Ezekiel 34 3

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 verses

Ezekiel 34 3 meaning

Ezekiel 34:3 denounces the corrupt leaders of Israel, likened to unfaithful shepherds. These leaders exploit the flock (the people) for their own personal gain and luxury—consuming the choicest parts, clothing themselves with their produce, and even slaughtering the prime animals for profit—while utterly failing in their fundamental duty to nourish and care for the very sheep they oversee.

Ezekiel 34 3 Context

Ezekiel 34 introduces a powerful prophetic oracle against the "shepherds" of Israel. These shepherds represent the political, religious, and social leaders of the nation, including kings, priests, and elders, who failed in their divine mandate to care for God's people. The prophecy comes during the period of Israel's exile in Babylon, a time when the consequences of poor leadership and unfaithfulness were acutely felt. Chapter 34 directly addresses the injustice and exploitation perpetrated by these leaders, portraying the people of Israel as a scattered and neglected flock. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic contrast between the self-serving actions of these human shepherds and the ultimate compassionate shepherding that God promises to provide for His people, eventually through "one shepherd," His servant David, a clear messianic prophecy. The imagery of sheep and shepherd was universally understood in the ancient Near East as a metaphor for rulers and their subjects, emphasizing responsibility and care.

Ezekiel 34 3 Word analysis

• You (אֶתְכֶם - 'etchem): The plural personal pronoun emphasizes a direct, forceful accusation. It points collectively to the culpable leaders being addressed. The tone is confrontational.

• eat (תֹּאכְלוּ - to'khlu): A strong verb, active and intentional. It highlights the act of consumption for personal gratification, symbolizing their greedy exploitation.

• the fat (הַחֵלֶב - ha-khelev): Refers to the choicest, richest parts of the animal. In ancient Israel, fat was often reserved for offerings to God or consumed only on special occasions. By taking "the fat," the leaders are seizing the best for themselves, implying luxury and perhaps even a sacrilegious appropriation of what might be due to God.

• you clothe yourselves (תִּלְבְּשׁוּ - tilbeshu): An active verb denoting purposeful acquisition. It illustrates the leaders converting the flock's resources (wool) into their own personal status symbols or comfort.

• with the wool (הַצֶּמֶר - ha-tzemer): The product of the sheep, essential for warmth and trade. Symbolizes material gain and profit derived directly from the labor and vulnerability of the people.

• you slaughter (תִּזְבְּחוּ - tizbechu): A particularly harsh and violent verb, indicating a willingness to kill. This is not just for sustenance or religious ritual for the community but for personal benefit. It implies ruthless disregard for the flock's well-being, diminishing its numbers.

• the fatlings (הַבְּרִיאָה - ha-b'ri'ah): Denotes the healthy, well-fed, and valuable animals. The shepherds are not taking the weak or sick, but the very best, the prime assets of the flock, for their own consumption, signifying extreme self-indulgence and abuse of power.

• but you do not feed (וְאֶת־הַצֹּאן לֹא תִרְעוּ - v'et-hatzon lo tir'u): This is the climactic and contrasting clause. "Lo tir'u" literally means "you do not shepherd" or "you do not pasture." It encapsulates their complete failure to fulfill their primary duty: providing sustenance, protection, and guidance for the flock. The absence of care stands in stark opposition to their taking.

• the sheep (הַצֹּאן - ha-tzon): Refers to the flock itself, metaphorically representing the people of Israel, who are vulnerable and dependent on their shepherds for care. They are the exploited victims in this prophetic accusation.

• You eat the fat: This phrase highlights the greedy consumption of the choicest resources. It suggests indulgence and appropriation of that which provides strength and life for the community.

• you clothe yourselves with the wool: This signifies profiting materially from the flock. It represents accumulating personal wealth and comfort from the very source they should be protecting and nurturing.

• you slaughter the fatlings: This action goes beyond mere exploitation of resources. It speaks of actively destroying the most valuable members of the flock for personal gratification, severely weakening the entire community for selfish gain.

• but you do not feed the sheep: This crucial contrasting clause identifies the core sin of omission. All the previous actions are for personal gain, while this highlights the complete dereliction of their primary, selfless duty of care and provision.

Ezekiel 34 3 Bonus section

The rhetorical structure of Ezekiel 34:3 is highly effective, utilizing parallelism and contrast to emphasize the hypocrisy and wickedness of the shepherds. The repetition of "you" followed by an exploitative action (eat, clothe, slaughter) builds a clear picture of their self-absorption, culminating in the sharp negative "but you do not feed." This creates a strong emotional impact and clearly delineates the ethical failure. This chapter also indirectly critiques a societal system that allowed such unchecked exploitation, pointing towards God's impending judgment not only on the individuals but on the corrupted system itself. The accusation serves as a timeless warning against any leadership, spiritual or temporal, that prioritizes personal gain over the well-being of those under their charge.

Ezekiel 34 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 34:3 is a damning indictment of Israel's leaders who inverted their divine mandate. Their role was to nurture and protect God's flock, but they became predators, actively devouring and exploiting them. The imagery starkly contrasts self-serving luxury (eating the fat, wearing the wool, slaughtering the prize animals) with a profound failure of basic care (not feeding the sheep). This isn't just passive neglect; it's active abuse of power where the leader benefits immensely at the expense of the led. This prophetic word is foundational to understanding divine justice concerning leadership, demanding that those entrusted with authority operate with sacrificial care rather than self-enriching exploitation, ultimately finding its antithesis in the Messiah, the Good Shepherd.