Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

Ezekiel 34

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 d "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: e Ah, shepherds of Israel f who have been feeding yourselves! g Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 h You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, i you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 j The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, h the injured you have not bound up, h the strayed you have not brought back, k the lost you have not sought, and with force and l harshness you have ruled them. 5 m So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and n they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, o with none to search or seek for them.

7 "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 p As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because q my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, r Behold, I am against the shepherds, and s I will require my sheep at their hand and t put a stop to their feeding the sheep. u No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. v I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

  1. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:1
    And he said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.
  2. Cross References
    Jeremiah 23:1
    Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the Lord.
  3. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:8
    As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep.
    Ezekiel 34:10
    Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
    Jude 1:12
    These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted.
  4. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:14
    Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
  5. Cross References
    Zechariah 11:16
    For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.
  6. Cross References
    Zechariah 11:4 - 5
    Thus said the Lord my God: "Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter.
    Micah 3:2 - 3
    You who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones.
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:16
    I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
    Ezekiel 34:21
    Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad.
  8. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:3
    You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.
  9. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:3
    You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 18:12
    What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
    Luke 15:4
    What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 1:13 - 14
    So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves
    1 Peter 5:3
    Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
  12. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:17
    And 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 home in peace.'
    Matthew 9:36
    When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
  13. Cross References
    Jeremiah 50:7
    All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, 'We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the Lord, their habitation of righteousness, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.
    Jeremiah 50:17
    Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones.
  14. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:11
    For thus says the Lord God : Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 16:48
    As I live, declares the Lord God, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.
  16. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:22
    I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.
  17. Cross References
    Ezekiel 13:8
    Therefore thus says the Lord God : "Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God.
  18. Cross References
    Hebrews 13:17
    Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
    Ezekiel 3:18
    If 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, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
  19. Cross References
    Zechariah 11:8
    In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 34:2
    Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God : Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
    Ezekiel 34:8
    As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep.
  21. Cross References
    Ezekiel 13:21
    Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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