Deep Dive

Ezekiel 34:18

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Is 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?

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 18

The iniquities and calamities of God's Israel had been largely and pathetically lamented before, in this book. Now in this chapter the shepherds of Israel, their rulers both in church and state, are called to an account, as having been very much accessory to the sin and ruin of Israel, by their neglecting to do the duty of their place. Here is, I. A high charge exhibited against them for their negligence, their unskillfulness, and unfaithfulness in the management of public affairs (Eze 34:1-6 and Eze 34:8). II. Their discharge from their trust, for their insufficiency and treachery (Eze 34:7-10). III. A gracious promise that God would take care of his flock, though they did not, and that it should not always suffer as it had done by their mal-administrations (Eze 34:11-16). IV. Another charge exhibited against those of the flock that were fat and strong, for the injuries they did to those that were weak and feeble (Eze 34:17-22). V. Another promise that God would in the fulness of time send the Messiah, to be the great and good Shepherd of the sheep, who should redress all grievances and set every thing to rights with the flock (Eze 34:23-31).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 18

מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… מִרְעֶה (mirʻeh, H4829) — pasture (the place or the act); also the haunt of wild animals רָמַס (râmaç, H7429) — to tread upon (as a potter, in walking or abusively) רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda יֶתֶר (yether, H3499) — properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a… שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) מִשְׁקָע (mishqâʻ, H4950) — a settling place (of water), i.e. a pond מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen רָפַשׂ (râphas, H7515) — to trample, i.e. roil water יָתַר (yâthar, H3498) — to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left;…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Matthew 23:13rank 5

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.

Luke 11:52rank 5

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.”

Numbers 16:9rank 3

Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

Isaiah 7:13rank 3

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?

II Samuel 7:19rank 3

And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD?

Numbers 16:13rank 3

Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?

Ezekiel 16:47rank 2

And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were.

Micah 2:2rank 2

They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Ezekiel 32:2rank 2

“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’

Ezekiel 16:20rank 2

You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough?

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