Isaiah 56:11

11 They are like dogs that love to eat. They never get enough. They are like shepherds who don't have any understanding. All of them do as they please. They only look for what they can get for themselves.

Isaiah 56:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 56:11

Yea, they [are] greedy dogs
Or "strong of soul" F25; of great appetites, and are never satisfied: or "strong of body"; the soul is sometimes put for the body; large bodied, fat bellied men, such as the priests, monks, and friars, that live upon the fat of the land; gluttons, epicures, men of a canine appetite, like dogs, which can never have enough; know not fulness
F26, or what it is to be filled to satisfaction, always craving more. Though some think this denotes their insatiable avarice, their greedy desire of money, not being satisfied with what they have, in order to support their voluptuous way of living. And they are shepherds that cannot understand;
or, "and they are", or "are they shepherds?" these blind and ignorant watchmen; these dumb and greedy dogs; these pretend to be the shepherds of the flock, and to feed them? yet they know not to understand
F1, or "know not understanding"; have no knowledge and understanding of divine things, and therefore unfit and incapable of feeding the people therewith: they all look to their own way:
to do that which is most pleasing to them, agreeable to their carnal lusts; they seek that which is most for their worldly profit and advantage, having no regard to the glory of God, the interest of Christ, and the welfare of the flock: everyone for his gain from his quarter;
from the province, city, or town he is in; from his archbishopric, bishopric, or parish; making the most of his benefice, of his tithes and revenues; increasing his salary as much as he can; getting as much as possible from all sorts of persons, rich and poor, high and low, that are under his jurisdiction; and this is the case of everyone, from the greatest to the least. The Targum is,

``everyone to spoil the substance of Israel;''
as the Pharisees devoured widows' houses, ( Matthew 23:14 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F25 (vpn yze) "fortes animo", Montanus; "fortes anima, [sub.] appetente", Vatablus; "sunt valido appetitu", Vitringa.
F26 (hebv wedy al) "nesciunt, vel non noverunt saturitatem", Paguinus, Montanus, &c,
F1 (Nybh wedy al Myer hmhw) "et iili pastores? non sciunt docere", Cocceius; "et illi cum pastores sunt, mulla pollent discernendi peritia", Vitringa.

Isaiah 56:11 In-Context

9 Come, all of you enemy nations! Come like wild animals. Come and destroy like animals in the forest.
10 Israel's prophets are blind. They don't know the Lord. All of them are like watchdogs that can't even bark. They just lie around and dream. They love to sleep.
11 They are like dogs that love to eat. They never get enough. They are like shepherds who don't have any understanding. All of them do as they please. They only look for what they can get for themselves.
12 "Come!" they shout. "Let's get some wine! Let's drink all the beer we can! Tomorrow we'll do the same thing. And that will be even better than today."
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