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the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

Brenton's Septuagint

Ezekiel 34:2

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to the shepherds,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Levites;   Minister, Christian;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Flock, God's;   Leaders;   Religious;   Shepherds;   Starving the Flock;   The Topic Concordance - Israel/jews;   Shepherds/pastors;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Shepherds;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Shepherd;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Flock;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Shepherd;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Pastor;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ezekiel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Shepherd;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Pastor;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ezekiel;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock?
Hebrew Names Version
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Yisra'el, prophesy, and tell them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Yisra'el who feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed the sheep?
King James Version
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
English Standard Version
"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?
New American Standard Bible
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should the shepherds not feed the flock?
New Century Version
"Human, prophesy against the leaders of Israel, who are like shepherds. Prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: How terrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who feed only themselves! Why don't the shepherds feed the flock?
Amplified Bible
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, the [spiritual] shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe (judgment is coming) to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Sonne of man, prophesie against the shepherdes of Israel, prophesie & say vnto them, Thus saieth the Lord God vnto the shepherds, Wo be vnto the shepherds of Israel, yt feede them selues: should not the shepherds feede the flockes?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
Legacy Standard Bible
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been shepherding themselves! Should not the shepherds shepherd the flock?
Berean Standard Bible
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
Contemporary English Version
Ezekiel, son of man, Israel's leaders are like shepherds taking care of my sheep, the people of Israel. But I want you to condemn these leaders and tell them: I, the Lord God, say you shepherds of Israel are doomed! You take care of yourselves while ignoring my sheep.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Human being, prophesy against the shepherds of Isra'el. Prophesy! Tell them, the shepherds, that Adonai Elohim says this: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Isra'el who feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed the sheep?
Darby Translation
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy; and say unto them, unto the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
Easy-to-Read Version
"Son of man, speak against the shepherds of Israel for me. Speak to them for me. Tell them that this is what the Lord God says: ‘You shepherds of Israel have only been feeding yourselves. It will be very bad for you! Why don't you shepherds feed the flock?
George Lamsa Translation
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, O shepherds, thus says the LORD God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed them! These shepherds do not feed the flock.
Good News Translation
"Mortal man," he said, "denounce the rulers of Israel. Prophesy to them, and tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord , say to them: You are doomed, you shepherds of Israel! You take care of yourselves, but never tend the sheep.
Lexham English Bible
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and you must say to them, to the shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who were feeding themselves! Must not the shepherds feed the flock?
Literal Translation
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, to the shepherds, So says the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who are feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thou sonne off ma, prophecye agaynst the shepherdes of Israel, prophecy, and speake vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Wo be vnto the shepherdes off Israel, that fede them selues. Shulde not the shepherdes fede ye flockes?
American Standard Version
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
Bible in Basic English
Son of man, be a prophet against the keepers of the flock of Israel, and say to them, O keepers of the sheep! this is the word of the Lord: A curse is on the keepers of the flock of Israel who take the food for themselves! is it not right for the keepers to give the food to the sheep?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that have fed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
King James Version (1611)
Sonne of man, prophecie against the shepheards of Israel, prophecie and say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God vnto the shepheards, Woe be to the shepheards of Israel that doe feede themselues: should not the shepheards feede the flockes?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thou sonne of man, prophecie against the shepheardes of Israel, prophecie and speake vnto them: thus saith the Lorde God vnto the shepheardes, Wo be vnto the shepheardes of Israel that feede them selues: should not the shepheards feede the flockes?
English Revised Version
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
World English Bible
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and tell them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed the sheep?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and he seide, Sone of man, profesie thou of the schepherdis of Israel, profesie thou; and thou schalt seie to the schepherdis, The Lord God seith these thingis, Wo to the schepherdis of Israel, that fedden hym silf; whether flockis ben not fed of schepherdis?
Update Bible Version
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
Webster's Bible Translation
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD to the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
New English Translation
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?
New King James Version
"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?
New Living Translation
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord : What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep?
New Life Bible
"Son of man, speak against the shepherds of Israel. Speak in My name and tell those shepherds, ‘The Lord God says, "It is bad for the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
New Revised Standard
Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God : Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Son of man, Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,- Prophesy, and thou shalt say unto them, even to the shepherds - Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh - Alas! for the shepherds of Israel who have been tending, themselves, Is it not the flock that the shepherds should tend?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds?
Revised Standard Version
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
Young's Literal Translation
`Son of man, prophesy concerning shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and thou hast said unto them: To the shepherds, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Wo [to] the shepherds of Israel, Who have been feeding themselves! The flock do not the shepherds feed?

Contextual Overview

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 the shepherds, 3 Behold, ye feed on the milk, and clothe yourselves with the wool, and slay the fat: but ye feed not my sheep. 4 The weak one ye have not strengthened, and the sick ye have not cherished, and the bruised ye have not bound up, and the stray one ye have not turned back, and the lost ye have not sought; and the strong ye have wearied with labour. 5 And my sheep were scattered, because there were no shepherds: and they became meat to all the wild beasts of the field. 6 And my sheep were scattered on every mountain, and on every high hill: yea, they were scattered on the face of the earth, and there was none to seek them out, nor to bring them back.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the shepherds: The shepherds of Israel, signify their kings and princes, priests and prophets; the flock, the whole of the people; the fat and wool, the tithes and offerings, taxes and imposts: these they exacted with great rigour, and even oppressed and destroyed the people to enrich themselves; but they bestowed no pains to provide for the welfare of the state, or for the souls of those entrusted to them. They knew nothing about their flock: it might be diseased, infirm, bruised, maimed, strayed, or lost, for they watched not over them. Ezekiel 33:24, Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 12:10, John 10:1, John 10:2, John 10:12

Woe: Ezekiel 34:8-10, Ezekiel 13:19, Jeremiah 23:1, Micah 3:1-3, Micah 3:11, Micah 3:12, Zephaniah 3:3, Zephaniah 3:4, Zechariah 11:17, Matthew 24:48-51, Luke 12:42-46, Luke 20:46, Luke 20:47, Romans 16:18, 2 Peter 2:3

feed: 2 Samuel 5:2, Psalms 78:71, Psalms 78:72, Isaiah 40:11, John 21:15-17, Acts 20:26, Acts 20:29, 1 Peter 5:2-4

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:38 - the rams 1 Samuel 2:29 - make 2 Samuel 7:7 - feed 2 Samuel 24:17 - these sheep 1 Chronicles 17:6 - feed Isaiah 56:11 - they are Jeremiah 22:22 - thy pastors Ezekiel 13:3 - Woe Ezekiel 34:10 - neither shall Ezekiel 34:18 - to have Zechariah 10:3 - anger Zechariah 11:5 - possessors Zechariah 11:16 - which Matthew 24:45 - to give Luke 10:2 - are John 10:8 - came John 10:10 - thief

Cross-References

Genesis 6:2
And it came to pass when men began to be numerous upon the earth, and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 10:17
and the Evite, and the Arukite, and the Asennite,
Genesis 20:2
And Abraam said concerning Sarrha his wife, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest at any time the men of the city should kill him for her sake. So Abimelech king of Gerara sent and took Sarrha.
Genesis 33:19
And he bought the portion of the field, where he pitched his tent, of Emmor the father of Sychem, for a hundred lambs.
Genesis 34:6
And Emmor the father of Sychem went forth to Jacob, to speak to him.
Genesis 34:7
And the sons of Jacob came from the plain; and when they heard, the men were deeply pained, and it was very grievous to them, because the man wrought folly in Israel, having lain with the daughter of Jacob, and so it must not be.
Genesis 34:10
And dwell in the midst of us; and, behold, the land is spacious before you, dwell in it, and trade, and get possessions in it.
Genesis 34:11
And Sychem said to her father and to her brothers, I would find grace before you, and we will give whatever ye shall name.
Genesis 34:24
And all that went in at the gate of their city hearkened to Emmor and Sychem his son, and they were circumcised in the flesh of their foreskin every male.
Genesis 34:25
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, the two sons of Jacob, Symeon and Levi, Dina’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city securely, and slew every male.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,.... Or, "concerning" p them; the governors of them, as the Targum and Jarchi; their political governors, their kings, princes, and civil magistrates of every order and degree; so Kimchi interprets it of kings; and it was common with the eastern nations, and with the Greeks, to call kings shepherds; and one and the same word; in the Greek language, signifies to feed sheep, and to govern people; see Psalms 78:72, also their ecclesiastical governors are intended, prophets, priests, Levites, scribes, and Pharisees; these were bad shepherds, or they would not have been prophesied against; and though they were shepherds of Israel, this must be done:

prophesy, and say unto them, thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds: that the message to them might be the more regarded, it is ordered to be delivered in the name of the Lord; otherwise they would have been apt to have despised it, and charged the prophet with impertinence and rudeness:

woe be to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves! that is, themselves only, and not the flock: had they fed the flock, as well as themselves, they would not have been blamed; but they took no care of the people over whom they were set only minded their own affairs, to get riches and honour, but neglected the good of the people, yea, cruelly oppressed them:

should not the shepherds feed the flocks? undoubtedly they should; it is their duty, the business of their office, so to do; kings to rule over their subjects, defend their persons and property, and secure their privileges and liberties to them; and ecclesiastical rulers, ministers of the word, should feed the flock or church of God committed to them with knowledge and understanding; see Jeremiah 3:15.

p על רועי "de pastoribus", V. L. Grotius; "super pastores", Pagninus, Montanus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Shepherds - Not priests or prophets, but rulers and kings (see the Jeremiah 2:8 note). The most ancient title for “ruler” is a monogram which occurs on the oldest monuments discovered in the cuneiform character. In the Assyrian language it became riu (compare Hebrew רעה râ‛âh =shepherd). In the traditions of Berosus we find that Alorus, the first king in the world, received from the Divinity the title of Shepherd. The title, as well as the monogram, was preserved to the latest times of the Assyrian monarchy. While the distress and misery of the people daily in creased, the last kings of Judah exacted more and more from their subjects and lavished more and more on personal luxury and show.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 34:2. Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel — The shepherds include, first, the priests and Levites; secondly, the kings, princes, and magistrates. The flock means the whole of the people. The fat and the wool, the tithes and offerings, the taxes and imposts. The reprehensible feeding and clothing with these, as to the priests and Levites, the using these tithes and offerings, not to enable them the better to fulfil the work of the ministry, but to pamper their own bodies, and support them in an idle voluptuous life; and in reference to the state, the employing the taxes and imposts, not for the support and administration of justice and good government, but to subsidize heathen powers, and maintain their own luxury and idolatrous prodigality.


 
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