Woe to the shepherds. The expression “woe” means God’s Judgement and severe rebuke.

This warning was directed to the priests, prophets, and kings who were responsible for guiding Israel.

But instead of protection God’s sheep and instructing them to draw closer to the Great Shepherd, the Eternal Lord, they scattered the sheep.

False prophets had spread idolatry, unbelief and hypocrisy among the people and took them far from the Lord. This is why He says: “But I will gather the remnant of My flock. “This Word was fulfilled when God Himself used King Cyrus to free a remnant of Jewish survivors from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1-2).