Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prophecy Against False Shepherds

34 The Lord’s message came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds[a] of Israel; prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the choice animals, but you do not feed the sheep! You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost, but with force and harshness[b] you have ruled over them. They were scattered because they had no shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast.[c] My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over the entire face of the earth with no one looking or searching for them.

“‘Therefore, you shepherds, listen to the Lord’s message: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, my sheep have become prey and have become food for all the wild beasts. There was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not search for my flock, but fed themselves and did not feed my sheep. Therefore, you shepherds, listen to the Lord’s message. 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand my sheep from their hand. I will no longer let them be shepherds;[d] the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they will no longer be food for them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:2 tn The term shepherd is applied to kings in the ancient Near East. In the OT the Lord is often addressed as shepherd of Israel (Gen 49:24; Ps 8:1). The imagery of shepherds as Israel’s leaders is also employed (Jer 23:1-2).
  2. Ezekiel 34:4 tn The term translated “harshness” is used to describe the oppression the Israelites suffered as slaves in Egypt (Exod 1:13).
  3. Ezekiel 34:5 tn As a case of dittography, the MT repeats “and they were scattered” at the end of the verse.
  4. Ezekiel 34:10 tn Heb “I will cause them to cease from feeding sheep.”

Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

34 Then the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the (A)shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to [a]those shepherds, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been [b](B)shepherding themselves! Should not the shepherds (C)shepherd the flock? You (D)eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you (E)sacrifice the fat sheep without shepherding the flock. Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, and the [c]diseased you have not healed, and (F)the broken you have not bound up, and the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you (G)searched for the lost; but with strength and with severity you have dominated them. They were (H)scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became (I)food for every beast of the field and were scattered. My flock (J)wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; (K)My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was (L)no one to seek or search for them.”’”

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: “As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “surely because My flock has become (M)plunder, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not seek for My flock, but rather the shepherds shepherded themselves and did not shepherd My flock; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: 10 ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am (N)against the shepherds, and I will seek My flock from their hand and make them (O)cease from shepherding the flock. So the shepherds will not shepherd themselves anymore, but I will (P)deliver My flock from their mouth so that they will not be food for them.”’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:2 Lit them, the shepherds
  2. Ezekiel 34:2 Or feeding, so in ch
  3. Ezekiel 34:4 Lit sick