Ezekiel 34:17 kjv
And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
Ezekiel 34:17 nkjv
'And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
Ezekiel 34:17 niv
"?'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.
Ezekiel 34:17 esv
"As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats.
Ezekiel 34:17 nlt
"And as for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says to his people: I will judge between one animal of the flock and another, separating the sheep from the goats.
Ezekiel 34 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 34:6 | My sheep wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill... unattended. | Echoes the scattering and neglect described. |
| Jer 10:21 | The shepherds are foolish and do not inquire of the LORD... so they prosper not. | Highlights the failure of leadership. |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Contrasts false shepherds with the true Shepherd. |
| Zech 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock!" | Directly condemns exploitative shepherds. |
| Matt 9:36 | When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. | Jesus identifies with the people's plight. |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus' self-description as the ultimate Shepherd. |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care... | Calls for faithful shepherding. |
| Heb 13:20 | Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep... | Attributes shepherdly action to God through Christ. |
| Isa 40:11 | He will tend his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them close to his heart; he will gently lead the mother sheep. | Describes God's gentle care. |
| Ezek 37:24 | “‘My servant David will be their king and that one shepherd will preside over them all.’” | Prophesies a future Davidic King as shepherd. |
| Jer 23:3 | "I will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries... and bring them back to their pastures..." | God's promise to restore and gather. |
| Micah 5:4 | And he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. | Describes the true shepherd's authority. |
| Luke 15:4-7 | Jesus' parable of the lost sheep illustrates God's seeking. | Emphasizes active seeking of the lost. |
| John 10:27 | My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. | Describes the relationship with Jesus the Shepherd. |
| Ezek 34:16 | "I will search for the lost and bring back the straying, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy." | The preceding verse detailing God's actions. |
| Jer 3:15 | “‘Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.’” | God's promise of faithful shepherds. |
| Acts 20:28-31 | Paul warns elders against greed and calls them to shepherd God's church. | Parallel warning to church leaders. |
| Ps 100:3 | Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. | Affirms God's ownership and care. |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you..." | Points to the consequence of spiritual ignorance due to bad leadership. |
| Joel 1:16 | Woe to the day of the LORD, for it is near! | Sets a tone of impending divine judgment. |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 17 Meaning
This verse pronounces judgment against the greedy leaders, referred to as "shepherds," who have exploited and scattered God's flock. It declares that because of their cruel and self-serving actions, they will be held accountable, and their power to harm the flock will be removed. God Himself will then intervene to rescue and care for His people, acting as their true Shepherd.
Ezekiel 34 17 Context
Chapter 34 of Ezekiel delivers a powerful indictment against the corrupt and selfish shepherds of Israel. These leaders, including kings, priests, and other rulers, are condemned for preying upon the vulnerable sheep of God's flock (the people of Israel) rather than protecting and nourishing them. They have lived comfortably on the people's resources while leaving the flock exposed to predators and hunger. The chapter moves from accusation to divine intervention, promising that God Himself will remove these bad shepherds and personally care for His people, culminating in the establishment of His covenant of peace and the ultimate reign of Davidic king. Verse 17 specifically delineates the judgment that will fall upon the "fat sheep" and "strong sheep" who have been oppressing the weaker members of the flock. This speaks to the internal divisions and injustices within Israel itself, exacerbated by their exploitative leaders. The broader historical context is the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel’s leadership had failed spectacularly, leading to national judgment and scattering.
Ezekiel 34 17 Word Analysis
"And as for you": Hebrew: וְאַתֶּם (və’attem). Emphatic inclusion, directly addressing the guilty party.
"O flock": Hebrew: צֹאנִי (tsonī). My sheep. Denotes possession and tenderness, highlighting God’s special care for His people, who are now seen as scattered and oppressed.
"judge between": Hebrew: דִּין (dīn). To judge, contend, plead. Implies a legal proceeding where God acts as both prosecutor and judge.
"sheep and sheep": Hebrew: שֶׂה וָשֶׂה (śeh ḵə śeh). Ewe and ram, or simply sheep distinguishing from sheep. This distinction is crucial: the "fat sheep" and the "lean sheep" or the oppressors and the oppressed.
"fat sheep": Hebrew: צֹאן בְּרִיאָה (tson bərī’â). Healthy/strong/fat sheep. Refers to those within the flock who are privileged, powerful, and have benefited at the expense of others.
"and the fat sheep": Hebrew: וְצֹאן הַבְּרִיאוֹת (vətsôn hab-bərī’ôṯ). The fat ewes/sheep. Reiteration for emphasis, underscoring those who have been well-fed and perhaps even indulged through the exploitation of others.
"thrust with your flanks and with your horns": Hebrew: וַתְּנַגְּח֣וּ (wattə nag·ge·ḥū). You push/butt. Describes violent and forceful actions, indicating aggression and physical oppression by the strong sheep against the weak.
"and push all the weak sheep": Hebrew: וַתְּדַחּ֧וּ (wattə·ðaḥ·ḥū). You thrust/scatter/drive away. Emphasizes the scattering and displacement of the vulnerable.
"until you scatter them": Hebrew: עַד־תָּפִיצ֥וּ (‘ad-tā·pî·ṣū). Until you disperse. Highlights the ultimate result of their oppressive actions: the fragmentation and destruction of the flock’s unity and well-being.
Word Groups/Phrases:
- "judge between sheep and sheep": God will arbitrate the disputes and injustices that have arisen within the flock itself, not just between the flock and the false shepherds. This addresses the internal societal abuses.
- "fat sheep" and "thrust with your flanks and with your horns": This is a vivid metaphor for the elite and powerful members of Israelite society who exploited their own brethren. Their strength was used for selfish aggrandizement and oppression, causing widespread suffering and division.
Ezekiel 34 17 Bonus Section
This verse's imagery of "fat sheep" bullying "lean sheep" underscores that the corruption God condemns is not confined to the visible leaders but can permeate the entire community. It reflects the principle that oppression often comes from within, exacerbated by a lack of godly leadership. The judgment is described as God intervening directly, highlighting His active role in defending the defenseless and ensuring justice prevails. The prophecy looks forward to a time when God Himself, through His Son Jesus, will perfectly shepherd humanity, delivering them from all forms of oppression, both internal and external. This verse, therefore, is a powerful statement of divine justice and redemptive love for the downtrodden.
Ezekiel 34 17 Commentary
Ezekiel 34:17 pronounces God's direct intervention to rectify injustices within His own people. It’s not merely about the failure of external leadership but also the internal corruption that cripples the community. The "fat sheep" represent those who, by virtue of their position or strength, have become exploitative. Their actions of pushing, butting, and scattering the weaker sheep are acts of cruelty that mirror the abusive behavior of the false shepherds. God's judgment will distinguish between the oppressor and the oppressed, holding accountable those who have leveraged their advantages to harm their fellow Israelites. This verse foreshadows Christ’s ministry, where He confronts those who lead His people astray and actively cares for the vulnerable, demonstrating that true shepherding is characterized by sacrifice and love, not by self-enrichment and oppression.
- Practical Implication: The verse challenges us to examine our own communities and actions. Are we, like the "fat sheep," leveraging our privileges or strengths to oppress or scatter others? Or are we acting with the compassion and justice that our True Shepherd, Jesus Christ, embodies? It calls for integrity within the fellowship of believers, ensuring that no one is preyed upon by another within the fold.