Ezekiel 34:18 kjv
Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
Ezekiel 34:18 nkjv
Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture?and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet?
Ezekiel 34:18 niv
Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?
Ezekiel 34:18 esv
Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?
Ezekiel 34:18 nlt
Isn't it enough for you to keep the best of the pastures for yourselves? Must you also trample down the rest? Isn't it enough for you to drink clear water for yourselves? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?
Ezekiel 34 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34:26 | "I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing..." | Ezekiel 34:26 (Fulfillment) |
| Jeremiah 31:12 | "They shall come and sing for joy on the height of Zion..." | Jeremiah 31:12 (Prophecy) |
| Isaiah 61:4 | "They shall build up the waste places of old..." | Isaiah 61:4 (Restoration) |
| Joel 2:22 | "The pastures of the wilderness are green..." | Joel 2:22 (Fertility) |
| Psalm 85:12 | "The land shall yield its increase..." | Psalm 85:12 (Blessing) |
| Luke 13:8-9 | "‘Sir, let it alone this year also, till I dig around it and put it on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good. But if not, cut it down.’" | Luke 13:8-9 (Cultivation) |
| John 15:1-2 | "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes..." | John 15:1-2 (Cultivation) |
| Isaiah 58:12 | "Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall lay the foundation of many generations..." | Isaiah 58:12 (Rebuilding) |
| Zechariah 8:12 | "For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew..." | Zechariah 8:12 (Prosperity) |
| Amos 9:13 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed..." | Amos 9:13 (Abundance) |
| Genesis 26:12 | "When Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold..." | Genesis 26:12 (Fruitfulness) |
| Psalm 65:9-10 | "You visit the earth and give it drink; you greatly enrich it with the river of God..." | Psalm 65:9-10 (Enrichment) |
| Jeremiah 30:18 | "Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob...’" | Jeremiah 30:18 (Restoration) |
| Deuteronomy 11:14 | "he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the amber rain..." | Deuteronomy 11:14 (Rain) |
| Haggai 1:10 | "But you all turned aside after your own devices. Therefore the heavens above have withheld the dew from you..." | Haggai 1:10 (Contrast) |
| Malachi 3:10 | "‘Bring the full worth of the tithes into my storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.’" | Malachi 3:10 (Blessing) |
| Romans 15:12 | "...and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse will come, he who arises to rule over the nations; in him will the nations hope.’" | Romans 15:12 (Hope) |
| Matthew 13:8 | "Other seeds fell into the good soil and sprang up and bore grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." | Matthew 13:8 (Abundance) |
| John 12:24 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." | John 12:24 (Fruitfulness) |
| Galatians 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Galatians 6:7 (Sowing/Reaping) |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 18 Meaning
This verse declares that the prosperous lands that were previously laid waste are now being cultivated, indicating a restoration and renewed fruitfulness. The emphasis is on the reversal of desolation to abundance, signifying divine blessing and a return of favor upon the land and its people after a period of judgment.
Ezekiel 34 18 Context
Ezekiel chapter 34 is a powerful prophetic oracle addressing the failures of the shepherds (leaders) of Israel and the consequent scattering and suffering of the sheep (the people). God declares his intention to hold these shepherds accountable and to personally shepherd His people. The preceding verses (1-10) highlight the negative state of the flock due to the shepherds' negligence and predation. From verse 11 onwards, God promises a future restoration and a true shepherd who will gather, feed, and protect His flock. This verse, Ezekiel 34:18, is part of this positive prognosis of renewed prosperity following the judgment described earlier. It sets the stage for the depiction of a land transformed from a place of ruin into a garden.
Ezekiel 34 18 Word Analysis
- shall the land ( וְהָיָה הָאָרֶץ, wə-hāyāh hā-'āreṣ):
- "and it shall be" (wə-hāyāh) - Indicates a future state, a consequence of God's actions or promises. The 'waw' connective links this to previous or subsequent declarations.
- "the land" (hā-'āreṣ) - Refers specifically to the land of Israel, which had been laid waste and was viewed as cursed or unfruitful due to sin and exile.
- that was desolate ( מְשַׁמָּה, məšammāh):
- "desolate," "wasteland," "ruined" - This Hebrew word describes a state of emptiness, abandonment, and ruin, a direct consequence of divine judgment as described in Leviticus 26:31-35 and Deuteronomy 28:38-42.
- become an Eden of delights ( לְגַן עֵדֶן, lə-gan 'ēden):
- "to a garden" (lə-gan) - A garden implies cultivation, order, beauty, and sustenance. It's a place of delight.
- "of Eden" ('ēden) - The reference to "Eden" evokes the pristine paradise of Genesis 2-3, symbolizing ultimate perfection, abundance, and intimate fellowship with God before the Fall. It signifies a return to a state of divine blessing and provision that transcends mere physical prosperity.
- and the waste and desert ( וּבְמָשָׁמָה וּבַחֳרָבוֹת, ū-və-māšāmāh ū-ḇa-ḥŏrābōt):
- "and in desolation" (ū-və-māšāmāh) - Reiterates the previous state of ruin.
- "and in the ruins/deserts" (ū-ḇa-ḥŏrābōt) - A strengthened emphasis on complete barrenness and destruction. Ḥarābōt can refer to dry, barren places or ruined cities.
- places shall be ( יִהְיוּ, yihyû):
- "shall be" - Future tense, reinforcing the prophetic promise of transformation.
- cultivated ( לְטַפָּח, lə-ṭappaḥ):
- "to cultivate," "to nourish," "to foster," "to make strong and fruitful" - This verb implies active care and diligent tending, bringing life and growth to what was previously dead or dormant. It’s a deliberate, purposeful process of nurturing.
Ezekiel 34 18 Bonus Section
The concept of a restored Edenic garden is a recurring motif in prophetic literature, pointing towards a future messianic age. It reflects the deep yearning for a return to perfect fellowship with God, free from the curses brought about by sin. The transformation of the land also serves as a metaphor for the spiritual renewal of God's people, whose hearts, like the land, can be made fertile and productive for God’s glory. The imagery echoes the hope for a time when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
Ezekiel 34 18 Commentary
This verse paints a picture of dramatic transformation from utter desolation to abundant cultivation, drawing parallels to the ideal state of Eden. It speaks not only of the land's physical renewal but also signifies a deep spiritual restoration. The transformation from a "waste and desert" into a fertile, gardened land emphasizes God's power to bring life out of death and order out of chaos. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the new creation and the eternal kingdom of God, where all things are made new, and His people dwell in perpetual blessing and fellowship. The active cultivation points to God's direct involvement in nurturing His people and His creation back to flourishing life.