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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD addresses the strong sheep who have forced the weak flock to consume trampled pasture and muddied water. He pronounces this declaration immediately after condemning their destructive behavior in Ezekiel 34:19.

The words — The phrase הִנְ/נִי־ אָ֕נִי (hi./ni- 'A.ni) translates literally to "here am I" or "behold I myself." It marks a shift from corporate condemnation to direct, personal divine intervention.

The thread — This judgment against oppressive leaders recurs in Ezekiel 34:10, where God declares He is against the shepherds and will reclaim His flock. The motif of divine separation and judgment resurfaces in Matthew 25:31 when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne.

Why it lands — The text states that God will personally arbitrate the conflict between the oppressors and the vulnerable. It requires the reader to recognize that divine justice directly addresses systemic exploitation rather than ignoring 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

לָכֵ֗ןla./Khen<to>/ therefore כֹּ֥הkohthus אָמַ֛ר'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִ֖הYah.wehYahweh אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם'a.lei./Hemto/ them הִנְנִי־hi./ni-here [am]/ I אָ֕נִי'A.niI וְשָֽׁפַטְתִּי֙ve./sha.fa.Tiand/ I will judge בֵּֽין־bein-between שֶׂ֣הseha sheep בִרְיָ֔הvir.Yahfat וּבֵ֥יןu./Veinand/ between שֶׂ֖הseha sheep רָזָֽה׃ra.Zahlean

King James Version

Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.

Cross-references

Psalms 22:12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Ezekiel 34:10 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand from them My flock and remove them from tending the flock, so that they can no longer feed themselves. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
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.