Ezekiel 34:7
Ezekiel 34:7 in Multiple Translations
Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
¶ Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:
For this cause, O keepers of the flock, give ear to the word of the Lord:
So, you shepherds, listen to what the Lord has to say:
Therefore ye shepherds, heare the woorde of the Lord.
Therefore, shepherds, hear a word of Jehovah:
“‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the LORD’s word:
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
Therefore, you who should be acting like shepherds, listen to what I, Yahweh the Lord say:
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 34:7
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 34:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לָ/כֵ֣ן
רֹעִ֔ים
שִׁמְע֖וּ
אֶת
דְּבַ֥ר
יְהוָֽה
לָ/כֵ֣ן
kên
H3651
right
Prep | Adv
רֹעִ֔ים
râʻâh
H7462
House of Shepherds
V-Qal
שִׁמְע֖וּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
דְּבַ֥ר
dâbâr
H1697
Chronicles
N-ms
יְהוָֽה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 34:7
לָ/כֵ֣ן
kên
H3651
"right"
Prep | Adv
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
רֹעִ֔ים
râʻâh
H7462
"House of Shepherds"
V-Qal
This verb means to care for or tend to someone or something, like a shepherd with his flock. It can also mean to rule over or associate with someone as a friend, and is sometimes used to describe a close relationship.
Definition: Ra'ah = "pasturing" perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
Usage: Occurs in 139 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. See also: Genesis 4:2; Isaiah 40:11; Psalms 23:1.
שִׁמְע֖וּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
דְּבַ֥ר
dâbâr
H1697
"Chronicles"
N-ms
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Definition: This name means word, speaking
Usage: Occurs in 1290 OT verses. KJV: act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. See also: Genesis 11:1; Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 18:21.
יְהוָֽה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 34:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 34:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 34:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 34:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
- Sermons on Ezekiel 34:7
Context — A Prophecy against Israel’s Shepherds
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!’Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 22:2–3 | saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David—you and your officials and your people who enter these gates. This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place. |
| 2 | Micah 3:8–9 | As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right, |
| 3 | Psalms 82:1–7 | God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But like mortals you will die, and like rulers you will fall.” |
| 4 | Malachi 2:1 | “And now this decree is for you, O priests: |
| 5 | Isaiah 1:10 | Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! |
| 6 | Matthew 23:13–36 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred? So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your fathers. You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell? Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 13:18 | Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.” |
| 8 | Ezekiel 34:9 | therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’ |
| 9 | Jeremiah 13:13 | then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem. |
| 10 | Luke 11:39–54 | “Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.” One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.” “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load. Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’ As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation. Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things, waiting to catch Him in something He might say. |
Ezekiel 34:7 Summary
This verse is a call to the leaders of God's people to listen to and obey God's word. It's a reminder that they are responsible for caring for and guiding the flock, as seen in Jeremiah 3:15 and Acts 20:28. Just like a shepherd protects and provides for their sheep, God's leaders should prioritize the well-being of those under their care, following the example of Jesus in Luke 15:3-7. By listening to and following God's word, we can become faithful shepherds, caring for and guiding those around us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is being addressed in Ezekiel 34:7?
The shepherds, or leaders, of God's people are being addressed in this verse, as they are held accountable for their actions and inactions regarding the flock, as seen in Ezekiel 34:8 and Jeremiah 23:1-4.
What is the significance of the phrase 'hear the word of the LORD' in this context?
This phrase is a call to attention and obedience, emphasizing the importance of listening to and following God's instructions, as also seen in Isaiah 1:10 and Jeremiah 26:2-3.
How does this verse relate to the surrounding context of Ezekiel 34?
This verse serves as a transition, shifting the focus from the description of the flock's scattered state in Ezekiel 34:5-6 to the condemnation of the shepherds for their failure to care for the flock, as stated in Ezekiel 34:8-9.
What is the tone of God's message to the shepherds in this verse?
The tone is one of accountability and warning, as God is about to pronounce judgment on the shepherds for their neglect and self-interest, similar to the tone found in Ezekiel 3:17-21 and Matthew 25:31-46.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I can be a faithful 'shepherd' to those around me, following the example of Jesus in John 10:11-18?
- How can I ensure that I am listening to and obeying God's word in my own life, as encouraged in Psalm 119:11 and Matthew 4:4?
- In what ways can I prioritize the well-being of others, putting their needs before my own, as demonstrated in Philippians 2:3-4 and Matthew 20:26-28?
- What are some potential consequences of neglecting or ignoring God's word, as warned in Ezekiel 34:8-9 and Proverbs 29:1?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 34:7
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Or, "ye governors", as the Targum, both civil and ecclesiastical; ye kings, princes, and magistrates; ye prophets and teachers of the people, who
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 34:7
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
Ye shepherds; the rulers, king of Israel, princes priest and priests, and pretended prophets, hear ye. God speaks in the style and manner of one greatly incensed.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
Ezekiel 34:7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;Ver. 7. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.] And oh that this word might ever sound aloud in the ears of all shepherds as the voice of heaven’ s trumpet!
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
Verse 7. Therefore, ye shepherds, (ye bad and wicked shepherds,) hear the word of the Lord] In the preceding character of the good shepherd the reader will find, by reversing the particulars, the character of a bad shepherd; and therefore I may be excused from entering into farther detail.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7
1-10. The shepherds of the people, instead of feeding the flock, were feeding upon the flock, eating the fat (LXX., milk), and living in ease and luxury, while “my sheep” (Ezekiel 34:5, LXX.) were
Sermons on Ezekiel 34:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sins Against the Holy Spirit by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker, Sam, shares a powerful story of how God protected him from a dangerous situation involving five armed men. Sam emphasizes the importance of trusting in |
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Christ and His Children by C.H. Spurgeon | The preacher delves into the concept of timidity, exploring its various facets such as lack of mental or moral strength, reticence, cowardice, and shameful fear. Drawing from bibli |
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2 Corinthians 11:13 by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches about false apostles who deceive by pretending to be true messengers of Christ, warning against those who seek to manipulate and exploit others for persona |
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Foundation of the World, Out of Plumb by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the prophetic nature of the Psalms, particularly Psalm 82, illustrating God's active judgment among earthly rulers who perpetuate injustice and oppression. He |
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(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 39 Psalm 82 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons discusses Psalm 82, emphasizing God's judgment on unjust rulers who misuse their authority and fail to protect the weak and needy. He explains that the term 'gods' ref |
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Exposition on Psalm 83 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine delves into Psalm 82, interpreting it as a reflection of the congregation of God's people, comparing the Jewish people to the Synagogue and the Christian people to th |
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Psalm 82 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about God's supremacy over all magistrates, emphasizing that earthly authority emanates from Him and that His kingdom reigns over all. He reproves unjust judges |