Ezekiel 34:3 kjv
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
Ezekiel 34:3 nkjv
You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.
Ezekiel 34:3 niv
You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
Ezekiel 34:3 esv
You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.
Ezekiel 34:3 nlt
You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve.
Ezekiel 34 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34 | Behold, the priests have transgressed my law; | Ezekiel 22:26 |
| Ezekiel 34 | For the leaders of my people, the elders and the princes, | Jeremiah 5:28-29 |
| Ezekiel 34 | and their shepherds have led them astray; they have turned into them. | Jeremiah 23:1-2 |
| Ezekiel 34 | My sheep were scattered, and no one searched for them or looked after them. | Psalm 119:176 |
| Ezekiel 34 | You ate the fat, and clothed yourselves with the wool. | Micah 3:1-3 |
| Ezekiel 34 | You slaughtered the fatlings, but you did not feed the sheep. | 1 Corinthians 9:7 |
| Ezekiel 34 | therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: | Jeremiah 22:24-30 |
| Ezekiel 34 | "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand." | Jeremiah 10:21 |
| Ezekiel 34 | You have strengthened the weak, but you have not healed the sick. | Isaiah 58:6-7 |
| Ezekiel 34 | I will break the jawbones of the shepherds. | Psalm 3:7 |
| Ezekiel 34 | The feeble sheep you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed. | Isaiah 40:11 |
| Ezekiel 34 | But when you eat, you consume the fat; you put on wool. | James 5:1-3 |
| Ezekiel 34 | The fat and the strong you will kill, but you will not feed the weak. | Amos 4:1 |
| Ezekiel 34 | Your sheep have been scattered, there is no shepherd. | 1 Kings 22:17 |
| Ezekiel 34 | The flesh of the fat sheep ye have eaten, and their skins have ye flayed. | Deuteronomy 28:54-57 |
| Ezekiel 34 | Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; | Amos 3:1-2 |
| Ezekiel 34 | you fed yourselves, and did not feed my flock. | John 10:11-13 |
| Ezekiel 34 | For my flock was scattered across all the mountains, | Psalm 74:1-3 |
| Ezekiel 34 | and I will deliver my flock from their mouths, | Psalm 79:11-12 |
| Ezekiel 34 | I will give them no longer to be plunder for the nations. | Zephaniah 3:18-19 |
| Ezekiel 34 | But David my servant shall be king over them. | Jeremiah 30:9 |
| Ezekiel 34 | And they shall no more be a prey to the nations. | Isaiah 60:17-18 |
| Ezekiel 34 | and they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. | Leviticus 26:6 |
| Ezekiel 34 | and I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David. | Psalm 23:1 |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 3 Meaning
This verse describes a condemnation of the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves rather than the flock. It highlights their dereliction of duty, their neglect of the weak and sick sheep, and their unjust exploitation of the flock for personal gain. The emphasis is on the betrayal of trust and the self-serving actions that have harmed the sheep of God.
Ezekiel 34 3 Context
Ezekiel 34 is part of the oracle against the shepherds of Israel, delivered during the Babylonian exile. Israel's spiritual leaders had failed their people, acting as selfish exploiters rather than caring protectors. The preceding chapters (33-37) describe the judgment upon the unfaithful and promise future restoration. This specific chapter directly addresses the corrupt leadership, contrasting their failure with God's ultimate plan to provide a true shepherd for His people. Historically, Israel had endured multiple periods of failed leadership, contributing to their national decline and exile.
Ezekiel 34 3 Word Analysis
- "For": Indicates a reason or explanation for the previous statements, linking the exile's cause to the shepherds' failure.
- "as for" (Hebrew: וכ): Compound word: 'waw' (and) + 'kaph' (as, like). Connects the statement directly to the preceding pronouncement.
- "shepherds" (Hebrew: רֹעִים - ro'im): Plural of "roeh," meaning one who feeds, pastures, tends. It refers metaphorically to the leaders, kings, priests, and elders responsible for God's people.
- "of Israel" (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): Refers to the entire nation, the covenant people of God.
- "they" (Hebrew: הֵם - hem): Refers back to the "shepherds."
- "fed themselves" (Hebrew: הִשְׁמִינוּ - hishminu): Literally "became fat," meaning to grow rich, prosperous, and self-indulgent at the expense of others. Implies exploitation and self-enrichment.
- "but my flock" (Hebrew: צֹאנִי - tzoniy): "My sheep." The term "my" (לי - liy) emphasizes God's ownership and personal care for His people.
- "you did not feed" (Hebrew: לֹא תְרָעוּ - lo terah'u): The verb "ra'ah" (to feed, to shepherd) is negated, highlighting their failure in their core responsibility.
Ezekiel 34 3 Bonus Section
The imagery of shepherds and sheep is deeply embedded in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. From Abraham (Gen. 48:15) to David, shepherds were a key metaphor for leadership and care. God Himself is portrayed as the ultimate Shepherd (Ps. 23). The false shepherds in Ezekiel 34 represent a gross perversion of this divine model, indicating a severe covenantal breach. The critique resonates throughout Scripture, particularly in the denunciations by prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah against corrupt leadership that exploited the poor and marginalized. Jesus later adopts this imagery, identifying Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10) in contrast to hirelings who abandon the flock, fulfilling aspects of God's promise in Ezekiel 34.
Ezekiel 34 3 Commentary
Ezekiel 34:3 directly indicts the spiritual and political leaders of Israel. Their failure wasn't just negligence but active self-interest, akin to predatory landlords rather than nurturing caregivers. The "fat" and "wool" represent the resources and sustenance of the flock that they consumed. This corruption weakened the flock, leaving them vulnerable and scattered. The verse sets the stage for God's pronouncement of judgment on these false shepherds and His promise of a divine solution through a true shepherd. This passage serves as a perpetual warning against spiritual greed and a reminder of God's passionate concern for His people, especially the vulnerable. The contrast between "feeding yourselves" and "feeding my flock" is stark and underscores the perversion of leadership.