Ezekiel 34:14

Translations

Modern

I 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.

Traditional

I 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.

Literal

I will feed them in good pasture, and on the mountains of the height of Israel will be their grazing land; there they will lie down in good grazing land, and they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

Latin

In pascuis uberrimis pascam eas, et in montibus excelsis Israël erunt pascua earum: ibi requiescent in herbis virentibus, et in pascuis pinguibus pascentur super montes Israël.

Original

Hebrew

English

I 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.

Notes

Ezekiel 34:12–16

The dark and cloudy day, the day of judgment (compare Ezekiel 32:7–8), was over. Now God would bring his people back to the mountains of Israel, the center of the land promised to the patriarchs, and care for his sheep (see Psalm 23).

Ezekiel 34:1–24

This chapter includes both judgment and salvation. God would judge the shepherds, that is, the former kings of Judah. They failed to care for their flock, meaning the people of Judah.

The Lord would also judge the fattened sheep. These were the strong and selfish people who harmed others. Yet God would act as a good shepherd. He would care for the rest of the flock and provide for them.

The image of the shepherd shows both the strength and kindness of God's actions with His people. In the ancient Near East, a shepherd was a common symbol for a king. People saw the earthly king as a representative of the divine shepherd who appointed him.

Shepherds had to protect their flocks from wild animals like lions and bears. They also needed to know their sheep by name and gently lead them to good pasture and calm waters. They faced cold, heat, wind, rain, and snow while caring for their flocks.

Good kings who led their people wisely and strongly were like shepherds. The New Testament uses the same image to describe pastors and elders, who should oversee their flock without being domineering (1 Peter 5:2–4). Jesus perfectly combines strength and kindness as the “great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20).

Ezekiel 34:1–37:28

These chapters describe the blessings that would come when the Lord returned to his people.

He would be their shepherd. He would give them good and faithful leadership (Ezekiel 34).

He would make the land fruitful again. In this way, he would show that his name is honored and holy (Ezekiel 35–36).

He would bring his people back to life and make them one nation again (Ezekiel 37).

Theme notes and profiles

The Shepherd

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
Psalm 23:1–2
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Jeremiah 31:25
…for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”
Jeremiah 31:12–14
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.
Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Ezekiel 36:29–30
I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine upon you.
Ezekiel 34:27
The 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.
Revelation 7:16
‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’
Psalm 31:8–10
You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.
Isaiah 25:6
On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.
Isaiah 30:23–24
Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures.
Jeremiah 33:12–13
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this desolate place, without man or beast, and in all its cities, there will once more be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.

Parallels

Psalm 23:1–6 John 10:1–21

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Book of Zephaniah Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of God, Names of Shepherd

Topics

Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of Christian Minister: Duties of Christian Minister: False and Corrupt Righteous: Promises To, Expressed or Implied Shepherds: (Their Care and Tenderness) Tenderness of Christ

Ezekiel 34:14

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?