Ezekiel 34:2

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“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?

³ You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.

⁴ You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “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?
KJV: 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?
WEB: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?
ASV: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
DARBY: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy; and say unto them, unto the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
BLB: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them—to the shepherds—thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves. Should [it] not [be] [that] the shepherds shepherd the flock?

ÅB: Menneskesønn! Spå mot Israels hyrder, spå og si til dem, til hyrdene: Sa sier Herren, Israels Gud: Ve Israels hyrder, som røkter seg selv! Er det ikke flokken hyrdene skal røkte?
OTB: "Menneskesønn, profeter mot Israels hyrder; profeter og si til dem: ‘Dette sier den suverene Herren: Ve Israels hyrder som har stelt seg selv! Skulle ikke hyrdene ta seg av flokken?
B1930: Menneskesønn! Spå mot Israels hyrder, spå og si til dem, til hyrdene: Sa sier Herren, Israels Gud: Ve Israels hyrder, som røkter sig selv! Er det ikke hjorden hyrdene skal røkte?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 23:1
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Read in context
Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Read in context
Luke 20:46–47
“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
Read in context
Ezekiel 34:8–10
‘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,
Read in context
Jeremiah 10:21
For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
Read in context
2 Peter 2:3
In 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.
Read in context
Psalms 78:71–72
from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
Read in context