1 Peter 2:25
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Study Note
Study Note
'For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls' — applying Isaiah 53:6 ('we have turned every one to his own way') to the Gentile addressees' pre-Christian moral wandering, Peter declares their conversion as a return to the true Shepherd. The dual title 'Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer)' unites pastoral and supervisory imagery: Christ is both the one who leads to pasture and the one who guards and inspects the flock. The verse connects the suffering servant imagery of 1 Peter 2:21–24 to the ecclesiology of 1 Peter 5:1–4, where human elders are called undershepherds who will give account to 'the chief Shepherd' at his appearing.
Other Translations
For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
for ye were as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
Because, like sheep, you had gone out of the way; but now you have come back to him who keeps watch over your souls.
Cross References
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath …
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in …
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, …
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk …
And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have …
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall …
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that …
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the …
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite …