Ezekiel 34:21-31

21 You push with your side and with your shoulder, and you knock down all the weak sheep with your horns until you have forced them away.

22 So I will save my flock; they will not be hurt anymore. I will judge between one sheep and another.

23 Then I will put over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and tend them and be their shepherd.

24 Then I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a ruler among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.

25 "'I will make an agreement of peace with my sheep and will remove harmful animals from the land. Then the sheep will live safely in the desert and sleep in the woods.

26 I will bless them and let them live around my hill. I will cause the rains to come when it is time; there will be showers to bless them.

27 Also the trees in the countryside will give their fruit, and the land will give its harvest. And the sheep will be safe on their land. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their captivity and save them from the power of those who made them slaves.

28 They will not be led captive by the nations again. The wild animals will not eat them, but they will live safely, and no one will make them afraid.

29 I will give them a place famous for its good crops, so they will no longer suffer from hunger in the land. They will not suffer the insults of other nations anymore.

30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them. The nation of Israel will know that they are my people, says the Lord God.

31 You, my human sheep, are the sheep I care for, and I am your God, says the Lord God.'"

Ezekiel 34:21-31 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.