[Greek] ποιμήν (poimēn), [Latin] pastor: shepherd, pastor, one who tends a flock, herdsman, shepherder; Mt. 9:36, Mt. 25:32, Mt.26:31, Mk.6:34, Mk.14:27, Lk.2:8,15,18,20, Jn.10:2,11-12,14,16, Eph.4:11, Heb.13:20, 1Pet.2:25 
Adoration of the Shepherds: painting by Gerard van Honthorst (1622)
Background Information:
Ancient Orient/Greek Hellenism: This terms means ruler, king, shepherd, protector, herdsman, lord, master, chief, and captain. The Sumerian king is described as a shepherd appointed by a deity. The shepherd is a common epithet for a ruler in the Assyrian and Babylonian cultures. The Egyptian Osiris is presented as a ruler with a staff (crook) in tending his flock in the netherworld. Gods (deities) also bear the title of shepherd.
Plato’s Republic 1.343a: “You [Socrates] don’t know the difference between the shepherd and the sheep…Because you think the shepherds are considering the good of the sheep with anything else in view than the good of their master and themselves.”
Aeschylus’ Suppliant Women 767: “Even at anchorage, shepherds of ships do not feel immediately secure above all if they have arrived on a harborless coast. In a cautious pilot, night is likely to beget anxiety.”
Euripides’ Phoenissae 1140: “Now I was able to see each of them, as I carried the watch-word along to the leaders of our companies.”
Old Testament: The dryness of the ground made it necessary for the shepherds and flocks to move about or stay for months at a time. Herding of sheep required vigilance against robbers and wild beasts. The image of Yahweh (as the Shepherd of Israel) comes from the rich vocabulary of the shepherd who guides his flock, who leads it to pasture, who protects his sheep, who carries his lambs, and whose sheep hear his voice. It is interesting to note that there is no single Old Testament use of shepherd ever being used as a title for a ruling king. David continues to be presented as a shepherd. Jesus will later come as a shepherd (and Messiah) who will shepherd His flock.
New Testament: Since this is the Christmas season, Jesus’s later role as a shepherd will be excluded for now. Shepherds, having unfavorable reputations, were often looked down upon as second-class citizens. Although the priests and rabbis despised the shepherds, the shepherds served their purposes in providing the priests with unblemished lambs for sacrifices. The shepherds were mostly identified with sinners, tax collectors, and outcasts. Shepherds could not be used as witnesses. Interestingly, God is never called a shepherd. However, the comparison of God with a shepherd is restricted to Jesus’ parables. This is in part due to a greater Christological emphasis on Jesus as a shepherd.
Scripture:
“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping night watch over their flock.” Lk.2:8
Luke’s gospel was written to the lowly and outsiders like the shepherds. The shepherds were often looked down upon and even despised. The shepherds were struck by fear from the appearance of an angel who proclaimed that a savior has been born who is Messiah and Lord. They would never forget this this experience. They shepherds would ask each other if they had seen this phenomenon.
“And this will be a sign for you: you (shepherds) will find an infant in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Lk.2:12
Shepherds would have already been familiar with seeing lambs in swaddling clothes. This ordinarily would not be a big deal. However, seeing an infant in swaddling clothes is a very unusual circumstance. The shepherds, not fully understanding this, would see this infant like a lamb.
“So they (shepherds) went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.” Lk.2:16
The shepherds, being poor, could only offer their praise and adoration to the infant Jesus.
“When they (shepherds) saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.” Lk.2:17
In their travels, the shepherds would no doubt have received many angry stares and puzzled faces from the people in the town of Bethlehem.
Shepherds as congregational leaders: Only once in the New Testament are shepherds stated as an office. This office refers to pastor, rather than shepherd. Rather, pastors and teachers appear as a single group ministering to the congregations. Congregational leaders are seen more metaphorically as shepherds. Likewise, the congregation is also seen metaphorically as the flock. The pastor see his role as a shepherd in leading the congregation. The pastor (shepherd) cares for the congregation, seeks the lost, combats heresy, and sets an example for the flock.
Conclusion:
Pastor, pasture, poimenics (study of pastoral theology)
It was interesting to discover that the Assyrian, Babylonian, Sumerian, and Egyptian rulers were viewed as shepherds. In the Greco-Roman era, the shepherd/sheep dynamic was sometimes viewed in the realm of “haves’ and “have-nots”. It was also interesting to learn that captains were seen as shepherds of ships.
I was surprised that there was no Old Testament use of the title shepherd for a ruling king. This would only later apply to the Messiah. I am not surprised that there would be profound differences (on many levels) between the priests and the shepherds. I can see how the priests would look down upon shepherds. These shepherds would be only good for providing lambs for sacrifices.
Luke’s gospel was written for the simple and downtrodden folks (like the shepherds). Luke is the only gospel writer to use the title savior for Jesus. I suppose that the Jews would have not been happy to have a Messiah who was like a shepherd. The Jews would rather have a Messiah who would be like a strong king. It then would follow that a pastor would be like a shepherd to his congregation (flock). It was interesting to discover that the title ‘shepherd’ was infrequently used for a congregational leader. However, the roles of the pastor, priest, and shepherd are essentially the same. Shepherds were generally despised by the city folk. The priests only tolerated them because they supplied the lambs for sacrifices.
Poimen??–Forget about it! “By hook or crook”–[sorry, couldn’t resist]– I finally was able to find a related word (pastor) that comes from the Latin form of this term!
Upon seeing the angel, the shepherds would no doubt ask each other: ‘Did you see I what I see?’ and ‘Did you hear what I hear?’ I don’t know about you, but I think these words would make a great Christmas song! Perhaps sung by Bing Crosby! ☺☺☺
Shepherds are already familiar with lambs in swaddling clothes. But when the shepherds see an infant in swaddling clothes, it is a freaking big deal to them! The shepherds adore the infant. You can imagine them saying, “I have no gift to bring… Parum pum pum pum.” [sorry, couldn’t resist]. Refer to my previous post about swaddling https://resoundingthefaith.com/2016/12/%e2%80%8egreek-%cf%83%cf%80%ce%b1%cf%81%ce%b3%ce%b1%ce%bd%cf%8c%cf%89-sparganoo-old-english-swaebian/ I can only imagine the many stares when the shepherds shouted to others ‘A child has been born!’ Merry Christmas!