Tree of Life Version
Isaiah 56:11
11and the dogs are greedy— they never have enough. They are shepherds with no discernment. They have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.
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
9All you beasts of the field, come to eat, all you beasts in the forest. 10His watchmen are all blind. All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, dreamers lying down, lovers of slumber, and the dogs are greedy— they never have enough. They are shepherds with no discernment. They have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all. 12“Come, let’s get wine, let’s guzzle strong drink. Tomorrow will be like today, only even 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
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 Eli’s sons were worthless men; they did not acknowledge Adonai.
- Ezekiel 13:19You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread, to kill those who should not die and to save those who should not live, by lying to My people, who listen to lies.’”
- Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, thus says Adonai Elohim: “Oy , shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should shepherds not take care of the sheep?
- Micah 3:5Thus said Adonai about the prophets who are misleading My people, those who bite with their teeth and cry “Shalom”—a word that He did not put in their mouth— yet they consecrate war against him:
- Malachi 1:10“If just one of you would shut the doors, and not light My altar uselessly! I have no delight in you,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “Nor will I accept any offering from your hand.
- Acts 20:29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
- Philippians 3:2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation.
- 1 Timothy 3:3not addicted to wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money,
- 1 Peter 5:2shepherd God’s flock among you. Watch over it not under compulsion but willingly before God, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.
- 2 Peter 2:3In their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
- Jude 1:11Woe to them! For they went the way of Cain; they were consumed for pay in Balaam’s error; and in Korah’s rebellion they have been destroyed.
- Revelation 22:15Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10When goods increase, so do those who consume them. So what advantage are they to the owner except he sees it with his eyes?
- Micah 3:6“Therefore you will have night without vision, and darkness without divination. The sun shall set on the prophets, the day shall become dark upon them.”
- Zechariah 11:15Again Adonai said to me, “Once more take up the equipment of a foolish shepherd!
- Matthew 13:14”And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing but will never understand; you will keep looking, but will never see.
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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