But as for My flock, they must eat what you trample with your feet, and drink what you muddy with your feet!’ ”
Parallel translations
- WEB As for my sheep, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.
- KJV And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
- BSB Why must My flock feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied?’
- ESV And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
- NKJV And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”
- NLT Why must my flock eat what you have trampled down and drink water you have fouled?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
The weaker sheep are left to eat trampled grass and drink fouled water. The strong's selfishness directly harms the defenseless.
Overview
This verse states plainly the consequence of v.18: the lean sheep must consume what the fat have spoiled. God notices the injustice done to the powerless and identifies with their plight. His concern for the mistreated weak runs throughout Scripture and is honored by Christ, who welcomes the lowly and warns against despising 'little ones' (Matt. 18:10).
Cross-references & the web
No cross-references recorded for this verse.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 34:19 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.