Yechezkel 34:8

8 As I live, saith Adonoi Hashem, surely because My tzon became a prey, and My tzon became okhel to kol chayyat hasadeh, because there was no ro’eh, neither did My ro’im (shepherds) search for My tzon, but the ro’im (shepherds) were ro’im tending to themselves, and tended not My tzon;

Yechezkel 34:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 34:8

As I live, saith the Lord
It is an oath, and which he swore in his wrath, being provoked with the shepherds for their misadministration: surely, because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to
every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd;
a prey to all the kingdoms of the people, being without a governor, as the Targum; or to false teachers, there being no spiritual pastors to take care of them: neither did my shepherds search for my flock;
that was scattered, and carried captive, and became a prey to others; even those that were of God's appointing, as the kings of Israel, their priests and prophets; for both their civil polity and ecclesiastical hierarchy were of God, though the ends thereof were not answered, or the persons put into office did not do their duty: but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock:
(See Gill on Ezekiel 34:2), (See Gill on Ezekiel 34:3).

Yechezkel 34:8 In-Context

6 My tzon wandered through all the harim, and upon every high givah (hill); yes, My tzon was scattered upon all the face of ha’aretz, and none did search or seek after them.
7 Therefore, ye ro’im, hear the Devar Hashem:
8 As I live, saith Adonoi Hashem, surely because My tzon became a prey, and My tzon became okhel to kol chayyat hasadeh, because there was no ro’eh, neither did My ro’im (shepherds) search for My tzon, but the ro’im (shepherds) were ro’im tending to themselves, and tended not My tzon;
9 Therefore, O ye ro’im, hear the Devar Hashem:
10 Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hineni, I am against the ro’im; and I will require an accounting for My tzon at their yad, and cause them to cease from being ro’im to the tzon; neither shall the ro’im (shepherds) be ro’im tending to themselves any more; for I will save My tzon from their mouth, that they may not be okhel for them.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.