Ezekiel 34:3-4

3 "You ¹eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you ²slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.

4 "Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, ³the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you ⁴sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.

Ezekiel 34:3-4 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.

Cross References

• 1. Zechariah 11:16
• 2. Ezekiel 22:25, 27
• 3. Zechariah 11:16
• 4. Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6; Matthew 18:12, 13; Luke 15:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "pasturing"
• [b]. Lit "sick"