Ezekiel 34:17

This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the goats.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD addresses Israel, explicitly called "My flock," immediately following a promise to shepherd with justice and destroy the oppressive leaders. This declaration occurs within a prophetic oracle condemning corrupt shepherds and announcing direct divine intervention.

The words — The Hebrew verb שֹׁפֵט (sho.Fet) literally means "to judge" or "to arbitrate," introduced by הִנְנִי (hi.Ni, "behold, I") to mark imminent action. The formula כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה (koh 'amar 'Adonai Yahweh, "thus says the Lord GOD") anchors the statement in prophetic authority.

The thread — The motif of divine judgment separating members of the flock appears in Ezekiel 34:20, Zechariah 10:3, and Matthew 25:32. Each reference extends the shepherd imagery to depict God or the Messiah distinguishing the righteous from the corrupt.

Why it lands — The text states that God will personally arbitrate between the sheep, rams, and goats, establishing a clear boundary between the oppressed and the oppressors within His own community. It requires the reader to accept that divine justice will actively separate and address internal corruption rather than ignore it.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאַתֵּ֣נָהve./'a.Te.nahand/ you צֹאנִ֔יtzo.N/iO flock/ my כֹּ֥הkohthus אָמַ֖ר'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִ֑הYah.wehYahweh הִנְנִ֤יhi./Nihere/ I שֹׁפֵט֙sho.Fet[am] about to judge בֵּֽין־bein-between שֶׂ֣הseha sheep לָשֶׂ֔הla./Sehand/ a sheep לָאֵילִ֖יםla./'ei.Limand <the>/ rams וְלָעַתּוּדִֽים׃ve./la./'a.tu.Dimand/ <the>/ male goats

King James Version

And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 34:20 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
Zechariah 10:3 “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. For the LORD of Hosts attends to His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His royal steed in battle.
Matthew 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Ezekiel 20:37 I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.