Ezekiel 34 12

Ezekiel 34:12 kjv

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Ezekiel 34:12 nkjv

As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.

Ezekiel 34:12 niv

As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Ezekiel 34:12 esv

As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

Ezekiel 34:12 nlt

I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.

Ezekiel 34 verses

Ezekiel 34 12 Meaning

The Lord God declares that on the day of judgment, He will personally seek out and rescue His sheep from the places where they have been scattered. He will gather them from among the flocks of other nations and bring them back to their own land. This signifies divine deliverance and restoration for God's people, emphasizing God's active role as their shepherd.

Ezekiel 34 12 Context

Ezekiel 34 condemns the corrupt leadership of Israel, portraying them as negligent and self-serving shepherds who have exploited and scattered the flock (God's people). Verse 12 follows the pronouncements of judgment against these false shepherds. It marks a transition to a promise of restoration and hope. God Himself will step in to care for His people, fulfilling His role as the ultimate Shepherd. This promise of direct divine intervention and gathering reflects the covenantal relationship God has with Israel and points forward to future messianic reign. The historical context is during the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel was physically scattered and oppressed.

Ezekiel 34 12 Word Analysis

• "For": Indicates a reason or basis for the following statement, linking it to God's active seeking and rescue.
• "thus": Signifies confirmation or agreement, echoing the preceding judgments and strengthening the following declaration.
• "says": Introduces a direct utterance from God.
• "the Lord God": The covenantal name of God (YHWH Elohim), emphasizing His sovereignty and personal involvement.
• "will I": Personal pronoun indicating God's direct and voluntary action.
• "seek": Implies actively searching, showing care and concern for the lost or scattered.
• "my sheep": Refers to the people of Israel, emphasizing God's ownership and pastoral responsibility.
• "will deliver": A future promise of rescue and liberation from peril.
• "them": Refers to the scattered sheep, the people of Israel.
• "out of all places": Encompasses every location where they have been dispersed, highlighting the comprehensiveness of God's search.
• "where": Indicates the location or condition of their scattering.
• "they have been scattered": Describes the state of dispersion, resulting from the negligence of previous leaders and enemies.
• "even": A particle that emphasizes the totality of the rescue, suggesting no one will be left behind.
• "from among": Highlights that the sheep are mixed with other flocks, implying their vulnerability.
• "the countries": Refers to foreign nations, where Israel was exiled or scattered.
• "will I": Again, emphasizes God's direct and personal action.
• "gather": Implies bringing together, consolidating, and reuniting.
• "them": The scattered sheep, Israel.
• "from the countries": Repeats the source of their scattering.
• "I will bring": Asserts God's power to relocate and gather them.
• "them": The scattered people.
• "to their own land": Promises their return to the ancestral homeland, a key aspect of restoration.

Ezekiel 34 12 Bonus Section

The concept of God as a shepherd is a prominent motif throughout Scripture, deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern understanding of kingship and pastoral care. The shepherd was responsible for seeking lost sheep, defending them from predators, and leading them to pasture. God's adoption of this role in Ezekiel highlights His nurturing, protective, and leading nature. The promise to "gather them to their own land" is a powerful prophetic assurance, particularly resonant during the Babylonian exile when their land was lost. This verse resonates with Jesus' own self-identification as the "good shepherd" (John 10:11) who knows His sheep and gives His life for them, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy on a spiritual level for believers in Christ across all nations. The principle of seeking the lost and bringing them home is also powerfully illustrated in Jesus' parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son (Luke 15).

Ezekiel 34 12 Commentary

This verse encapsulates God's unwavering commitment to His people, especially in their times of distress. It signifies that despite their scattering and the failure of human shepherds, God Himself will act. This personal intervention underscores His intimate knowledge of His flock and His deep love for them. It promises not just physical repatriation but a spiritual re-gathering under His direct care. This assurance contrasts sharply with the earlier condemnation of the selfish leaders. It also provides a glimpse of the messianic shepherd, Jesus Christ, who also sought the lost sheep of Israel and laid down His life for them, and whose ultimate gathering of His church across all nations reflects this promise.