survivor.
1) escape, deliverance
1a) escape, deliverance
1b) escaped remnant
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
אַדִּיר (addiyr) means majestic and conveys a sense of greatness or power. It can describe large entities like the sea or trees, as well as kings, nations, and noble figures. The word is built from a root meaning wide or large, with a range that includes excellent, glorious, and noble.
אַדִּיר adj. majestic
base
H117 אַדִּיר majestic
117 'addiyr ad-deer'
from 142; wide or (generally) large; figuratively,
powerful:--excellent, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly,
lordly, mighty(- ier one), noble, principal, worthy.
see HEBREW for 0142
אַדִּיר (ad.dir) — great.
1) great, majestic
1a) of waters of sea
1b) of a tree
1c) of kings, nations, gods
2) great one, majestic one
2a) of nobles, chieftains, servants
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aampc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צֹאן (tso'n) refers to small cattle, specifically sheep and goats, and is used to denote a flock or flocks. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a multitude. The term appears in contexts such as Psalm 144:13, where it emphasizes the collective nature of these animals.
צֹאן 273 n.coll.f. small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
base
H6629 צֹאן small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
6629 tso'n tsone
or tsaown (Psalm 144:13) {tseh-one'}; from an unused root
meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or
goats); also figuratively (of men):--(small) cattle, flock
(+ -s), lamb (+ -s), sheep((-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds)).
צֹאן (tson) — flock.
1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats)
1b) of multitude (simile)
1c) of multitude (metaphor)
צֹאן (tson) — Sheep (Gate).
This name means sheep and goats
Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common both singular absoluteHTd/Ncbsa
See CATTLE.
