The Meaning of Ezekiel 34:3 Explained

Ezekiel 34:3

KJV: Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

YLT: The fat ye do eat, and the wool ye put on, The fed one ye slaughter, the flock ye feed not.

Darby: Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool; ye kill them that are fattened: but ye feed not the flock.

ASV: Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fatlings; but ye feed not the sheep.

Discover Ezekiel 34:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Ezekiel 34:3?

MEANING: What does Ezekiel 34:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Ezekiel 34:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Ezekiel 34:3?

What is the context of Ezekiel 34:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock.

What does Ezekiel 34:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 34:1-16 - Selfish Shepherds

The shepherds of this chapter were not the religious leaders of the people, but rulers who sought in their government not the good of the people but their own selfish ends. But the statements made by the prophet may be rightly applied to rapacious priests who care more for the fleece than for the flock. Pastors are required to lead the flock of God not for filthy lucre but as examples for the sheep, 1 Peter 5:2-3. It is their duty, also, to strengthen the spiritually diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken in heart, and seek the lost.

Notice the tender manner in which the Lord Jesus Himself supplies the deficiencies of His unfaithful servants. In beautiful contrast to their selfish cruelty and rapacity, He sets Himself in cloudy and dark days to gather and tend His people, though they had been as scattered sheep, each taking his own way. When the ministers of His Church fail in their duty, the Lord hastens to supply their lack. Without doubt these gracious promises refer primarily to the Lord's Second Advent, when He will seek out and deliver His Chosen People, and bring them to their own land. But surely we must not limit the reference thus. We are His sheep, by purchase and by choice. He knows us, as we know Him. He has sought and saved us. He feds us and causes us to lie down beside the waters of rest. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 34

¹ A reproof of the shepherds
⁷ God's judgment against them
¹¹ His providence over his flock
²⁰ The kingdom of Christ

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 34:3 mean?

- The fat You eat and the with wool clothe yourselves the fat you slaughter the flock not [but] you do feed

אֶת־ הַחֵ֤לֶב תֹּאכֵ֙לוּ֙ וְאֶת־ הַצֶּ֣מֶר תִּלְבָּ֔שׁוּ הַבְּרִיאָ֖ה תִּזְבָּ֑חוּ הַצֹּ֖אן לֹ֥א תִרְעֽוּ

אֶת־	-
Parse: Direct object marker Root: אֹות Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַחֵ֤לֶב	The fat
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: חֵלֶב Sense: fat.
תֹּאכֵ֙לוּ֙	You eat
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural Root: אָכַל Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הַצֶּ֣מֶר	the with wool
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: צֶמֶר Sense: wool.
תִּלְבָּ֔שׁוּ	clothe yourselves
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural Root: לָבַשׁ Sense: to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed.
הַבְּרִיאָ֖ה	the fat
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular Root: בָּרִיא Sense: fat.
תִּזְבָּ֑חוּ	you slaughter
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural Root: זָבַח Sense: to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice.
הַצֹּ֖אן	the flock
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular Root: צֹאן Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
תִרְעֽוּ	[but] you do feed
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural Root: רָעָה Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.

What are the major concepts related to Ezekiel 34:3?

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