KNOW THE STATE OF YOUR FLOCKS HOW TO

We don’t have (m)any shepherds here who tend to flocks of sheep and goats.Ī. The two commands taken together indicate that this shepherd is to know his flock (well acquainted with their needs for food protection water pasture etc.) and he is to be committed to their well-being (willing to do what it takes to keep them healthy and safe).ġ. He is to be devoted and committed to their well-being. Rather, it means in a more general way, that he is to set his heart on the well-being of his flocks and herds. This doesn’t mean that they are to be considered his beloved pets and that he should love them like Americans love their dogs.Į. He is to know them and to set his heart upon them.ĭ. Here the idea is that of the shepherd setting his heart upon his flock.Ĭ. The verb “look” speaks of placing or setting something.ī. Sometimes it speaks of the presence of the person.Ī. Often the term face is used to represent the whole person. Thus, there are various translations of this term:Ī.

KNOW THE STATE OF YOUR FLOCKS HOW TO

The command is to pay attention to them to take care of them to be aware of their needs to be familiar with their needs know how to take care of them understand them ĭ. In Proverbs 27:23 it speaks of the shepherd’s responsibility to his flocks and herds. It has other shades of meaning as well: To be acquainted with to be aware to understand to consider to be familiar with to have a relationship with to care for to look after.Ĭ. It is the normal word for “to know” someone or something.ī.

It is a very common word (947 times in Old Testament). “Be thou diligent to know” is one word in the Hebrew.

Know the state of your flocks