Ezekiel 34:20 kjv
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
Ezekiel 34:20 nkjv
'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: "Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep.
Ezekiel 34:20 niv
"?'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
Ezekiel 34:20 esv
"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
Ezekiel 34:20 nlt
"Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will surely judge between the fat sheep and the scrawny sheep.
Ezekiel 34 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34:20 | Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. | Judgment against corrupt shepherds |
| Psalm 72:12 | For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and him who has no helper. | God's deliverance of the helpless |
| Jeremiah 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. | Woe to false shepherds |
| Zechariah 11:16 | For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, nor seek the lost, nor heal the broken, nor feed the healthy, but will devour the flesh of the fat ones and tear their hoofs in pieces. | Prediction of a wicked shepherd |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. | Jesus as the good shepherd |
| John 10:12 | He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, and whose own sheep are not necessarily his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. | Contrast with hired hands |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, | Exhortation to faithful shepherding |
| 1 Peter 5:3 | not ruling over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. | Leading by example |
| Acts 20:28 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. | Overseers caring for the flock |
| Matthew 25:31-33 | When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. | The separation of sheep and goats |
| Luke 11:46 | And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also, for you burden people with incurable | Woes against religious leaders |
| Micah 6:8 | He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | God's requirement for justice |
| Amos 3:13 | Hear this and testify against the house of Jacob," declares the LORD, the God of hosts: | God's testimony against wrongdoing |
| Psalm 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | The Lord as a shepherd |
| Isaiah 40:11 | He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them on his | God as a caring shepherd |
| Jeremiah 50:6 | "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them aside on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their fold. | Israel as lost sheep |
| Ezekiel 34:4 | I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the straying, I will bind up the broken, and I will strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will watch over them in justice. | God's action against weak and strong |
| Ezekiel 34:11 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. | God's active seeking of His sheep |
| Ezekiel 34:16 | I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the straying, I will bind up the broken, and I will strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will watch over them in justice. | God's direct action to care |
| Nahum 1:12 | Thus says the LORD: Though they are ever so strong and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. | God's judgment on oppressors |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 20 Meaning
This verse states that God will judge between the fat and lean sheep, specifically targeting the physically strong sheep that shove and push the weaker ones. God declares He will rescue His flock from their predatory leadership and distribute the pasture of the strong sheep.
Ezekiel 34 20 Context
This verse is found within Ezekiel chapter 34, a powerful denunciation of the faithless shepherds of Israel, who are likened to sheep. These leaders failed to care for God's flock, enriching themselves and oppressing the vulnerable. God announces His intention to remove these corrupt shepherds and personally tend to His sheep. The specific judgment mentioned here, distinguishing between the fat and lean sheep, highlights God's equitable and discerning justice. He will deal with those who were prosperous at the expense of others, and those who were marginalized. This chapter's message is rooted in the historical context of the Babylonian exile, where the leadership's failures contributed to Israel's downfall. The promise of God directly intervening as the shepherd anticipates the coming of the Messiah.
Ezekiel 34 20 Word Analysis
And (וְ) - A conjunctive particle, linking this action of judgment to the preceding declarations.
I (אָנֹכִי) - Emphasizes God's personal involvement and responsibility.
Myself (אָנֹכִי) - Further intensifies the personal and direct nature of God's action.
Will judge (דִּין) - To contend, to plead a cause, to execute judgment. It signifies God's role as the ultimate arbiter and dispenser of justice.
Between (בֵּין) - Denotes a separation or distinction, highlighting that God will deal with each category according to its deeds.
Fat (דֶּשֶׁן) - Refers to richness, prosperity, plumpness. In this context, it symbolizes those who were well-fed, powerful, and perhaps arrogant due to their status, often at the expense of others.
Sheep (צֹאן) - Refers to the flock, the people of Israel, particularly the vulnerable and oppressed among them.
And (וְ) - Conjunctive particle.
Lean (רָזֶה) - Thin, lean, emaciated. This represents the afflicted, the oppressed, the weak members of the flock who suffered under the "fat" ones.
Words group by words-group analysis data
- "fat sheep and lean sheep" - This juxtaposition clearly outlines God's equitable judgment. It's not a uniform condemnation or blessing, but a discernment that addresses the specific actions and states of those within the flock. The "fat" are those who were spiritually and often physically plump due to leadership exploitation, while the "lean" are those who were deprived and weakened by it.
- "I myself will judge between" - The emphatic "I myself" (אָנֹכִי) underscores God's sovereignty and personal engagement. He is not delegating this critical act of justice. The act of judging ("din") implies a legal proceeding where God ensures righteous outcomes.
Ezekiel 34 20 Bonus Section
The imagery of sheep and shepherds is a recurring and deeply significant metaphor throughout Scripture. It powerfully conveys themes of divine protection, provision, and guidance, as well as the responsibility and potential for failure in leadership. God's declaration to judge between the fat and lean sheep reflects a concern for social justice, a principle consistently upheld in biblical teaching. This verse reinforces the idea that God is intimately acquainted with the conditions of His people, especially the suffering of the marginalized. It speaks to the heart of God’s justice – it is not abstract but applied directly to the situations and relationships within His flock. The consequence for the "fat sheep" is not just removal but distribution of their resources ("distribute the pasture of the strong sheep"), signifying a redistribution of God's blessings and favor to the formerly oppressed.
Ezekiel 34 20 Commentary
Ezekiel 34:20 serves as a cornerstone in God's declaration of judgment against exploitative leadership. It exposes God's keen awareness of the suffering of the weak and His resolute intention to bring justice. The "fat sheep" are likely the powerful leaders, perhaps the prominent among the ruling class or those who profited from the flock's destitution. The "lean sheep" represent the vast majority, the common people, who were neglected, exploited, and spiritually starved by their "shepherds." God’s judgment here is precise; He doesn't just punish the bad shepherds, but He discerns and deals with the differential outcomes among the flock itself, caused by the leadership's failure. This promise of God acting as the true shepherd, intervening personally and impartially, is a profound assurance of divine care and a precursor to Christ, the ultimate Good Shepherd.