Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

Ezekiel 34

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: a "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 b "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you c slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 d "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor e sought what was lost; but with f force and 1 cruelty you have ruled them. 5 g "So they were h scattered because there was no shepherd; i and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 "My sheep j wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them."

7 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 "As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock k became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, l but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock" - 9 'therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD! 10 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am m against the shepherds, and n I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall o feed themselves no more; for I will p deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them."

  1. Cross References
    Jeremiah 23:1
    Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD.
    Ezekiel 22:25
    The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.
    Micah 3:1 - 3
    And I said: "Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?
    Micah 3:11
    Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.
    Zechariah 11:17
    "Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And his right eye shall be totally blinded."
  2. Cross References
    Isaiah 56:11
    Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.
    Zechariah 11:16
    For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.
  3. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:25
    Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
    Ezekiel 33:26
    "You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another's wives. Should you then possess the land?"'
    Micah 3:1 - 3
    And I said: "Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?
    Zechariah 11:5
    Whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich'; and their shepherds do not pity them.
  4. Cross References
    Zechariah 11:16
    For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 9:36
    But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
    Matthew 10:16
    Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
    Matthew 18:12
    What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
    Matthew 18:13
    And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
    Luke 15:4
    What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
  6. Cross References
    1 Peter 5:3
    Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 33:21
    And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has been captured!
  8. Cross References
    Numbers 27:17
    "who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."
    1 Kings 22:17
    Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'
    Jeremiah 10:21
    For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.
    Matthew 9:36
    But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
    Mark 6:34
    And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 56:9
    All you beasts of the field, come to devour, All you beasts in the forest.
    Jeremiah 12:9
    My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture; The vultures all around are against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!
  10. Cross References
    Jeremiah 40:11
    Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan.
    Jeremiah 40:12
    Then all the Jews returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in abundance.
    Jeremiah 50:6
    My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.
    Ezekiel 7:16
    Those who survive will escape and be on the mountains Like doves of the valleys, All of them mourning, Each for his iniquity.
    1 Peter 2:25
    For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
  11. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:5
    So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
    Ezekiel 34:6
    "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them."
  12. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:2
    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 34:10
    'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them."
  13. Cross References
    Jeremiah 21:13
    "Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, And rock of the plain," says the LORD, "Who say, 'Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter our dwellings?'
    Jeremiah 52:24 - 27
    The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.
    Ezekiel 5:8
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.
    Ezekiel 13:8
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you," says the Lord GOD.
    Zechariah 10:3
    My anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah, And will make them as His royal horse in the battle.
  14. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:18
    When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
    Hebrews 13:17
    Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:2
    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 34:8
    As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock" -
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 72:12 - 14
    For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper.
    Ezekiel 13:23
    "Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD." '"
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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