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The image of God as a shepherd watching over the flock of covenant people is a popular image in the Jewish scriptures. The image is transferred to Jesus in early Christian writings (John 10:1–18) and is adopted as a title for church leaders (e.g., 1 Pet. 5:2–4). There are some 26 extant marbles from antiquity depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The figure is usually beardless and youthful and carries a sheep draped over the shoulders. The sculptor of the figure here drew not only on biblical literary sources to pre­sent Jesus as a loving shepherd but integrated motifs from pagan culture.