Ezekiel 34

1 Then the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came [was given, or existed] to me, saying [to speak, or to command], word study 2 “Son of man [human, a mortal], prophesy [speak under divine influence] against the shepherds [leaders, caregivers] of Israel. Prophesy [declare God’s message] and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed [care for, provide nourishment] themselves! Should not the shepherds [those responsible for guiding and protecting] feed [nourish, care for] their flock [the people of God, the sheep]? word study 3 You eat [devour, consume] the fat [the richest part], wear [clothe yourselves with] the wool [the finest fleece], and butcher [slaughter, kill] the fattened [plump, well-fed] sheep [the flock, God’s people], but you do not [refuse to, neglect to] feed [care for, tend to] the flock [the sheep, those under your care]. word study 4 You have not strengthened [enabled to become strong, given courage] the weak [those who are feeble, powerless], healed [mended, cured] the sick [diseased, afflicted], bound up [tied, wrapped] the injured [broken, shattered], brought back [returned, restored] the strays [those who have wandered, gone astray], or searched [sought, looked for] for the lost [those who have perished, are destroyed]. Instead, you have ruled [exercised power, dominated] them with violence [force, severity] and cruelty [harshness, rigor]. word study 5 They were scattered [without a guide, dispersed] for lack of a shepherd [a caregiver, a leader], and when they were scattered [dispersed, wandered] they became food [sustenance, prey] for all [every kind of] the wild beasts [ferocious animals, predators]. word study 6 My flock [sheep, people of God] went astray [wandered, strayed morally] on all [every, the entire] the mountains [hills] and every high hill [elevated areas, places of pride]. They were scattered [dispersed, shattered] over the face [presence, surface] of all [every, the entire] the earth [land, world], with no one [none, nobody] to search [seek, look for] for them or seek [search, inquire about] them out [care for, rescue].’ word study 7 Therefore [so, thus, in this manner], you shepherds [keepers of the flock, rulers over them], hear [listen, obey, give attention to] the word [message, thing, affair] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]: word study 8 ‘As surely as I live [as I am the living God], declares the Lord GOD [Adonay, the sovereign Lord], because My flock [My people, sheep] lacks a shepherd [a guardian, caretaker] and has become prey [a spoil, plunder] and food [sustenance, nourishment] for every wild beast [every animal of the field], and because My shepherds [My leaders, rulers] did not search for [did not seek, care for] My flock but fed themselves instead [but fed their own interests], word study 9 therefore [so, thus, in agreement], you shepherds [keepers of the flock, rulers over them], hear [listen and obey, give attention to] the word [thing, matter, or affair] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]!’ word study 10 This is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Behold [look, take notice], I am against the shepherds [spiritual leaders, caregivers], and I will demand [require, ask for] from them My flock [people, congregation] and remove them from tending [caring for, feeding] the flock, so that they can no longer feed [nourish, care for] themselves. For I will deliver [rescue, save] My flock from their mouths [power, control], and it will no longer be food [sustenance, prey] for them.’ word study 11 For [because of this reason] this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Behold [look, take notice], I [emphatically] Myself will search [thoroughly investigate] for My flock [sheep, the people of God] and seek [diligently look for] them out [to find and care for them]. word study 12 As a shepherd [carefully tends to, looks after] looks for his scattered sheep [flock, those under his care] when he is among the flock [in the midst of his sheep], so I will look for [seek out, search for] My flock [people, those under My care]. I will rescue [deliver, snatch away] them from all the places [locations, regions] to which they were scattered [dispersed, broken apart] on a day [time, period] of clouds [darkness, gloom] and darkness [thick darkness, shadow]. word study 13 I will bring them out [from among the peoples] from the peoples, gather them [from the different countries] from the countries, and bring them into [their own native land] their own land. I will feed them [like a shepherd tends his flock] on the mountains [the high places] of Israel, in the ravines [the low-lying areas], and in all [every single one of] the settlements [inhabited places] of the land. word study 14 I will feed them in good [pleasant, and fruitful] pasture, and the lofty [high, elevated] mountains of Israel will be their [grazing land, fold, dwelling place] grazing land. There they will lie down in a good [pleasant, and fat] grazing land; they will feed in rich [fat, and abundant] pasture on the [spiritual high points, literal mountains] mountains of Israel. word study 15 I [myself, personally] will tend [feed, care for, shepherd] My flock [sheep, people of God] and make them lie down [rest, stretch out], declares [says, utters] the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 16 I will seek [search for, go in search of] the lost [those who have perished, are destroyed], bring back [return, restore] the strays [those who have been driven away, banished], bind up [tie, saddle] the broken [shattered, ruptured], and strengthen [make strong, courageous] the weak [sick, feeble]; but the sleek [rich, fat] and strong [powerful, severe] I will destroy [annihilate, desolate]. I will shepherd [care for, tend to] them with justice [righteous judgment].’ word study 17 This is what the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] says to you, My flock [My people, My congregation]: ‘I will judge [vindicate, punish] between one sheep [a single individual] and another, between the rams [strong leaders] and the goats [those who stray]. word study 18 Is it not enough [a small thing, seemeth it a little] for you to feed [to graze, to be nourished] on the good [pleasant, beneficial] pasture [grazing land, feeding ground]? Must you also trample [tread down, foul] the rest [remainder, residue] of the pasture with your feet [by your footsteps, in your paths]? Is it not enough [sufficient, adequate] for you to drink [to feast, to be refreshed] the clear [deep, calm] waters [refreshing streams, spiritual nourishment]? Must you also muddy [foul, trouble] the rest [remainder, what is left] with your feet [by your presence, through your actions]? word study 19 Why must My flock [sheep, the people of God] feed on what your feet [trampling, oppressive] have trampled [trodden down, crushed], and drink what your feet [causing pollution, fouling] have muddied [made dirty, polluted with mirpash, foul water]?’ word study 20 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] says to them: ‘Behold [look, take notice], I Myself [alone, personally] will judge [vindicate, govern] between [in the midst of] the fat [plump, well-fed] sheep and the lean [thin, not plump] sheep. word study 21 Since you shove [push with force] with flank [side, with your full body] and shoulder [upper arm, where garments hang], butting [goring, pushing with horns] all the weak ones [diseased, frail] with your horns [a horn; a hill or peak] until you have scattered [dispersed, driven away] them abroad [to the outside, into distant lands], word study 22 I will save [rescue, deliver] My flock [people, congregation], and they will no longer be [are not any more] prey [plunder, spoil]. I will judge [govern, vindicate] between [among, distinguishing] one sheep and another [fellow, neighbor]. word study 23 I will appoint [set up, establish] over them one [united, single] shepherd, My servant [faithful attendant, bondservant] David, and he will feed [care for, tend to] them. He will feed [nourish, provide for] them and be their [faithful, loving] shepherd. word study 24 I, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], will be their God [Elohim, the one supreme God], and My servant [faithful attendant, bondslave] David will be a prince [leader, ruler] among them. I, the LORD [Yehovah], have spoken [declared, commanded]. word study 25 I will make with them a covenant [agreement, promise] of peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] and rid the land [earth, territory] of wild [evil, bad] animals, so that they may dwell [live, reside] securely [safely, in confidence] in the wilderness [desert, open field] and sleep [rest, be at ease] in the forest [woods, thick trees]. word study 26 I will make them [as a gift from God] and the places [surroundings, neighborhoods] around My hill [a small hill] a blessing [prosperity, praise]. I will send down [cause to descend, bring forth] showers [rains, refreshing downpours] in season [at the right time, when needed]—showers [rains, abundant blessings] of blessing [divine favor, spiritual prosperity]. word study 27 The trees [of the orchard, fruit-bearing] of the field will give their fruit [produce, crops], and the land [earth, ground] will yield its produce [increase, abundance]; My flock [people, congregation] will be secure [safe, confident] in their land [territory, inheritance]. Then they will know [recognize, understand] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God], when I have broken [shattered, demolished] the bars [yoke, burden] of their yoke [oppression, bondage] and delivered [rescued, freed] them from the hands [power, control] that enslaved [oppressed, exploited] them. word study 28 They will no longer [not at all, still] be prey [plunder, spoil] for the nations [Gentiles, heathen], and the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the earth [land, territory] will not [never] consume [devour, eat] them. They will dwell [live, reside] securely [in safety, without fear], and no one [none, nothing] will frighten [make afraid, terrorize] them. word study 29 And I will raise up [establish, bring to prominence] for them a garden [plantation, place of growth] of renown [fame, honor], and they will no longer [not again, never] be victims of famine [hunger, scarcity] in the land [earth, territory] or bear [suffer, endure] the scorn [shame, reproach] of the nations [Gentiles, heathen]. word study 30 Then they will know [be certain, understand] that I, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] their God [Elohim, the supreme Deity], am with [near, in close relationship] them, and that they, the house [family, nation] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants], are My people [beloved nation, chosen ones],’ declares [says, utters] the Lord GOD [Adonay, the sovereign Lord]. word study 31 ‘You [my people, the flock of my pasture] are My flock [men], the sheep [the flock] of My pasture [the land I care for], My people [those I have chosen], and I [the Lord, Adonay] am your God [Elohim, the one supreme God],’ declares [utters, speaks forth] the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah].” word study