Ezekiel 34:1

Prophecy Concerning Israel’s Shepherds and Sheep

1 And the word of Yahweh {came} to me, {saying},

Ezekiel 34:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 34:1

The word of the Lord came unto me
The date of this prophecy is not given; however, it seems to have been delivered after the destruction of Jerusalem; the causes of which are mentioned, the sins of the people and their governors, which the prophet is directed to expose: saying:
as follows:

Ezekiel 34:1 In-Context

1 And the word of Yahweh {came} to me, {saying},

2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe [to] the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock?

3 The fat you eat, and you clothe [yourself] [with] the wool; the well-nourished [animals] you slaughter, [but] you do not feed the flock.

4 The weak you [have] not strengthened, and the sick you [have] not healed, and {with respect to} the hurt you have not bound [them up], and you [have] not brought back the scattered, and you [have] not sought the lost, but [rather] you ruled over them with force and with ruthlessness.

5 And they were scattered {without} a shepherd, and they were as food for all the animals of the field [when] they were scattered.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "was"