HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H951
בּוֹקֵר
bo.qer — herdsman
herdsman
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
Herdsman
Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term
How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.
GREEK · G1006
βόσκω
boskō — to feed
βόσκω, [in LXX for רעה ;] prop., of a herdsman, to feed: Mat.8:33, Mrk.5:14, Luk.8:34 15:15; metaphorically, of Christian pastoral care, Jhn.21:15, 17. Pass., of cattle, to feed, graze: Mat.8:30, Mrk.5:11, Luk.8:32.† SYN.: ποιμαίνειν, to tend, shepherd, a wider term, including oversight as well as feeding (see Tr., Syn., §xxv). (AS)
9 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8202
שָׁפָט
sha.phat — Shaphat
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.13.5; son of: Hori (H2753) § Shaphat = "judged" or "he hath judged" 1) son of Hori and the prince of Simeon chosen to spy out the promised land 2) father of the prophet Elisha 3) a Judaite, son of Shemaiah and descendant of Zerubbabel in the royal line of Judah 4) a chief of the tribe of Gad 5) son of Adlai and chief herdsman for David over the herds in the valleys
8 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →Historical dictionary entry
In Egypt herdsmen were probably of the lowest caste. Some of Joseph’s brethren were made rulers over Pharaoh’s cattle (Gen. 47:6, 17). The Israelites were known in Egypt as “keepers of cattle;” and when they left it they took their flocks and herds with them (Ex. 12:38). Both David and Saul came from “following the herd” to occupy the throne (1 Sam. 9; 11:5; Ps. 78:70). David’s herd-masters were among his chief officers of state. The daughters also of wealthy chiefs were wont to tend the flocks of the family (Gen. 29:9; Ex. 2:16). The “chief of the herdsmen” was in the time of the monarchy an officer of high rank (1 Sam. 21:7; comp. 1 Chr. 27:29). The herdsmen lived in tents (Isa. 38:12; Jer. 6:3); and there were folds for the cattle (Num. 32:16), and watch-towers for the herdsmen, that he might therefrom observe any coming danger (Micah 4:8; Nah. 3:8).
Scripture references
Genesis 47:6Genesis 47:17Exodus 12:381 Samuel 91 Samuel 11:5Psalms 78:70Genesis 29:9Exodus 2:161 Samuel 21:71 Chronicles 27:29Isaiah 38:12Jeremiah 6:3Numbers 32:16Micah 4:8Nahum 3:8
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.