Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Cross-reference

Isaiah 63:11 recalls God as 'shepherd of his flock' during Moses' time, linking the same shepherd title to Israel's history.

Isaiah 49:10 adds guidance and provision—leading by springs of water—extending the shepherd's gentle leading from Isaiah 40:11.

Isaiah 49:9 Parallel

Isaiah 49:9 uses the same verb 'feed' for God providing pasture to freed prisoners, paralleling the shepherd's care here.

Isaiah 54:7 Parallel

Isaiah 54:7 promises God will gather Israel with great mercies after forsaking — echoing the gathering of lambs in the main verse.

Isaiah 42:3 Parallel

Isaiah 42:3 portrays the Servant’s gentle care for the weak—a parallel theme of compassion without the shepherd image.

In Ezekiel 34:16, God also promises to seek the lost and bind the injured — the same shepherd care for the weak flock.

Revelation 7:17 shows the Lamb as shepherd leading to living water—a direct NT appropriation of the shepherd metaphor.

1 Peter 5:4 Allusion

1 Peter 5:4 refers to the 'Chief Shepherd' appearing—Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's shepherding in Isaiah.

1 Peter 2:25 describes believers returning to the 'Shepherd and Overseer of your souls,' echoing the caring Shepherd of Isaiah.

Hebrews 13:20 calls Jesus the 'great Shepherd of the sheep,' directly applying the OT shepherd imagery to Christ's resurrection.

In John 21:15-17, Jesus applies this shepherd imagery to Peter, commanding him to feed and tend the lambs and sheep.

In John 10:11-16, Jesus declares Himself the good shepherd who lays down His life—fulfilling the tender shepherd role from Isaiah.

Ezekiel 34:31 echoes the same shepherd-flock relationship: 'You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God.'

Genesis 33:13 describes Jacob caring for nursing ewes—the same concrete image of gentle leading for those with young.

Ezekiel 34:12-14 expands on the shepherd seeking scattered sheep and feeding them, a detailed parallel to gathering lambs.

Psalm 80:1 Parallel

Psalm 80:1 directly addresses God as 'Shepherd of Israel' leading Joseph like a flock, echoing the shepherd metaphor.

Psalm 78:72 Parallel

Psalm 78:72 describes feeding with integrity and guiding, mirroring the feeding and leading in Isaiah 40:11.

Psalm 23:1-6 is the classic shepherd psalm—the Lord feeds, leads, and cares, directly parallel to the shepherd image here.

John 10:3 Allusion

John 10:3 describes the shepherd calling and leading his sheep by name, echoing the gentle leading in Isaiah 40:11.

Luke 15:5 Allusion

In Luke 15:5, the shepherd carries the found sheep home—a direct echo of Isaiah's shepherd gathering lambs in his arms.

Luke 12:32 Allusion

In Luke 12:32, Jesus calls disciples 'little flock' and promises the kingdom—directly echoing the shepherd tending his flock in Isaiah 40:11.

Mark 10:16 Allusion

In Mark 10:16, Jesus takes children in his arms—mirroring the shepherd gathering lambs and carrying them close.

Acts 20:28 Parallel

Acts 20:28 calls church leaders to shepherd the flock, mirroring God's own shepherding depicted in Isaiah 40:11.

Zechariah 13:7 calls for striking the shepherd, scattering the sheep — contrasting with the gathering and protecting in the main verse.

Zechariah 11:16 depicts a worthless shepherd who neglects the young and broken — the opposite of the gentle care in the main verse.

Micah 7:14 Parallel

Micah 7:14 prays for God to feed his flock with his rod — a direct appeal for the kind of shepherding described here.

In Deuteronomy 1:31, God is said to carry Israel like a father carries his son — same image of God carrying his people.

In Numbers 11:12, Moses complains of carrying the people like a nurse carries an infant — similar to God carrying lambs in Isaiah.

1 Peter 5:2 Allusion

1 Peter 5:2 commands elders to shepherd willingly, directly applying the divine shepherd model of tender care seen here.

Psalm 28:9 Parallel

In Psalm 28:9, the plea for God to be their shepherd and carry them forever directly matches the image here.

Ezekiel 34:14 shows God feeding his flock in good pasture — continuing the same shepherd care as in the main verse.

Psalm 95:7 Parallel

In Psalm 95:7, we are declared the flock under God's care, directly matching the shepherd metaphor.

Ezekiel 34:11 portrays God searching for his scattered sheep — a strong parallel to the caring shepherd in the main verse.

Jeremiah 31:10 explicitly says God will gather Israel as a shepherd keeps his flock — a clear echo of the shepherd imagery here.

Jeremiah 31:8 describes God gathering exiles including pregnant women — directly parallel to carrying those with young in the main verse.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 uses nurturing imagery — Paul's gentle care as a nursing mother echoes the shepherd's tenderness here.

In Genesis 33:14, Jacob paces himself slowly for the children and flocks — mirroring the shepherd's gentle leading of those with young.

In Matthew 18:14, the Father does not want any little ones to perish—parallel to the shepherd gathering lambs and not losing them.

Micah 5:4 Parallel

Micah 5:4 describes the coming ruler from Bethlehem who will shepherd his flock—another messianic use of the shepherd image.

Luke 17:2 Related theme

In Luke 17:2, Jesus warns against harming 'little ones'—aligns with the shepherd's protective care for lambs in Isaiah 40:11.

Psalm 18:35 Parallel

In Psalm 18:35, God's right hand sustains and his gentleness makes great, echoing the tender care in Isaiah.

In Matthew 12:20, the bruised reed is not broken—mirroring the gentle handling of weak lambs in Isaiah 40:11.

2 Timothy 2:24 describes the Lord's servant as gentle and patient, mirroring the gentle leading of the shepherd here.

Ezekiel 37:24 speaks of a future Davidic shepherd-king, shifting the metaphor from God to a human ruler under God.

Psalm 27:10 Parallel

In Psalm 27:10, the LORD receives the forsaken, reflecting the same caring shepherd God.

Genesis 49:24 calls God 'the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,' using the same shepherd title but in a different blessing context.

Psalm 78:52 Parallel

In Psalm 78:52, God led his people like a flock through the wilderness, a shepherd action similar to this.