Ezekiel 34:16
“I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.”
Ezekiel 34:16 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.
- DARBYDarby
- I will seek the lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up the broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong: I will feed them with judgment.
- WEBThe World English Bible
- I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- The lost I seek, and the driven away bring back, And the broken I bind up, and the sick I strengthen, And the fat and the strong I destroy, I feed it with judgment.
- BPVBiblePics Version
- "I will seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment."
Context: Ezekiel 34
14I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
16I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
17And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
18Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
About Ezekiel 34: The Lord, the Shepherd of His Flock
In Ezekiel chapter 34, the Lord rebukes the shepherds of Israel for their failure to take care of His flock, leading to the scattering and suffering of His people. He promises to come and gather His sheep Himself, leading them to green pastures and still waters, and to judge between the fat and the lean sheep. The chapter ends with the Lord affirming His covenant with His people and promising to make a new covenant of peace with them.
Commentary
The image of God as the shepherd of His people is a recurring theme in the Bible, and Ezekiel uses it to both rebuke and comfort the Israelites. The shepherds of Israel, the leaders and rulers of the nation, were responsible for the well-being of their people, but had failed in their duties, leading to their exile and suffering. God promises to come Himself and care for His flock, showing His love and compassion for His people. The judgment against the fat and the lean sheep is a warning to those who have been neglectful or abusive towards their fellow Israelites. The affirmation of the covenant and promise of a new covenant of peace provide hope for a better future for God's people, with Him as their shepherd and guide.