Ezekiel 34:2

God pronounces woe on Israel's shepherds—its kings, priests, and leaders—who fed themselves instead of the flock. Leaders exist to serve, not to be served.

Cross-references · 26

• Jer 23:1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
• Jer 3:15I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
• Isa 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
• Ezek 34:8–10As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely because my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the animals of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and didn’t feed my sheep;
• Luke 20:46–47“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;
• 2 Pet 2:3In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.
• Jer 10:21For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.
• Rom 16:18For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
• Ps 78:71–72from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
• Zech 11:17Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!”
• Acts 20:29For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
• John 21:15–17So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
• Ezek 13:19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’
• Jer 12:10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
• Mic 3:11–12Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets of it tell fortunes for money: yet they lean on Yahweh, and say, “Isn’t Yahweh among us? No disaster will come on us.”
• Acts 20:26Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men,
• Jer 2:8The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed things that do not profit.
• 1 Pet 5:2–4Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
• John 10:11–12I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
• Zeph 3:3–4Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.
• John 10:1–2“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
• Luke 12:42–46The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
• Matt 24:48–51But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’
• Ezek 33:24Son of man, they who inhabit those waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
• Mic 3:1–3I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?
• 2 Sam 5:2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”

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.