Ezekiel 34:31

31 And you are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 34:31 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 34:31

And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men
This is observed, to show that all that had been said in this chapter concerning sheep, and a flock of sheep, was to be understood, not in a literal sense, but in a figurative one, of such as were rational and spiritual persons; a set of men whom the Lord had chosen, and separated from others, as his peculiar flock; and whom he took a special care of, and led them to, and fed them in, green pastures of his own providing; they are the souls of men that Christ is the Shepherd and Bishop of, ( 1 Peter 2:25 ) . The Talmudists F21 frequently make use of this text, to prove that Israelites are only called men, and not the Gentiles; see ( Matthew 15:26 ) and I am your God, saith the Lord God;
which is often repeated for the certainty of it, because a blessing of the greatest importance, and which includes all others in it; see ( Ezekiel 34:24 Ezekiel 34:30 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F21 T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 61. 1. Bava Metzia, fol. 114. 2. & Ceritot, fol. 6. 2.

Ezekiel 34:31 In-Context

29 And I will provide for them prosperous plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations.
30 And they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD.
31 And you are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.