Isaiah 56:11
9 Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.
10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
12 “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
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
- Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
- 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.
- WEB
- 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 one to his gain, from every quarter.
- ASV
- Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
- DARBY
- and the dogs are greedy, they know not to be satisfied, and these are shepherds that know not how to discern: they all turn to their own way, every one for his gain, even to the last of them:
- BLB
- And these dogs [are] strong of appetite; they do not know satisfaction; and they [are] shepherds not knowing discernment; they all turn to their own way, each man for his own gain from his quarter.
- ÅB
- de er grådige hunder, de blir aldri mette. De er hyrder som ikke forstår å gi akt; alle sammen har de vendt seg til sin egen vei, hver til sin egen vinning, fra den første til den siste.
- OTB
- Hundene er glupske, de blir aldri mette. De er hyrder som mangler forståelse; de har alle vendt seg til sin egen vei, hver søker sin egen vinning.
- B1930
- de er grådige hunder, de blir aldri mette. De er hyrder som ikke forstår å gi akt; alle sammen har de vendt sig til sin egen vei, hver til sin egen vinning, fra den første til den siste.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 34:2–3
“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?
Read in contextEzekiel 13:19
You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.
Read in contextJohn 8:43
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
Read in contextMicah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
Read in contextMicah 3:5–6
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:
Read in contextZechariah 11:15–17
And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
Read in contextTitus 1:7
As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
Read in contextRevelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Read in context