“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. You haven’t strengthened the diseased. You haven’t healed that which was sick. You haven’t bound up that which was broken. You haven’t brought back that which was driven away. You haven’t sought that which was lost, but you have ruled over them with force and with rigor.
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Ezekiel 34:2-4 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. You haven’t strengthened the diseased. You haven’t healed that which was sick. You haven’t bound up that which was broken. You haven’t brought back that which was driven away. You haven’t sought that which was lost, but you have ruled over them with force and with rigor. They were scattered, because there was no shepherd. They became food to all the animals of the field, and were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill. Yes, my sheep were scattered on all the surface of the earth. There was no one who searched or sought.”
Parallel Translations
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“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?
You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep.
You haven’t strengthened the diseased. You haven’t healed that which was sick. You haven’t bound up that which was broken. You haven’t brought back that which was driven away. You haven’t sought that which was lost, but you have ruled over them with force and with rigor.
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Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
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'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that have fed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
Ye did eat the fat, and ye clothed you with the wool, ye killed the fatlings; but ye fed not the sheep.
The weak have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force have ye ruled over them and with rigour.
Cross-references (60)
- Jeremiah 23:1 (v2) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 3:15 (v2) I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
- Isaiah 40:11 (v2) He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who…
- Ezekiel 34:8-10 (v2) “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “surely because my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the animals of the field,…
- Luke 20:46-47 (v2) “Beware of those scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the…
Show all 59 cross-references
- Jeremiah 10:21 (v2) For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have…
- 2 Peter 2:3 (v2) In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not…
- Psalms 78:71-72 (v2) from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance. So he…
- Matthew 18:12-13 (v4) “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and…
- Romans 16:18 (v2) For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the…
- Ezekiel 13:19 (v2) You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the…
- Ezekiel 34:16 (v4) “I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will…
- Zechariah 11:17 (v2) Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely…
- Matthew 9:36 (v4) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a…
- John 21:15-17 (v2) So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him,…
- Acts 20:29 (v2) For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- Jeremiah 2:8 (v2) The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the…
- Jeremiah 12:10 (v2) Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate…
- Micah 3:11-12 (v2) Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets of it tell fortunes for money: yet they lean on Yahweh,…
- Matthew 10:6 (v4) Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- Acts 20:26 (v2) Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
- 1 Peter 5:2-4 (v2) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but…
- Zephaniah 3:3-4 (v2) Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day. Her prophets are arrogant…
- Zechariah 11:15-16 (v4) Yahweh said to me, “Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land,…
- John 10:11-12 (v2) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the…
- Zechariah 11:16 (v3) For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those who are cut off, neither will seek those who are scattered,…
- Matthew 24:48-51 (v2) But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and…
- Luke 12:42-46 (v2) The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at…
- John 10:1-2 (v2) “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.…
- 1 Peter 5:2-3 (v4) Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but…
- Micah 3:1-3 (vv2–3) I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice? You who hate the good, and…
- Exodus 1:13-14 (v4) The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, and they made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, and…
- 2 Samuel 5:2 (v2) In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people…
- Ezekiel 33:24 (v2) “Son of man, those who inhabit the waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; but we…
- Hebrews 12:12 (v4) Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
- Jeremiah 8:22 (v4) Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
- Revelation 17:5-6 (v4) And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” I…
- Isaiah 56:10 (v4) His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
- Matthew 24:49 (v4) and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
- 2 Corinthians 1:24 (v4) We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.
- James 5:1-6 (v4) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.…
- Revelation 13:14-17 (v4) He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell…
- 1 Kings 21:13-16 (v3) The two men, the wicked fellows, came in and sat before him. The wicked fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence…
- 2 Kings 21:16 (v3) Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; in addition to his sin with which…
- Isaiah 1:10 (v3) Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Isaiah 1:15 (v3) When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of…
- Isaiah 56:11-12 (v3) Yes, the dogs are greedy. They can never have enough. They are shepherds who can’t understand. They have all turned to their own way, each…
- Jeremiah 2:30 (v3) “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
- Jeremiah 22:13 (v4) “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his rooms by injustice; who uses his neighbor’s service without wages, and doesn’t…
- Jeremiah 22:17 (v3) But your eyes and your heart are only for your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, for oppression, and for doing violence.”
- Lamentations 4:13 (v3) It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
- Ezekiel 19:3 (v3) She brought up one of her cubs. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men.
- Ezekiel 19:6 (v3) He went up and down among the lions. He became a young lion. He learned to catch the prey. He devoured men.
- Ezekiel 22:25-28 (v3) There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and…
- Ezekiel 33:25-26 (v3) Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. So should you…
- Zechariah 11:5 (v3) Their buyers slaughter them, and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, for I am rich;’ and their own shepherds don’t…
- Matthew 21:35 (v4) The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
- Luke 15:4-6 (v4) “Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the…
- Zephaniah 3:3 (v3) Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.
59 distinct cross-references across this passage (60 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv2–4 By the shepherds he meaneth the king, the Magistrates,…
By the shepherds he meaneth the king, the Magistrates, Priests, and Prophets.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds…
Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ver. 2. Prophesy against the shepherds.] Good shepherds they should have been, but they were naught, {Jer 23:1-4} and naught would come of them, for their maladministration.
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Woe be to the shepherds of Israel.] Both to princes and priests, by whose evil government the people were so bad, as in the former chapter is fully set forth. Qualis rex, talis grex; the sheep will follow the shepherd; the common people are like a flock of cranes - as the first fly, all follow.
Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?] Such flocks especially as have golden fleeces, precious souls. Oh feed, feed, feed, saith our Saviour to Peter! {Joh 21:15} feed them for my sake, as the Syriac there hath it, rule them well, teach them well, go before them in good example, do all the offices of a faithful shepherd to them, and be instant, or stand close to the work; {2Ti 4:2} Dominus prope, the Arch-shepherd is at hand.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–4 The shepherds; the rulers of the people, both political,…
The shepherds; the rulers of the people, both political, as kings, magicians, and princes, and also ecclesiastical, priests and prophets.
Israel; the two tribes, and the few that out of the ten did adhere to the house of David.
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Prophesy; the command is repeated to encourage and engage the prophet to his work.
Thus saith the Lord God: Ezekiel speaks, but these rulers must know it is God that speaks by him.
Woe be to the shepherds! they have been principal causes of many sins, and exemplary actors in other sins, for which many woes were threatened; many already are come, and the rest will come, in which woes these rulers shall have more than ordinary share.
Feed themselves; contrive their own ease, advantage, honour, and ambitious projects. Let the consciences of these rulers, ecclesiastical and political, speak, ought they not, as shepherds, to take care of the sheep committed to their care?
The flocks; the sheep, both whole flocks and the single sheep, whole societies and particular members of them.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,....…
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,.... Or, "concerning" (p) them; the governors of them, as the Targum and Jarchi; their political governors, their kings, princes, and civil magistrates of every order and degree; so Kimchi interprets it of kings; and it was common with the eastern nations, and with the Greeks, to call kings shepherds; and one and the same word; in the Greek language, signifies to feed sheep, and to govern people; see Psa 78:72, also their ecclesiastical governors are intended, prophets, priests, Levites, scribes, and Pharisees; these were bad shepherds, or they would not have been prophesied against; and though they were shepherds of Israel, this must be done:
prophesy, and say unto them, thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds: that the message to them might be the more regarded, it is ordered to be delivered in the name of the Lord; otherwise they would have been apt to have despised it, and charged the prophet with impertinence and rudeness:
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woe be to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves! that is, themselves only, and not the flock: had they fed the flock, as well as themselves, they would not have been blamed; but they took no care of the people over whom they were set only minded their own affairs, to get riches and honour, but neglected the good of the people, yea, cruelly oppressed them:
should not the shepherds feed the flocks? undoubtedly they should; it is their duty, the business of their office, so to do; kings to rule over their subjects, defend their persons and property, and secure their privileges and liberties to them; and ecclesiastical rulers, ministers of the word, should feed the flock or church of God committed to them with knowledge and understanding; see Jer 3:15.
(p) "de pastoribus", V. L. Grotius; "super pastores", Pagninus, Montanus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv2–4 The shepherds - The rulers of the people kings,…
The shepherds - The rulers of the people kings, magistrates, and princes; as also priests, and prophets. Of Israel - The two tribes, and the few out of the ten that adhere to the house of David. That feed - Contrive their own ease, advantage, and honour.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Verse 2. Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel] The…
Verse 2. Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel] The shepherds include, first, the priests and Levites; secondly, the kings, princes, and magistrates. The flock means the whole of the people. The fat and the wool, the tithes and offerings, the taxes and imposts. The reprehensible feeding and clothing with these, as to the priests and Levites, the using these tithes and offerings, not to enable them the better to fulfil the work of the ministry, but to pamper their own bodies, and support them in an idle voluptuous life; and in reference to the state, the employing the taxes and imposts, not for the support and administration of justice and good government, but to subsidize heathen powers, and maintain their own luxury and idolatrous prodigality.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Eze 34:2. Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel —…
Eze 34:2. Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel — The word shepherd, in the prophetical writings, comprehends both civil and ecclesiastical governors. See notes on Isa 56:11; Jer 2:8. Other writers also use the same expression; princes being called shepherds of their people, as well as those who have the immediate care of their souls: see Psa 78:71-72. Thus Homer calls Agamemnon, Ποιμεναλαων, the shepherd of the people. And as the threatenings here denounced extend to all sorts of governors, so the several sins of the princes, priests, and prophets are reproved, Eze 22:25, &c. Wo to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves — That regard their own profit and advantage, not the good of the people committed to their charge. The beauty of the original, רעי אשׂר היו רעים אותם, may be expressed in Latin or Greek, though not in English: — pastoribus qui pascunt semet ipsos: τοις ποιμεσιν οι ποιμαινουσιν σαυτους. Plato, in the first book of his Commonwealth, describing the office of a magistrate, saith, “He should look upon himself as sustaining the office of a shepherd, that makes it his chief business to take care of his flock; not as if he were going to a feast to fill himself and satiate his appetite, or to a market to make what gain he can to himself.” Eusebius, in his twelfth book De Preparatione Evangelica, chap. 44., hath transcribed the whole passage, as an exact parallel to this place of Ezekiel. See Lowth.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v2 Shepherds - Not priests or prophets, but rulers and…
Shepherds - Not priests or prophets, but rulers and kings (see the Jer 2:8 note). The most ancient title for “ruler” is a monogram which occurs on the oldest monuments discovered in the cuneiform character. In the Assyrian language it became riu (compare Hebrew רעה râ‛âh =shepherd). In the traditions of Berosus we find that Alorus, the first king in the world, received from the Divinity the title of Shepherd. The title, as well as the monogram, was preserved to the latest times of the Assyrian monarchy. While the distress and misery of the people daily in creased, the last kings of Judah exacted more and more from their subjects and lavished more and more on personal luxury and show.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Shepherds. That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes.…
Shepherds. That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes. (Challoner) --- Shepherds may lawfully take milk, (1 Corinthians ix. 7.) but the sheep and its wool belong to the master. (Worthington) --- Excellent instructions are here given for all in authority. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3–4 fat--or, by differently pointing the Hebrew, "milk" [Septuagint]. Thus…
fat--or, by differently pointing the Hebrew, "milk" [Septuagint]. Thus the repetition "fat" and "fed" is avoided: also the eating of "fat" would not probably be put before the "killing" of the sheep. The eating of sheep's or goats' milk as food (Deu 32:14; Pro 27:27) was unobjectionable, had not these shepherds milked them too often, and that without duly "feeding" them [BOCHART], (Isa 56:11). The rulers levied exorbitant tributes.
kill . . . fed--kill the rich by false accusation so as to get possession of their property.
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feed not . . . flock--take no care of the people (Joh 10:12).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–4 2. the shepherds] i.e. the rulers. The term is…
2. the shepherds] i.e. the rulers. The term is chiefly used in later writings (Jer_2:8; Jer_3:15); it occurs, however, in Zechariah 9-11, the date of which is disputed. On Zedekiah cf. ch. 17, and on his immediate predecessors, Jer_22:10-30. In general, Jeremiah 23, Jer_25:32 seq.
unto the shepherds] Possibly this is a marginal heading which has crept into the text, cf. Jer_23:9, and the reading may be, thus saith the Lord God, Woe be to … For flocks, flock.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v2 (2) Shepherds of Israel.—This is a common Scriptural expression…
(2) Shepherds of Israel.—This is a common Scriptural expression for rulers, and the whole context shows that these are the persons here intended. In the passage in Jeremiah 23 they are treated under this name separately from the prophets and priests, and also in Jer_2:8 they are distinguished from prophets and priests. The name itself is a peculiarly appropriate one, and seems to have been in use throughout the East, but especially in Israel, from the time when David was taken from the care of the flocks to feed the Lord’s people. (Comp. 2Sa_5:2; Psa_78:70-71.)
That do feed themselves.—This selfishness is characteristic of the unfaithful shepherd (comp. Joh_10:1-17), and is enlarged upon in Eze_34:3-4. The history shows that for a long time it had been eminently true of the rulers, and especially of the kings of Israel.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, etc. Our modern…
Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, etc. Our modern associations with the words, our use of terms like" the pastoral office," "the pastoral Epistles," lead us to think of the priests and prophets, the spiritual guides of the people, as being those whom the prophet has in view. In the language of the Old Testament, however, as in that of Homer ("Iliad," 1:1. 263; 2:1. 85, etc.), the shepherds of the people are always its kings and other civil rulers (1Ki_22:17; Psa_77:20 Psa_78:71; Jer_23:1-6) and those whom Ezekiel had in his thoughts were the tyrannous rulers of the house of David, like Jehoiakim and Zedekiah and their satellites. Our Christian thoughts of the word are the outcome of the leading of Joh_10:1-16 Joh_21:15-17; 1Pe_5:2-4; Act_20:28; but it is probably true that even there the original thought is still dominant. Christ is the "good Shepherd," because he is the true King. His ministers are shepherds as being officers in his kingdom. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? The question is an appeal to the universal conscience of Israel and of mankind. No shepherd was worthy of his name who did not do that which the very name implied. He that neglects that duty is simply as a hireling or a robber. (Joh_10:10, Joh_10:12)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v4 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues giving Ezekiel his message to the leaders of Israel.
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General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking of the people of Israel as if they were a flock of sheep and the leaders of Israel as if they were shepherds who have not cared for the flock. (See: Metaphor)
have diseases
Possible meanings are 1) "are sick" or 2) "are weak"
You do not bind up the ones who are broken
"You do not wrap cloth around the broken bones of those who are wounded"
the ones who are broken
"the sheep that have broken bones" or "the sheep that are injured"
you do not restore
"you do not bring back"
the outcasts
"the sheep that have been chased away" or "those that others have chased away"
the lost
The words "the sheep or goats" are left out of this phrase, but they are intended to be understood. AT: "the sheep or goats that are lost" (See: Ellipsis)
through strength and violence
"forcefully and cruelly"
Then they were scattered without a shepherd
This can be stated in active form. AT: "Then they scattered because they did not have a shepherd" (See: Active or Passive)
they became food for all the living beasts in the fields
"all of the wild animals could attack and eat them"
it is dispersed over the entire surface of the earth
"my flock is spread out all over the earth"
translationWords
cure
restore
disperse
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v2 34:2-6 What sorrow awaits you shepherds: Israel’s leaders had…
34:2-6 What sorrow awaits you shepherds: Israel’s leaders had not taken care of the weak or gone looking for those who had wandered away and were lost. They had pursued their own interests, feeding themselves at their flock’s expense. They ruled the sheep with harshness and cruelty, recalling how the Egyptians treated the Israelites in Moses’ time (Exod 1:13-14). The neglect and abuse of these cruel shepherds had scattered the Lord’s flock across the face of the earth.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.