As for you, O my flock, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats.
Parallel translations
- KJV And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
- BSB This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the goats.
- NKJV ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
- NASB “As for you, My flock, this is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats.
- NLT “And as for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to his people: I will judge between one animal of the flock and another, separating the sheep from the goats.
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 now turns to judge among the sheep themselves, distinguishing between the strong and the weak. Membership in the flock does not exempt anyone from accountability.
Overview
The address shifts from shepherds to the flock: 'I judge between sheep and sheep.' The rams and male goats picture the stronger, dominant members who harm the weak. God's justice penetrates the community itself, not just its leaders. This anticipates the final separation of sheep and goats by the Son of Man (Matt. 25:31-33), where Jesus draws directly on this imagery.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Zech 10:3My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; For Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
- Matt 25:32–33Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
- Ezek 34:20–22Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh to them: Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
- Ezek 20:37–38“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
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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 34:17 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
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