Reference

Jeremiah 23:2

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
1

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

2

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

3

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

4

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Literal Fulfillment

While the verse uses strong, concrete language ("scattered my flock," "driven them away"), the "visiting upon you the evil of your doings" could be interpreted metaphorically as divine judgment rather than a specific, literal historical event, especially given the broader prophetic context of Jeremiah which often uses figurative language.

Prophetic Methods of Communication

This verse describes God's judgment against unfaithful leaders, communicated through a prophet, but it does not detail *how* God communicated that message to Jeremiah (e.g., dreams, visions, audible voice). The verse focuses on the content of the prophetic message and its recipients, not the method of its reception by the prophet.