Ezekiel 34:7 kjv
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Ezekiel 34:7 nkjv
'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Ezekiel 34:7 niv
"?'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Ezekiel 34:7 esv
"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Ezekiel 34:7 nlt
"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Ezekiel 34 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34:10 | Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock... | Ez 34:10 |
| Jeremiah 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. | Jer 23:1 |
| Zechariah 11:17 | "Woe to my worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye blinded." | Zech 11:17 |
| Psalm 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Ps 23:1 |
| John 10:11 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. | John 10:11 |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not reluctantly but willingly, not for shameful gain, but eagerly. | 1 Pet 5:2 |
| 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. | Acts 20:28 |
| Isaiah 40:11 | He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his body, and gently lead those that are with young. | Isa 40:11 |
| Psalm 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. | Ps 80:1 |
| Ezekiel 37:24 | My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my judgments and obey my statutes and do them. | Ezek 37:24 |
| Jeremiah 50:6 | "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have turned them aside; they have led them astray on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their fold." | Jer 50:6 |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. | Hos 4:6 |
| 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? | Mic 6:8 |
| Proverbs 29:4 | When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan. | Prov 29:4 |
| Matthew 10:16 | "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." | Matt 10:16 |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, | 1 Cor 1:27 |
| Galatians 3:26 | for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. | Gal 3:26 |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | 1 Pet 2:9 |
| Revelation 7:17 | For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." | Rev 7:17 |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | John 1:14 |
| Hebrews 13:20 | Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, | Heb 13:20 |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 7 Meaning
This verse declares God's judgment against the shepherds of Israel for their unfaithfulness. God himself will hold them accountable and punish them for their negligence and abuse of the flock (the people of Israel). He asserts his active intervention in protecting and restoring his sheep.
Ezekiel 34 7 Context
Ezekiel chapter 34 addresses the spiritual failure of the shepherds (leaders) of Israel. It follows pronouncements of judgment against foreign shepherds who have exploited God's people and now shifts focus to the corrupt internal leadership. Historically, this oracle was delivered during the Babylonian exile, a period when the people of Israel felt abandoned and mistreated, amplifying the critique of their own leaders' ineffectiveness and betrayal. The chapter sets the stage for God's ultimate redemptive act of appointing a Davidic shepherd.
Ezekiel 34 7 Word Analysis
"For" (כִּ֠י, kî): This conjunction introduces a reason or explanation for God's forthcoming actions.
"this" (זֹּ֧את, zōṯ): Refers to the situation or condition described.
"the shepherds" (הָרֹעִ֣ים, hā-rō‘îm): The leaders of Israel, particularly the kings and priests, who were responsible for tending the people (the flock). The definite article "ha" emphasizes specific, known shepherds.
"of Israel" (לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל, lə-yiśrā’ēl): Denotes the people whom these shepherds were appointed to lead.
"shepherds" (רֹעִים, rō‘îm): A second use of the plural noun, reinforcing the widespread nature of the problem among the leadership.
"are feeding" (רוֹעִים, rō‘îm): This present participle can imply an ongoing action or a state of being. The word itself relates to grazing and caring for sheep.
"themselves" (אֹתָ֔ם, ’ōṯām): This reflexive pronoun highlights the self-serving nature of the shepherds' actions; their primary concern is their own welfare, not that of the flock.
"and my flock" (וְצֹאנִֽי, wə-ṣō’nî): Directly states that the people of Israel are God's possession, belonging to Him, not to the shepherds. The possessive suffix "î" ("my") emphasizes divine ownership.
"feed themselves" (יִרְעוּ, yir‘û): A Qal imperfect verb meaning "they pasture" or "they feed." Here it clearly indicates their self-serving practice of consuming the flock's resources for their own benefit.
Word Group Analysis: The repeated use of "shepherds" and the contrast between "feed themselves" and "my flock" underscores the central theme of betrayal. The shepherds are failing in their divinely appointed duty by prioritizing their own gain over the well-being of God's people, who are unequivocally identified as His own possession.
Ezekiel 34 7 Bonus Section
This verse sets up a clear theological contrast between human failure and divine faithfulness in leadership. It highlights the concept of stewardship, where leaders are accountable to God for how they manage His people. The concept of "shepherding" is a recurring metaphor in scripture, representing care, protection, and guidance, and its perversion by Israel's leaders is a grave offense against God. This theme is echoed in both the Old Testament's lamentations over bad leadership and the New Testament's portrayal of Christ as the Good Shepherd and the call for believers to care for one another within the church.
Ezekiel 34 7 Commentary
The prophecy vividly condemns the self-serving leaders of Israel. They have acted as parasites, consuming the flock rather than nourishing it. God’s direct address—"my flock," "feed themselves"—reveals His possessiveness over His people and His righteous indignation towards their mistreatment. This verse marks a turning point, moving from accusation to divine action. God will not tolerate this abuse of leadership, promising personal intervention to rectify the situation. This judgment foreshadows the coming of the ultimate Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who would indeed lay down His life for His sheep.