Ezekiel 34:8

8 I live, saith the Lord God, for why for that that my flocks be made into raven, and my sheep into devouring of all beasts of the field, for that that no shepherd was, for the shepherds sought not my flock(s), but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks; (As I live, saith the Lord God, because my flock was made into spoils, and my sheep into food for all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd, for the shepherds sought not my flock, but the shepherds fed only themselves, and fed not my flock;)

Ezekiel 34:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 34:8

As I live, saith the Lord
It is an oath, and which he swore in his wrath, being provoked with the shepherds for their misadministration: surely, because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to
every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd;
a prey to all the kingdoms of the people, being without a governor, as the Targum; or to false teachers, there being no spiritual pastors to take care of them: neither did my shepherds search for my flock;
that was scattered, and carried captive, and became a prey to others; even those that were of God's appointing, as the kings of Israel, their priests and prophets; for both their civil polity and ecclesiastical hierarchy were of God, though the ends thereof were not answered, or the persons put into office did not do their duty: but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock:
(See Gill on Ezekiel 34:2), (See Gill on Ezekiel 34:3).

Ezekiel 34:8 In-Context

6 My flocks erred in all mountains, and in each high hill, and my flocks were scattered on all the face of earth, and none was that sought. (My flock wandered on all the mountains, and on each high hill, yea, my flock was scattered over all the face of the earth, and there was no one who sought them.)
7 Therefore, shepherds, hear ye the word of the Lord;
8 I live, saith the Lord God, for why for that that my flocks be made into raven, and my sheep into devouring of all beasts of the field, for that that no shepherd was, for the shepherds sought not my flock(s), but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks; (As I live, saith the Lord God, because my flock was made into spoils, and my sheep into food for all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd, for the shepherds sought not my flock, but the shepherds fed only themselves, and fed not my flock;)
9 therefore, shepherds, hear ye the word of the Lord,
10 The Lord God saith these things, Lo! I myself am over [the] shepherds; I shall seek my flock of the hand of them, and I shall make them to cease, that they feed no more my flock, and that the shepherds feed no more themselves. And I shall deliver my flock from the mouth of them, and it shall no more be into meat to them. (The Lord God saith these things, Lo! I am against the shepherds; I shall take my flock out of their hands, and I shall make them cease, that they do not feed my flock, but that these shepherds only feed only themselves. And I shall rescue my flock from their mouths, and they shall no more be their food.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.