Ezekiel 34:8

Ezekiel 34:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
• New International Version (NIV)As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,
• English Standard Version (ESV)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,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”—

Context of Ezekiel 34:8

6My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’ 7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: ‘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, 9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’ 10This 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.’

Ezekiel 34:8 word by word

חַי־אָ֜נִי נְאֻ֣ם׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה אִם־לֹ֣א יַ֣עַן הֱיֽוֹת־צֹאנִ֣י׀ לָבַ֡ז וַתִּֽהְיֶינָה֩ צֹאנִ֨י לְאָכְלָ֜ה לְכָל־חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ מֵאֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֔ה וְלֹֽא־דָרְשׁ֥וּ רֹעַ֖י אֶת־צֹאנִ֑י וַיִּרְע֤וּ הָֽרֹעִים֙ אוֹתָ֔ם וְאֶת־צֹאנִ֖י לֹ֥א רָעֽוּ׃ סRead the interlinear

• As surely as Iאֲנִי'ănîy · IH589
• As surely as Iאִם'im · if: surely yesH518
• liveחַיchay · aliveH2416
• declaresנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• GODיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• ·לֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• becauseיַעַןya‛an · becauseH3282
• My flockצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• lacksאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• a shepherdרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
• and has becomeהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• preyבַּזbaz · plunderH957
• foodאׇכְלָה'ôklâh · foodH402
• for everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• wildשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: wildlifeH7704
• beastחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
• searchדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853

Cross-references for Ezekiel 34:8

• Ezekiel 34:5They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.
• 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?
• Acts 20:33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
• 1 Corinthians 9:15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
• 2 Peter 2:13The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.
• Jude 1:12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 34:8

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd's tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-11The Lord promised to hold the selfish shepherds accountable for their actions. He would remove them from their positions and save his flock from their grasp, so they would no longer be prey. The Lord would search for his scattered flock (Ezekiel 34:12) and bring them home.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-31Having in the thirty-third chapter laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times for the people, He now promises the removal of the false shepherds as preparatory to the raising up of the Good Shepherd. 2. Jr 23:1 and Zec 11:17 similarly make the removal of the false shepherds the preliminary to the interposition of Messiah the Good Shepherd in behalf of His people Israel. The "shepherds" are not prophets or priests, but rulers who…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 34:8

• Minister, Christian
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• God
• Cruelty
• Ezekiel, Book of
• Require
• Seek
• Ezekiel
• Shepherd
• Teach; Teacher; Teaching

Commentaries on Ezekiel 34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings