Berean Standard Bible
Isaiah 56:11
11Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
Isaiah 56:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
- New International Version (NIV)They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.
Context of Isaiah 56:11
9Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest. 10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: 12“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
Read all of Isaiah 56Isaiah 56:11 word by word
וְהַכְּלָבִ֣ים עַזֵּי־נֶ֗פֶשׁ לֹ֤א יָֽדְעוּ֙ שָׂבְעָ֔ה וְהֵ֣מָּה רֹעִ֔ים לֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ הָבִ֑ין כֻּלָּם֙ לְדַרְכָּ֣ם פָּנ֔וּ אִ֥ישׁ לְבִצְע֖וֹ מִקָּצֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
- Like ravenous dogsכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
- Like ravenous dogsעַז‛az · strongH5794
- Like ravenous dogsנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
- they are neverלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- satisfiedיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- satisfiedשׇׂבְעָהώob‛âh · satietyH7654
- Theyהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
- are shepherdsרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- discernmentבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- they allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- turnפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
- to their own wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- eachקָצֶהqâtseh qêtseh · endH7097
- oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- seeking his own gainבֶּ֫צַעbetsa‛ · unjust-gainH1215
Cross-references for Isaiah 56:11
- 1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
- Ezekiel 13:19You 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.
- 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?
- Micah 3:5This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:
- Malachi 1:10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
- Acts 20:29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- Philippians 3:2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
- 1 Timothy 3:3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
- 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- 2 Peter 2:3In 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.
- Jude 1:11Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed for profit into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
- Revelation 22:15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
- Micah 3:6Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
- Zechariah 11:15And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
- Matthew 13:14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
Commentaries on Isaiah 56:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Greedy dogs - Insatiably feeding themselves with the fat, and clothing themselves with the wool, while the flock is scattered, ravaged, and starved! O what an abundance of these dumb and greedy dogs are there found hanging on and prowling about the flock of Christ! How can any careless, avaricious, hireling minister read this without agitation and dismay?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Yea, they are greedy dogs - Margin, Strong of appetite.‘ Literally, Strong of soul‘ (עזי־נפשׁ ‛azēy -nephesh Jerome renders it, Canes impudentissimi. So the Septuagint, ́ ̓͂ ͂ͅ ͂ͅ Kunes anaideis tē psuchē - Dogs impudent in soul.‘ They were greedy and insatiable in that which the soul or the appetite demands. The idea here is, that the prophets to whom reference is here made were sensual, and disposed to gorge themselves; living only for carnal…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 Desolating judgments are called for; and this severe rebuke of the rulers and teachers of the Jewish church, is applicable to other ages and places. It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber, and are eager after the world. Let us pray the Great Shepherd to send us pastors after his own heart, who will feed us with knowledge, that we may rejoice in his holy name, and that believers may be daily added to the church.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11shepherds with no discernment: Israel's leaders did not know how to rule in a godly way (see also Ezekiel 34:1–6). In contrast, the Lord is the faithful shepherd of his people (Isaiah 40:11). they all turn to their own way: They did not care about God or his standards for leadership (see also Isaiah 53:6). his own gain: Compare Isaiah 33:15.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. greedy--literally, "strong" (that is, insatiable) in appetite (Eze 34:2, 3; Mi 3:11). cannot understand--unable to comprehend the wants of the people, spiritually: so Is 56:10, "cannot bark." look to ... own way--that is, their own selfish interests; not to the spiritual welfare of the people (Jr 6:13; Eze 22:27). from his quarter--rather, "from the highest to the lowest" [Lowth]. "From his quarter"; that is, from one end to the other of them, one and…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 56:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 56
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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