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For thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
Ezekiel 34:11 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
  • BSB For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out.
  • NKJV ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
  • NASB For the Lord God says this: “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them.
  • NLT “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God announces that He Himself will search for His sheep and seek them out. Where human shepherds failed, the divine Shepherd takes up the task personally.

Overview

The emphatic 'I myself, even I' marks the great turning point of the chapter. God does not merely appoint better shepherds; He comes in person to seek His scattered flock. This is the heart of the gospel: the seeking God who pursues the lost. It is realized when God comes in the flesh in Jesus, who declares, 'I am the good shepherd' (John 10:11).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 19

  • John 10:16I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
  • Luke 19:10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
  • Isa 40:10–11Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
  • Jer 23:3“I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply.
  • Jer 31:8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together. They will return as a great company.
  • Isa 56:8The Lord Yahweh, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “I will yet gather others to him, besides his own who are gathered.”
  • Isa 45:12I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and I have commanded all their army.
  • Ps 80:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
  • Matt 13:11–12He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
  • Isa 51:12“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as grass?
  • Ps 23:1–3A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
  • Deut 32:39“See now that I myself am he. There is no god with me. I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
  • Ps 119:176I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.
  • Ezek 5:8therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I, even I, am against you; and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.
  • Isa 48:15I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
  • Hos 5:14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.
  • Lev 26:28then I will walk contrary to you in wrath. I will also chastise you seven times for your sins.
  • Gen 6:17I, even I, do bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die.
  • Ezek 6:3and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh! Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 34:11YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 34:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.