Ezekiel 34

The Shepherds and God's Flock

1 The word of the Lord came to me:

2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them: This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves!^[a] Shouldn't the shepherds feed their flock?

3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fatlings, but you do not tend the flock.

4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.^[b] Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd;^[c] they became food for all the wild animals^[d] when they were scattered.

6 My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill.^[e] They were scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking [for them].

7 "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.

8 As I live"-the declaration of the Lord God -"because My flock has become [prey and] food for every wild animal since [they] lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and [because] the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock,

9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

10 "This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds.^[f] I will demand My flock from them^[g] and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.

11 "For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them.

12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered^[h] on a cloudy and dark day.

13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land.

14 I will tend them with good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel's lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

15 I will tend My flock and let them lie down."^[i] [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .

16 "I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy^[j] the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

17 "The Lord God says to you, My flock: I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and male goats.^[k]

18 Isn't it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or [isn't it enough] that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

19 Yet My flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.

20 "Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

21 Since you have pushed with flank and shoulder and butted all the weak ones with your horns until you scattered them all over,

22 I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey for you. I will judge between one sheep and another.

23 I will appoint over them a single shepherd, My servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd.^[l]

24 I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David^[m] will be a prince among them.^[n] I, the Lord, have spoken.

25 "I will make a covenant of peace^[o] with them and eliminate dangerous animals^[p] in the land, so that they may live securely^[q] in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.^[r]

26 I will make them and the area around My hill a blessing: I will send down showers in their season^[s]-showers^[t] of blessing.

27 The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslave them.^[u]

28 They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild animals of the land will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten [them].

29 I will establish for them a place renowned for [its] agriculture,^[v] and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land. They will no longer endure the insults of the nations.^[w]

30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .

31 "You are My flock, the human flock of My pasture, and I am your God." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .^[x]

Ezekiel 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

The rulers reproved. (1-6) The people are to be restored to their own land. (7-16) The kingdom of Christ. (17-31)

Verses 1-6 The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were given up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. No rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men who neglect their duty, and abuse the trust reposed in them.

Verses 7-16 The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd's tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love and faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the true gospel and of believers; against such we must guard. He has rest for disquieted saints, and terror for presumptuous sinners.

Verses 17-31 The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet they were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish between them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, ( 23-31 ) , prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jr 23:1
• [b]. Zch 11:16
• [c]. Zch 13:7
• [d]. Ezk 33:27
• [e]. Dt 12:2
• [f]. Jr 23:1
• [g]. Lit their hand
• [h]. Jr 23:3
• [i]. Ps 23:2; 100:3
• [j]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg read watch over
• [k]. Mt 25:31-33
• [l]. Ps 78:70-71; Jn 10:16
• [m]. Ezk 37:24; Jr 23:5; 30:9
• [n]. Ex 6:7; Lv 26:12
• [o]. Ezk 37:26; Lv 26:9; Isa 54:10
• [p]. Lv 26:6; Isa 11:6-9
• [q]. Ezk 28:26
• [r]. Ezk 14:15; Lv 26:6
• [s]. Dt 11:13-14; 28:12
• [t]. Lit season; they will be showers
• [u]. Lv 26:13; Dt 7:8; Lm 5:8
• [v]. LXX, Syr read a plant of peace
• [w]. Ezk 36:6,15
• [x]. Hs 2:18-23

Chapter Summary

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.