Skip to reading
Atomic Bible
Ezekiel

Chapter 34

A Prophecy against Israel’s Shepherds and more

Ezekiel 34 denounces Israel's shepherds for feeding themselves instead of the flock. They exploited the sheep, neglected the weak and wandering, and allowed the flock to be scattered and preyed upon. In response, God declares that He Himself will search for His sheep, gather them, feed them, heal them, and judge between sheep who abuse others and those who suffer under them. The chapter then culminates in the promise of one shepherd, God's servant David, and a covenant of peace in which the flock will dwell secure under divine care and blessing.

This chapter is one of Ezekiel's clearest portraits of failed leadership and of God's determination to replace it with His own shepherding rule. It binds together judgment on corrupt rulers, restoration of the scattered people, and messianic hope centered on 'David' as the appointed shepherd-prince. The covenant of peace at the end also pushes beyond immediate return from exile toward a fuller vision of security, provision, and belonging under the LORD's direct care.

3 sections·853 words·~4 min read

Begin reading Zoom into first section
Reader

Ezekiel 34

A continuous BSB reading flow. Turn on the guide when you want authored orientation; leave it off when you simply want the text.

vv. 1-10

A Prophecy against Israel’s Shepherds

Open section

T1hen the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“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? 3You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. 4You 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. 5They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. 6My 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.’ 7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 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, 9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’ 10This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand from them My flock and remove them from tending the flock, so that they can no longer feed themselves. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’

vv. 11-24

The Good Shepherd

Open section

F11or this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. 13I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. 14I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’

17This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the goats. 18Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19Why must My flock feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied?’ 20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Since you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them abroad, 22I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd. 24I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

vv. 25-31

The Covenant of Peace

Open section

I25 will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. 26I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season— showers of blessing. 27The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and delivered them from the hands that enslaved them. 28They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not consume them. They will dwell securely, and no one will frighten them. 29And I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,’ declares the Lord GOD. 31‘You are My flock, the sheep of My pasture, My people, and I am your God,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Section map

Open the closer view when you want it.

Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

  1. 01vv. 1-10A Prophecy against Israel’s ShepherdsThe LORD pronounces woe on Israel's shepherds because they fed themselves rather than the flock. They used the sheep for their own gain, failed to strengthen the weak or seek the lost, and ruled with violence. As a result the flock was scattered and became prey. Therefore God declares Himself against these shepherds, removes them from tending the flock, and rescues His sheep from their mouths.
  2. 02vv. 11-24The Good ShepherdAfter rejecting Israel's false shepherds, the LORD promises to seek out His own flock, rescue them from all the places of scattering, and bring them back to rich pasture in Israel. He will tend the flock, seek the lost, bind up the broken, strengthen the weak, and judge between oppressive and afflicted sheep. Then He promises to set over them one shepherd, His servant David, while He Himself remains their God.
  3. 03vv. 25-31The Covenant of PeaceThe LORD promises to make a covenant of peace with His flock, removing wild beasts and giving security even in places once dangerous. Seasonal showers of blessing, fruitful trees, productive land, freedom from yokes, and safety from predators and nations will mark this restored condition. The chapter ends with Israel knowing that the LORD is with them, that they are His people, and that they are the sheep of His pasture.
Previous Chapter 33All 48 chapters in EzekielNextChapter 35