Read & explore together
The Good Shepherd
In this prophecy, the Lord Yahweh speaks of his people as sheep. He says he will personally search for them, care for them, judge fairly among them, and set one shepherd over them.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Ezekiel 34:11–24 is a prophetic teaching passage spoken by the Lord Yahweh. The image of sheep, pasture, water, shepherding and judgement shapes the whole message. The passage moves from God’s care for scattered sheep to his justice among the flock and then to the promise of one shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:11–24Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the Lord Yahweh both cares for his flock and judges within it with justice.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The Lord himself seeks his sheepThe passage opens with strong emphasis: “I myself, even I” will search for my sheep. The Lord compares his care to a shepherd finding scattered sheep.
Explanation
The passage opens with strong emphasis: “I myself, even I” will search for my sheep. The Lord compares his care to a shepherd finding scattered sheep. He says he will deliver them, gather them from many places, and bring them into their own land. The repeated “I will” shows that this rescue comes from the Lord himself.
02The flock will be fed and restoredThe Lord promises good pasture, rich pasture and a safe fold on the mountains of Israel. He says the sheep will lie down, which pictures rest and security.
Explanation
The Lord promises good pasture, rich pasture and a safe fold on the mountains of Israel. He says the sheep will lie down, which pictures rest and security. He also names different needs in the flock: the lost, the driven away, the broken and the sick. His care is personal, yet it is also just, because he says he will feed them in justice.
03The Lord judges harmful sheepThe message then turns to judgement within the flock. The Lord says he will judge between sheep and sheep, including rams and male goats.
Explanation
The message then turns to judgement within the flock. The Lord says he will judge between sheep and sheep, including rams and male goats. Some have enjoyed the good pasture and clear water, yet ruined what remained for others. The pictures of treading down pasture and fouling water show selfish behaviour that harms the rest of the flock.
04The weak are rescued and one shepherd is appointedThe Lord explains the harm more directly: the strong sheep have pushed the diseased and scattered them.
Explanation
The Lord explains the harm more directly: the strong sheep have pushed the diseased and scattered them. So he says he will save his flock and judge between sheep and sheep. Then he promises one shepherd, “my servant David”, who will feed them. The passage ends with the Lord declaring that he himself will be their God and that he has spoken.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated words in verses 11–16 show who takes responsibility for the flock?
Notice how often the Lord says “I” and “I will” when he searches, gathers, feeds, heals and judges the sheep.
02How do the pictures of trampled pasture and fouled water help explain the Lord’s complaint against some sheep?
Use the images in the text to think about people enjoying good things themselves while damaging them for others.
03What two promises stand together at the end of the passage about leadership and belonging?
Look for the promise about “one shepherd” and the statement about who will be their God.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 34:11–24
11“ ‘For the Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
12As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so I will seek out my sheep. I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14I will feed them with good pasture, and their fold will be on the mountains of the height of Israel. There they will lie down in a good fold. They will feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down,” says the Lord Yahweh.
16“I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will feed them in justice.” ’
17“As for you, O my flock, the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats.
18Does it seem a small thing to you to have fed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? And to have drunk of the clear waters, but must you foul the residue with your feet?
19As for my sheep, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.’
20“Therefore the Lord Yahweh says to them: ‘Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
21Because you thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the diseased with your horns, until you have scattered them abroad,
22therefore I will save my flock, and they will no more be a prey. I will judge between sheep and sheep.
23I will set up one shepherd over them, and he will feed them, even my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be their shepherd.
24I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them. I, Yahweh, have spoken it.