Zechariah 11:17
Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
The idol shepherd is a false, unfaithful leader who abandons the flock instead of caring for God's people. The word idol means a minister who makes an idol of himself and carries no burden for souls. Such shepherds stand under divine judgment, rejected by God, for whom He has no use.
The Jewish rulers were the shepherds who should have helped the needy, the helpless, and the distressed. Instead they neglected them and did not truly serve them. They lacked the fear and love of God and had no true commission for their work. The judgment on the idol shepherd applies to such neglectful leaders.
The verse applies to two unfaithful shepherds whose rebellion tore apart God's flock. Their course left members wounded and distressed. The work in Iowa sought to save the sheep harmed by their ministry.