Ezekiel 34:5
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.
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.
6 My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
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
- They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.
- KJV
- And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
- WEB
- They were scattered, because there was no shepherd. They became food to all the animals of the field, and were scattered.
- ASV
- And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.
- DARBY
- And they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.
- BLB
- And they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became as food for all the beasts of the field; indeed, they were scattered.
- ÅB
- Og slik ble de adspredt, fordi de ingen hyrde hadde; de ble til føde for alle markens ville dyr og ble adspredt.
- OTB
- Så de ble spredt på grunn av mangel på en hyrde, og når de ble spredt, ble de mat for alle de ville dyrene.
- B1930
- Og således blev de adspredt, fordi de ingen hyrde hadde; de blev til føde for alle markens ville dyr og blev adspredt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Read in context2 Chronicles 18:16
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
Read in contextEzekiel 34:8
‘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 contextJeremiah 23:2
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.
Read in context1 Kings 22:17
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
Read in contextIsaiah 56:9
Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.
Read in contextActs 20:29–31
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Read in contextJeremiah 50:17
Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
Read in context