Ezekiel 34:1-9

Prophecy Concerning Israel’s Shepherds and Sheep

1 And the word of Yahweh {came} to me, {saying},

2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe [to] the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock?

3 The fat you eat, and you clothe [yourself] [with] the wool; the well-nourished [animals] you slaughter, [but] you do not feed the flock.

4 The weak you [have] not strengthened, and the sick you [have] not healed, and {with respect to} the hurt you have not bound [them up], and you [have] not brought back the scattered, and you [have] not sought the lost, but [rather] you ruled over them with force and with ruthlessness.

5 And they were scattered {without} a shepherd, and they were as food for all the animals of the field [when] they were scattered.

6 My flock went astray upon all of the mountains and on every high hill, and [so] upon all the surface of the world my flock were scattered, and {there was no one seeking them}, and {there was no one searching for them}."

7 Therefore, hear, [O] shepherds, the word of Yahweh:

8 "{As I live}," {declares} the Lord Yahweh, "{Surely} because my flock have become as plunder, and my flock became as food to all the animals of the field, since there was not a shepherd, [since] my shepherds [have] not sought my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and they fed not my flock,'"

9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh,

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Ezekiel 34:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 34

In the former chapter the prophet prophesies against the people of the Jews, both those of the captivity, and those who were not; and here against the shepherds of Israel. This he is bid to do, Eze 34:1,2, whose cruelty to the flock, negligence and unfaithfulness are exposed, Eze 34:3-6, for which reasons they are threatened to be deprived of their office, Eze 34:7-10, and the Lord promises to take the care of the flock upon himself, to seek out his sheep, and feed them, and do every kind office to them, Eze 34:11-16 and then the strong of the flock, that oppressed the weak, are threatened with punishment, Eze 34:17-22 and the promise of the Messiah, as the shepherd of the flock, is made, under whom all prosperity and happiness might be expected, Eze 34:23-31.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 16

[a]. Literally "was"
[b]. Or "mortal," or "son of humankind"
[c]. Literally "for"
[d]. Or "wounded"
[e]. Or "violence"
[f]. Literally "from not"
[g]. Or "became"
[h]. Hebrew "animal"
[i]. Or "earth"
[j]. Literally "there was not [someone] seeking [them]"
[k]. Literally "there was not [someone] searching for [them]"
[l]. Literally "live I"
[m]. Literally "declaration of"
[n]. Literally "if not"
[o]. Or "for"
[p]. Hebrew "animal"

Ezekiel 34:1-9

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Prophecy Concerning Israel’s Shepherds and Sheep

Ezekiel 34:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 34

Footnotes 16