“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore, you shepherds, hear Yahweh’s word:
- KJV Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
- BSB Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
- ESV “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
- NKJV ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
- NASB Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
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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 summons the shepherds to hear His word of judgment. Those who would not listen to the sheep must now listen to the Lord.
Overview
This solemn call, 'hear Yahweh's word,' arrests the negligent leaders and announces that accountability has come. The repetition (also in v.9) underscores the gravity of what follows. Leaders entrusted with God's flock answer ultimately to God, a warning the New Testament repeats to elders and teachers (Heb. 13:17; James 3:1).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 23:13–36“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
- Ezek 34:9therefore, you shepherds, hear Yahweh’s word:
- Luke 11:39–54The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
- Mic 3:8–9But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.
- Ps 82:1–7A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
- Jer 22:2–3‘Hear Yahweh’s word, king of Judah, who sits on David’s throne, you, and your servants, and your people who enter in by these gates.
- Mal 2:1“Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.
- Jer 13:13Then tell them, ‘Yahweh says, “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
- Isa 1:10Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Jer 13:18Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory.
Resources, by level
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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 34:7 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.