Bible Strands
Ezekiel 34:2
“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?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks to Ezekiel, commanding him to deliver a woe-oracle against Israel's shepherds (leaders). This opens a sustained indictment of those charged with the nation's care.
The words — רוֹעֵי (ro'ei, "shepherds") names the guilty party; the verb הִנָּבֵא (hineve', "prophesy") is repeated twice, marking the act as a formal prophetic pronouncement rather than mere speech.
The thread — Jeremiah 23:1 issues a parallel woe against shepherds who "destroy and scatter" the flock; Jeremiah 3:15 and Isaiah 40:11 supply the contrast of what a true shepherd does.
Why it lands — The verse inverts the expected direction of care: the ones who should feed the flock are the ones consuming it. It asks the reader to name that inversion wherever it appears, without softening the charge.
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
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?
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
- Isaiah 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
- Ezekiel 34:8 ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because My flock lacks a shepherd and has become prey and food for every wild beast, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but fed themselves instead,
- Luke 20:46 “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
- Jeremiah 10:21 For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
- 2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- Psalms 78:71 from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
- Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Ezekiel 13:19 You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.