Ezekiel 34 11

Ezekiel 34:11 kjv

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:11 nkjv

'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:11 niv

"?'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.

Ezekiel 34:11 esv

"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:11 nlt

"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep.

Ezekiel 34 verses

Ezekiel 34 11 Meaning

The Lord God declares His intention to personally seek out and care for His sheep, like a shepherd searching for his dispersed flock, showing concern for those scattered in the mist and darkness.

Ezekiel 34 11 Context

Ezekiel chapter 34 presents a scathing indictment of the unfaithful shepherds (leaders) of Israel who have exploited and scattered God's flock (the people). They have fed themselves rather than the sheep, causing the flock to be scattered and vulnerable to wild animals. This chapter shifts to a prophetic promise of God's direct intervention and a future, righteous Shepherd who will restore and care for His people. Verse 11 marks the transition from judgment to divine promise, emphasizing God's personal initiative to seek, rescue, and nourish His sheep. Historically, this would resonate with an Israel exiled and feeling abandoned, longing for divine leadership and restoration.

Ezekiel 34 11 Word Analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): A conjunction indicating reason or cause; here it introduces God's explanation for His impending actions.

• thus (כֹּה - ko): Adverb indicating manner; signifies "in this way" or "so."

• says (אָמַר - amar): Verb, perfect tense, third person masculine singular; "He spoke" or "He has said."

• the (the definite article): Indicates definiteness.

• Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): A divine title signifying "Lord" or "Master," denoting sovereignty and authority.

• God (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The generic name for God, emphasizing His power and Creator status.

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection or particle calling for attention; draws immediate focus.

• I (אָנִי - ani): First person singular pronoun; emphasizes God's personal involvement.

• myself (אָנֹכִי - anokhi): Emphatic first person pronoun, stressing "I, even I," highlighting direct agency.

• will (prefix FUTURE tense marker): Indicates future action.

• search (דָּרַשׁ - darash): Verb, Qal imperfect, first person common singular; to seek, inquire, look for, often with diligence and earnestness.

• for (after search): Preposition indicating the object of the search.

• my (my possessive suffix): Indicates possession by God.

• sheep (צֹאן - tson): Noun, feminine singular or collective plural; refers to sheep, collectively God's people.

• and (וְ - ve): Conjunction connecting clauses or phrases.

• will (prefix FUTURE tense marker): Indicates future action.

• seek out (נַפְקֵד - nifqad): Verb, Nifal imperfect, first person common singular (from פקד - paqad); literally "to be visited" or "to be mustered," here in Nifal it implies a diligent searching or seeking out, often for oversight or care.

• from (from where sheep were scattered): Preposition indicating source or separation.

• all (from all the places): Quantifier, the entirety.

• places (מְקוֹמוֹת - mekomot): Noun, masculine plural; locations or spots.

• where (adverb): Connects to the locations.

• they (third person masculine plural pronoun): Refers to the sheep.

• were scattered (נָפְצוּ - niftzu): Verb, Nifal perfect, third person masculine plural (from פוץ - putz); "they were scattered" or "dispersed." This highlights the sheep's pitiable state due to the failure of previous shepherds.

• in (in the day): Preposition.

• the (definite article): Indicates definiteness.

• day (יוֹם - yom): Noun, masculine singular; refers to a specific time.

• of (genitive): Indicates relationship.

• cloud (עָב - av): Noun, masculine singular; often refers to dark clouds, implying gloom or difficulty.

• and (וְ - ve): Conjunction.

• darkness (צַלְמָוֶת - tsalmavet): Noun, masculine singular, often translated as "deep darkness" or "shadow of death"; signifies a time of great distress, confusion, or obscurity.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "I myself will search for my sheep": This emphatic phrase signifies a direct, personal, and active engagement of God in rescuing His people, contrasting sharply with the negligence of the human leaders. It shows God's proprietary love and responsibility.
  • "seek out from all the places where they were scattered": This describes the extensive and thorough nature of God's search, going to every place, indicating no sheep is beyond His reach or concern. The passive scattering ("were scattered") highlights their helplessness.
  • "in the day of cloud and darkness": This phrase frames the specific time of this divine intervention. It's not a day of ease, but a time of severe trial, signifying distress, judgment, and confusion, making God's personal search even more critical and indicative of His unwavering commitment in difficult times. The phrase strongly points to a specific time of dire need, implying the sheep are lost and in peril.

Ezekiel 34 11 Bonus Section

The concept of God as a Shepherd actively searching for the lost is profoundly developed throughout Scripture. The language used for "search" (darash) often implies earnest seeking and making inquiry, a diligent quest. The Hebrew word for "seek out" (nifqad in Nifal) carries connotations of inspection and oversight, indicating that God's search is not merely for discovery but for restoration and governance. This personal initiative of God directly counters the failures of the earthly shepherds described earlier in Ezekiel 34. The particular emphasis on "cloud and darkness" points to times of exile and spiritual blindness, making God's active seeking an act of supreme grace and redemption. The underlying theology is that God's people, though prone to straying and being scattered due to their sin and the failures of their leaders, are eternally precious to Him, and He will not abandon them to perdition.

Ezekiel 34 11 Commentary

This verse is a cornerstone of God's covenantal faithfulness. It establishes God's ultimate sovereignty and active care, especially when human leadership fails. The promise to personally "search" and "seek out" the scattered flock emphasizes God's intimate knowledge of each individual sheep and His deep compassion for their plight. This is not a detached, general concern but a focused, personal rescue operation. The imagery of "cloud and darkness" signifies times of spiritual or national distress, suggesting God's active involvement even, and particularly, in the most difficult circumstances for His people. It assures them that no matter how lost or endangered they feel, God is actively working towards their recovery. This anticipation of a divine Shepherd sets the stage for the fulfillment found in Jesus Christ.