Ezekiel 34:2 kjv
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ezekiel 34:2 nkjv
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ezekiel 34:2 niv
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
Ezekiel 34:2 esv
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
Ezekiel 34:2 nlt
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep?
Ezekiel 34 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34:3 | "You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool..." | Judgment against selfish leaders |
| Jeremiah 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep..." | Parallel prophecy of judgment |
| Zechariah 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock!..." | Condemnation of corrupt leadership |
| Micah 3:2-3 | "You hate good and love evil... You eat my people's flesh..." | Accusation of oppressing the poor |
| Psalm 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | Contrasting true Shepherd |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life..." | Jesus as the Good Shepherd |
| John 10:12-13 | "The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep..." | Distinction of false vs. true shepherds |
| 1 Peter 5:2-3 | "Be shepherds of God's flock... not because you must, but because you are willing..." | Instructions for present-day shepherds |
| Isaiah 40:11 | "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs..." | God's tender care for His people |
| Psalm 78:70-72 | "He chose David his servant... to shepherd his people..." | David as an ideal shepherd |
| Ezekiel 13:10, 13 | "...they have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace." | False prophets leading people astray |
| Matthew 9:36 | "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless..." | Jesus' compassion for the lost |
| Mark 6:34 | "When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them..." | Jesus' compassion for the multitudes |
| Hebrews 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them..." | Reminder of leaders' responsibility |
| Jeremiah 50:6, 17 | "My people have been lost sheep... Israel is a scattered sheep..." | Description of Israel's lost condition |
| Acts 20:28-30 | "...shepherd the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my going..." | Paul's charge to the Ephesian elders |
| 1 Corinthians 11:22 | "...Or shall I praise you? In this I praise you not." | Warning against self-serving leadership |
| Proverbs 28:15 | "Like a roaring lion or a ravening bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people." | Analogy of oppressive ruler |
| Jeremiah 22:13-17 | "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness... did your father not eat and drink and do justice..." | Judgment against Jehoiakim's greed |
| Lamentations 4:21 | "Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom... the cup shall pass to you also..." | Future judgment upon those who oppressed Israel |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 2 Meaning
Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves. Instead of caring for the flock, they have exploited and neglected them. The "shepherds" here refer to the kings and leaders of Israel, both political and religious. The "woe" signifies a pronouncement of judgment and condemnation from God. The act of feeding oneself means prioritizing personal gain and comfort over the well-being of the people entrusted to their care.
Ezekiel 34 2 Context
Ezekiel 34 addresses the failures of the spiritual and political leaders of Israel, referred to metaphorically as shepherds. God pronounces judgment upon them for their selfish and negligent care of His flock—the people of Israel. The chapter occurs within the broader context of the Babylonian exile, a consequence of Israel's covenant disobedience, much of which stemmed from corrupt leadership. These shepherds, the kings and priests, were tasked with leading and protecting the people, ensuring their spiritual and physical well-being, but instead they exploited them for personal gain, leaving the flock vulnerable and scattered.
Ezekiel 34 2 Word Analysis
- Woe (Hebrew: הוי, hōwî) - An interjection expressing grief, anger, or lamentation; a denunciation. It signals divine judgment.
- to the shepherds (Hebrew: ל רֹ עִ ים, la·rō·‘îm) - The definite article "the" indicates specific, identified leaders. "Shepherds" (רֹ עִ ים, rō·‘îm) is the plural of רֹ עֶ ה (rō·‘eh), meaning one who feeds or pastures.
- of Israel (Hebrew: יִ שְ רָ אֵ ל, Yiś·rā·’êl) - Refers to the nation, God's chosen people, the flock.
- who feed (Hebrew: נֹ כֶ ם, nō·ḵêm) - You yourselves feed. The pronoun emphasizes they feed themselves.
- themselves (Hebrew: נְ פָ שָ ה, nə·p̄ā·šāh) - While translated as "themselves," the root means soul, life, or person. The emphasis is on their self-interest, feeding their own lives/souls.
- Should not (Hebrew: הֲ לֹ א, hăl·lō') - An interrogative particle expressing negative expectation or rhetorical question, implying they should have fed the flock, but did not.
- the flock (Hebrew: הַ צֹ א) ֹ ha·ṣṣō·‘îm) - The sheep, God's people. The definite article again specifies.
- feed (Hebrew: לִ רְ עֹ ת, lir‘ōṯ) - To pasture, tend, lead.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves": This is a sharp, divinely delivered indictment. The leaders are called shepherds, but their actions contradict the shepherd's role of sacrificial care. The core of their failure is self-gratification, a reversal of the shepherd-flock relationship where the shepherd serves the sheep.
Ezekiel 34 2 Bonus Section
The imagery of shepherds and sheep is prevalent throughout the Old Testament, highlighting God's tender care and leadership. Figures like Abraham, Moses, David, and God Himself are depicted as shepherds. The misuse of this role by Israel's leaders is therefore a profound betrayal of their sacred trust. This corruption of leadership directly contributed to the spiritual and national decline that led to exile. The ultimate fulfillment of true shepherding is seen in Jesus, who gathers His flock, protects them, and gives His life for them, fulfilling the promises of a new, divinely appointed shepherd for His people.
Ezekiel 34 2 Commentary
Ezekiel 34:2 powerfully indicts Israel's leadership. They acted like self-serving entrepreneurs, not God-appointed shepherds. Their responsibility was to nurture and protect God's people, but they consumed the flock's resources and ignored their needs. This verse sets the stage for God's declaration of His own shepherding care and the future coming of the ultimate Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who truly cares for and lays down His life for His sheep. The "woe" pronounces a grave warning of impending judgment for dereliction of duty.