Ezekiel 34
Ezekiel 34 is the thirty-fourth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet/priest Ezekiel, and is one of the Books of the Prophets. In this chapter, Ezekiel prophesies against the "irresponsible shepherds" of Israel and states that God will instead seek out God's sheep and become their "true shepherd". The Jerusalem Bible notes the continuity of this theme, occurring in, here in Ezekiel, and later resumed in, as well as in the New Testament.
Text
The original text was written in the Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 31 verses.Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis, the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets, Aleppo Codex, Codex Leningradensis.There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Marchalianus.
Verse 2
- "Son of man" : this phrase is used 93 times to address Ezekiel.
- "Shepherd" : the noun is derived from the Hebrew verb רָעָה meaning to "pasture, tend, graze", to "feed "; figuratively "to guard, care for, rule." A "common allegory" referring to the rulers of Israel, either political or spiritual.
Verse 3
Verse 5
Cross reference: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Verse 6
The final words, "for them", are added in most English translations, as they are not in the original text. Robert Young's Literal Translation ends "and there is none inquiring, and none seeking". The sheep are scattered, "first on to 'every high hill' as idolaters, and then 'over the face of the earth' in exile".Verse 16
This verse "clearly anticipates a return from exile to the land of Israel".Verse 23
Cross reference: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Verse 25
Cross reference: ; Hosea 2:20; Jeremiah 31:31Verse 31
Jewish
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