Ezekiel 34

Prophecy Concerning Israel’s Shepherds and Sheep

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.

6 My flock went astray upon all of the mountains and on every high hill, and [so] upon all the surface of the world my flock were scattered, and {there was no one seeking them}, and {there was no one searching for them}."

7 Therefore, hear, [O] shepherds, the word of Yahweh:

8 "{As I live}," {declares} the Lord Yahweh, "{Surely} because my flock have become as plunder, and my flock became as food to all the animals of the field, since there was not a shepherd, [since] my shepherds [have] not sought my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and they fed not my flock,'"

9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh,

10 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I [am] against the shepherds, and I will seek my flock from their hand, and I will put an end to them from shepherding flocks, and the shepherds will {no longer} feed themselves, and I will deliver my flocks from their mouth, so that they will not be as food for them."

11 " 'For thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I, even I, will seek my flock, and I will look after them,

12 [just] like [the] caring of a shepherd [for] his herd on the day when he is in the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will look after my flock, and I will deliver them from all the places {to which they were scattered} on [the] day {of storm and stress}.

13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and I will gather them from the countries, and I will bring them to their soil, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys, and in all of the settlements of the land.

14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their pasture will be on the mountains of the heights of Israel; there they will lie down in good pasture, and [on] lush pasture they will feed on the mountains of Israel.

15 {I myself} will feed my flock and {I myself} will allow them to lie down," {declares} the Lord Yahweh.

16 "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the scattered, and I will bind [up] the one hurt, and I will strengthen the sick; and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed her with justice."

17 " 'And you, my flock, thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I [am] judging between {one sheep and another}, between the rams and between the he-goats.

18 {Is it not enough for you} [that] you feed on the good pasture? And [still] you must trample the remainder of your pasture with your feet, and {clear water} you drink, and the {leftover water} you must make muddy with your feet.

19 And my flock must graze the [pasture] treaded upon by your feet, and must drink the mud puddle [stirred up] by your feet."

20 " 'Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh to them: "Look! I, even I will judge between fat sheep and between lean sheep,

21 because with [your] flank and with [your] shoulder you shoved, and with your horns you pushed all of the sick [animals] {until} you scattered it to the outside.

22 And [so] I will save my flock, and {they will no longer be} for plunder, and I will judge between {one sheep and another}.

23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them; [that is], my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be for them as a shepherd.

24 And I, Yahweh, I will be for them {as God}, and my servant David [will be] a leader in the midst of them. I, Yahweh, I have spoken.

25 And I will make them a covenant of peace, and I will put an end to wild animals from the land, and they will dwell in the desert {safely}, and they will sleep in the forest.

26 And I will make them and [the area] all around my hill a blessing, and I will let the rain go down {at its appointed time}; they will be rains of blessing.

27 And the tree of the field will give its fruit, and the land will give its produce, and they will be on their land {safely}, and they will know that I [am] Yahweh when I break their yoke, and I will deliver them from the hand of the ones enslaving them.

28 And they will not be [any] longer plunder to the nations, and the animals of the land will not eat them, and they will dwell {in safety}, and [there will] not [be anyone] frightening [them].

29 And I will raise for them a garden plot of renown, and they will {no longer} be victims of famine in the land, and they will not bear any more the insult of the nations.

30 And they will know that I, Yahweh their God, [am] with them and they [are] my people, the house of Israel," {declares} the Lord Yahweh,

31 "and you [are] my flock, the flock of my pasture. You [are] {my people}; I [am] your God," {declares} the Lord Yahweh.'"

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]. Literally "was"
• [b]. Or "mortal," or "son of humankind"
• [c]. Literally "for"
• [d]. Or "wounded"
• [e]. Or "violence"
• [f]. Literally "from not"
• [g]. Or "became"
• [h]. Hebrew "animal"
• [i]. Or "earth"
• [j]. Literally "there was not [someone] seeking [them]"
• [k]. Literally "there was not [someone] searching for [them]"
• [l]. Literally "live I"
• [m]. Literally "declaration of"
• [n]. Literally "if not"
• [o]. Or "for"
• [p]. Hebrew "animal"
• [q]. Literally "not [any] longer"
• [r]. Or "in"
• [s]. Literally "which they were scattered there"
• [t]. Literally "on [the] day of cloud and deep gloom"
• [u]. Literally "I, I"
• [v]. Literally "I, I"
• [w]. Literally "declaration of"
• [x]. Literally "small sheep and small sheep"
• [y]. Literally "is it [too] little from you"
• [z]. Literally "and settling of water"
• [aa]. Literally "[water] being left"
• [ab]. Hebrew "of"
• [ac]. Hebrew "of"
• [ad]. Literally "until that"
• [ae]. Or "them"
• [af]. Literally "not they will be longer for plunder"
• [ag]. Literally "sheep and sheep"
• [ah]. Or "like"
• [ai]. Literally "to a God"
• [aj]. Hebrew "animal"
• [ak]. Literally "with confidence/trust"
• [al]. Literally "in time his"
• [am]. Or "trees"
• [an]. Literally "with/in conficence"
• [ao]. Literally "with confidence"
• [ap]. Or "planting"
• [aq]. Literally "not [any] longer"
• [ar]. Literally "declaration of"
• [as]. Literally "humanity, Mankind, human, mankind"
• [at]. Literally "declaration of"

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.