The Meaning of Ezekiel 34:4 Explained

Ezekiel 34:4

KJV: The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

YLT: The weak ye have not strengthened, And the sick one ye have not healed, And the broken ye have not bound up, And the driven away have not brought back, And the lost ye have not sought, And with might ye have ruled them and with rigour.

Darby: The weak have ye not strengthened, nor have ye healed the sick, and ye have not bound up what was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought for that which was lost; but with harshness and with rigour have ye ruled over them.

ASV: The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The diseased  have ye not strengthened,  neither have ye healed  that which was sick,  neither have ye bound up  [that which was] broken,  neither have ye brought again  that which was driven away,  neither have ye sought  that which was lost;  but with force  and with cruelty  have ye ruled  them. 

What does Ezekiel 34:4 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 34:4 mean?

- The weak not you have strengthened and those who were sick nor have you healed and the broken nor bound up what was driven away brought back what was lost sought but with force you have ruled them and cruelty
אֶֽת־ הַנַּחְלוֹת֩ לֹ֨א חִזַּקְתֶּ֜ם וְאֶת־ הַחוֹלָ֣ה לֹֽא־ רִפֵּאתֶ֗ם וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֙רֶת֙ לֹ֣א חֲבַשְׁתֶּ֔ם הַנִּדַּ֙חַת֙ הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֔ם הָאֹבֶ֖דֶת בִקַּשְׁתֶּ֑ם וּבְחָזְקָ֛ה רְדִיתֶ֥ם אֹתָ֖ם וּבְפָֽרֶךְ

אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַנַּחְלוֹת֩  The  weak 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
חִזַּקְתֶּ֜ם  you  have  strengthened 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
הַחוֹלָ֣ה  those  who  were  sick 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
לֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
רִפֵּאתֶ֗ם  have  you  healed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֙רֶת֙  and  the  broken 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
לֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
חֲבַשְׁתֶּ֔ם  bound  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: חָבַשׁ  
Sense: to tie, bind, bind on, bind up, saddle, restrain, bandage, govern.
הַנִּדַּ֙חַת֙  what  was  driven  away 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: נָדַח 
Sense: to impel, thrust, drive away, banish.
הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֔ם  brought  back 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
הָאֹבֶ֖דֶת  what  was  lost 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
בִקַּשְׁתֶּ֑ם  sought 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
וּבְחָזְקָ֛ה  but  with  force 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָזְקָה  
Sense: force, might, strength, violence.
רְדִיתֶ֥ם  you  have  ruled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָדָה 
Sense: to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down.
וּבְפָֽרֶךְ  and  cruelty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: harshness, severity, cruelty.