Ezekiel 34:19

19 Must my flock eat what you crush, and must they drink what you make muddy with your feet?

Ezekiel 34:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 34:19

And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with
your feet
They are forced to do it, not being able to come at any thing else; being as sheep without a shepherd, or worse: and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet;
which, as it cannot be agreeable and relishing, so neither wholesome; as the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees; the traditions of the elders; the false doctrines of false teachers, whose words eat as do a canker. The Targum of the whole verse is,

``and my people eat the residue of the food of your ministers, and drink the residue of the drink of your ministers.''

Ezekiel 34:19 In-Context

17 "'This is what the Lord God says: As for you, my flock, I will judge between one sheep and another, between the male sheep and the male goats.

18 Is it not enough for you to eat grass in the good land? Must you crush the rest of the grass with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you make the rest of the water muddy with your feet?

19 Must my flock eat what you crush, and must they drink what you make muddy with your feet?

20 "'So this is what the Lord God says to them: I, myself, will judge between the fat sheep and the thin sheep.

21 You push with your side and with your shoulder, and you knock down all the weak sheep with your horns until you have forced them away.