New Living Translation
Isaiah 56:11
11Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal 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, wild animals of the field! Come, wild animals of the forest! Come and devour my people! 10For the leaders of my people— the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds— are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming. Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal gain. 12“Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party. Let’s all get drunk. Then tomorrow we’ll do it again and have an even bigger party!”
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- greedyנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
- greedyעַז‛az · strongH5794
- dogsכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
- canיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- enoughשׇׂבְעָהώob‛âh · satietyH7654
- shepherdsרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- cannot understandבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- they all lookפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
- to their own wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- for his gainבֶּ֫צַעbetsa‛ · unjust-gainH1215
- from his quarterקָצֶהqâtseh qêtseh · endH7097
Cross-references for Isaiah 56:11
- 1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord
- Ezekiel 13:19You bring shame on me among my people for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread. By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live.
- Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?
- Micah 3:5This is what the Lord says: “You false prophets are leading my people astray! You promise peace for those who give you food, but you declare war on those who refuse to feed you.
- Malachi 1:10“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.
- Acts 20:29I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.
- Philippians 3:2Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
- 1 Timothy 3:3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.
- 1 Peter 5:2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
- 2 Peter 2:3In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.
- Jude 1:11What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.
- Revelation 22:15Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
- Micah 3:6Now the night will close around you, cutting off all your visions. Darkness will cover you, putting an end to your predictions. The sun will set for you prophets, and your day will come to an end.
- Zechariah 11:15Then the Lord said to me, “Go again and play the part of a worthless shepherd.
- Matthew 13:14This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
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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