---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ezekiel 34"
description: "CHAPTER 34   :-. REPROOF OF THE
FALSE SHEPHERDS;
PROMISE OF THE TRUE
AND GOOD SHEPHERD. Having in the thirty-third chapter
laid down repentance as the nec"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34"
---

CHAPTER 34

. REPROOF OF THE
FALSE SHEPHERDS;
PROMISE OF THE TRUE
AND GOOD SHEPHERD.
Having in the thirty-third chapter
laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times
for the people, He now promises the removal of the false shepherds as
preparatory to the raising up of the Good Shepherd.

**2.** [Jeremiah 23:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/1);
[Zechariah 11:17](../../../kjv/zechariah/11/17) similarly make the
removal of the false shepherds the preliminary to the interposition
of Messiah the Good Shepherd in behalf of His people Israel. The
"shepherds" are not prophets or priests, but *rulers*
who sought in their government their own selfish ends, not the good
of the people ruled. The term was appropriate, as David, the first
king and the type of the true David ([Ezekiel 34:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/23);
[Ezekiel 34:24](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/24)), was taken from being
a shepherd ([2 Samuel 5:2](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/2); [Psalms 78:70](../../../kjv/psalms/78/70);
[Psalms 78:71](../../../kjv/psalms/78/71)); and the office, like
that of a shepherd for his flock, is to guard and provide for his
people. The choice of a *shepherd* for the first king was
therefore designed to suggest this thought, just as Jesus' selection
of *fishermen* for apostles was designed to remind them of their
spiritual office of catching men (compare [Isaiah 44:28](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/28);
[Jeremiah 2:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/8); [Jeremiah 3:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/15);
[Jeremiah 10:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/10/21); [Jeremiah 23:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/1);
[Jeremiah 23:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/2)).

**3. fat**—or, by differently
pointing the *Hebrew,* "milk" [*Septuagint*].
Thus the repetition "fat" and "fed" is avoided:
also the eating of "fat" would not probably be put before
the "killing" of the sheep. The eating of sheep's or goats'
milk as food ([Deuteronomy 32:14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/14); [Proverbs 27:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/27/27))
was unobjectionable, had not these shepherds milked them too often,
and that without duly "feeding" them [BOCHART],
([Isaiah 56:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/11)). The rulers levied
exorbitant tributes.
**kill . . . fed**—kill the
rich by false accusation so as to get possession of their property.
**feed not . . . flock**—take
no care of the people ([John 10:12](../../../kjv/john/10/12)).

**4. The diseased**—rather, those
*weak* from the effects of "disease," as
"strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires
[GROTIUS].
**broken**—that is,
fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf.
**brought again . . . driven
away**— ([Exodus 23:4](../../../kjv/exodus/23/4)). Those
"driven away" by the enemy into foreign lands through God's
judgments are meant ([Jeremiah 23:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/3)).
A spiritual reformation of the state by the rulers would have turned
away God's wrath, and "brought again" the exiles. The
rulers are censured as *chiefly* guilty (though the people, too,
were guilty), because they, who ought to have been foremost in
checking the evil, promoted it.
**neither . . . sought . . .
lost**—Contrast the Good Shepherd's love ([Jeremiah 23:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/3)).
**with force . . . ruled**—
([Exodus 1:13](../../../kjv/exodus/1/13); [Exodus 1:14](../../../kjv/exodus/1/14)).
With an Egyptian bondage. The very thing forbidden by the law they
did ([Leviticus 25:43](../../../kjv/leviticus/25/43); compare [Leviticus 25:43](../../../kjv/leviticus/25/43)).

**5. scattered, because . . . no
shepherd**—that is, none worthy of the name, though there were
some *called* shepherds ([1 Kings 22:17](../../../kjv/1-kings/22/17);
[Matthew 9:36](../../../kjv/matthew/9/36)). Compare [Matthew 9:36](../../../kjv/matthew/9/36), where the sheep were scattered when the true Shepherd was
smitten. God calls them "*My* sheep"; for they were
not, as the shepherds treated them, *their* patrimony whereby to
"feed themselves."
**meat to all . . . beasts**—They
became a prey to the Syrians, Ammon, Moab, and Assyria.

**6. every high hill**—the scene
of their idolatries sanctioned by the rulers.
**search . . . seek**—rather,
"seek . . . search." The former is the part of the superior
rulers *to inquire after: to search out* is the duty of the
subordinate rulers [JUNIUS].

**10. I will require my flock**—
([Hebrews 13:17](../../../kjv/hebrews/13/17)), rather, "I
require," &c., for God already had begun to do so, punishing
Zedekiah and the other princes severely ([Hebrews 13:17](../../../kjv/hebrews/13/17)).

**11. I . . . will . . . search**—doing
that which the so-called shepherds had failed to do, I being the
rightful owner of the flock.

**12. in the day that he is among**—*in
the midst of* (*Hebrew*) His sheep that had been scattered.
Referring to Messiah's second advent, when He shall be "the
glory *in the midst of* Israel" ().
**in the cloudy . . . day**—the
day of the nation's calamity ().

**13. And I will bring them out from
the people,** c.— ([Ezekiel 28:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/28/25)
[Ezekiel 36:24](../../../kjv/ezekiel/36/24); [Ezekiel 37:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/21);
[Ezekiel 37:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/22); [Isaiah 65:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/65/9);
[Isaiah 65:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/65/10); [Jeremiah 23:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/3)).

**14. good pasture**— ().
**high mountains of Israel**—In
[Ezekiel 17:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/23); [Ezekiel 20:40](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/40),
the phrase is "the mountain of the height of Israel" in the
*singular* number. The reason for the difference is: *there*
Ezekiel spoke of the central seat of the kingdom, Mount Zion, where
the people met for the worship of Jehovah; *here* he speaks of
the kingdom of Israel at large, all the parts of which are regarded
as possessing a moral elevation.

**16.** In contrast to the
unfaithful shepherds ([Ezekiel 34:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/4)).
The several duties neglected by *them I* will faithfully
discharge.
**fat . . . strong**—that
is, those rendered wanton by prosperity ([Deuteronomy 32:15](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/15);
[Jeremiah 5:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/28)), who use their strength
to oppress the weak. Compare [Jeremiah 5:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/28), "the fat cattle" ([Jeremiah 5:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/28)). The image is from fat cattle that wax refractory.
**with judgment**—that is,
justice and equity, as contrasted with the "force" and
"cruelty" with which the unfaithful shepherds ruled the
flock ([Ezekiel 34:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/4)).

**17. you, . . . my flock**—passing
from the rulers to the people.
**cattle and cattle**—rather,
"sheep and sheep"; *Margin,* "small cattle,"
or "flocks of lambs and kids," that is, I judge between one
class of citizens and another, so as to award what is right to each.
He then defines the class about to be punitively "judged,"
namely, "the rams and he-goats," or "great he-goats"
(compare [Isaiah 14:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/9), *Margin;*
[Zechariah 10:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/10/3); [Matthew 25:32](../../../kjv/matthew/25/32);
[Matthew 25:33](../../../kjv/matthew/25/33)). They answer to "the
fat and strong," as opposed to the "sick" ([Matthew 25:33](../../../kjv/matthew/25/33)). The rich and ungodly of the people are meant, who
imitated the bad rulers in oppressing their poorer brethren, as if it
enhanced their own joys to trample on others' rights ([Matthew 25:33](../../../kjv/matthew/25/33)).

**18, 19.** Not content with
appropriating to their own use the goods of others, they from mere
wantonness spoiled what they did not use, so as to be of no use to
the owners.
**deep waters**—that is,
"limpid," as deep waters are generally *clear.*
GROTIUS explains the image
as referring to the usuries with which the rich ground the poor
([Ezekiel 22:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/22/12); [Isaiah 24:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/24/2)).

**19. they eat**—scantily.
**they drink**—sorrowfully.

**20. fat . . . lean**—the rich
oppressors . . . the humble poor.

**21. scattered them abroad**—down
to the time of the carrying away to Babylon [GROTIUS].

**22.** After the restoration from
Babylon, the Jews were delivered in some degree from the oppression,
not only of foreigners, but also of their own great people (). The full and final fulfilment of this prophecy is
future.

**23. set up**—that is, raise up
by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David,
"I will *set up* thy seed after thee" (); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion"
([Psalms 2:6](../../../kjv/psalms/2/6); compare [Acts 2:30](../../../kjv/acts/2/30);
[Acts 13:23](../../../kjv/acts/13/23)).
**one shepherd**—literally,
"a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently *one:*
the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable ([Acts 13:23](../../../kjv/acts/13/23)). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy ([Acts 13:23](../../../kjv/acts/13/23)), "I am THE
Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the
heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on
earth" ([Ephesians 1:10](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/10)); thus
healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah ([Ephesians 1:10](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/10)). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself,
whether things in earth or in heaven."
**David**—the antitypical
David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the
captivity was: who was *fully,* what David was only in a degree,
"the man after God's own heart." Also, David means *beloved:*
Messiah was truly God's *beloved* Son ([Isaiah 42:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/1);
[Matthew 3:17](../../../kjv/matthew/3/17)). Shepherd means *King,*
rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the
true David, who was the *Shepherd King* ([Luke 1:32](../../../kjv/luke/1/32);
[Luke 1:33](../../../kjv/luke/1/33)). Messiah is called
"David" in [Isaiah 55:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/55/3);
[Isaiah 55:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/55/4); [Jeremiah 30:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/30/9);
[Hosea 3:5](../../../kjv/hosea/3/5).

**24. my servant**—implying
fitness for ruling in the name of God, not pursuing a self-chosen
course, as other kings, but acting as the faithful administrator of
the will of God; Messiah realized fully this character ([Psalms 40:7](../../../kjv/psalms/40/7);
[Psalms 40:8](../../../kjv/psalms/40/8); [Isaiah 42:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/1);
[Isaiah 49:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/3); [Isaiah 49:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/6);
[Isaiah 53:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/11); [Philippians 2:7](../../../kjv/philippians/2/7)),
which David typically and partially represented ([Philippians 2:7](../../../kjv/philippians/2/7)); so He is the fittest person to wield the world scepter,
abused by all the world kings ([Daniel 2:34](../../../kjv/daniel/2/34);
[Daniel 2:35](../../../kjv/daniel/2/35); [Daniel 2:44](../../../kjv/daniel/2/44);
[Daniel 2:45](../../../kjv/daniel/2/45)).

**25. covenant of peace . . . evil
beasts . . . to cease . . . dwell safely**—The original promise
of the law ([Leviticus 26:6](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/6)) shall be
realized for the first time fully under Messiah ([Isaiah 11:6-9](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/6-9);
[Isaiah 35:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/35/9); [Hosea 2:18](../../../kjv/hosea/2/18)).

**26. them and the places round about
my hill**—The Jews, and Zion, God's hill (), are to be sources of blessing, not merely to themselves,
but to the surrounding heathen ([Isaiah 19:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/24);
[Isaiah 56:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/6); [Isaiah 56:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/7);
[Isaiah 60:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/3); [Micah 5:7](../../../kjv/micah/5/7);
[Zechariah 8:13](../../../kjv/zechariah/8/13)). The literal fulfilment
is, however, the primary one, though the spiritual also is designed.
In correspondence with the settled reign of righteousness internally,
all is to be prosperity externally, fertilizing showers (according to
the promise of the ancient covenant, [Leviticus 26:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/4);
[Psalms 68:9](../../../kjv/psalms/68/9); [Malachi 3:10](../../../kjv/malachi/3/10)),
and productive trees and lands ([Malachi 3:10](../../../kjv/malachi/3/10)). Thus shall they realize the image of [Malachi 3:10](../../../kjv/malachi/3/10); namely, a flock richly pastured by God Himself.

**27. served themselves of
them**—availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were
their slaves ([Jeremiah 22:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/13); [Jeremiah 25:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/14);
compare [Genesis 15:13](../../../kjv/genesis/15/13); [Exodus 1:14](../../../kjv/exodus/1/14)).

**28. dwell safely**— ().

**29. plant of renown**—Messiah,
the "Rod" and "Branch" (), the "righteous Branch" (), who shall obtain for them "renown." FAIRBAIRN
less probably translates, "A plantation for a name," that
is, a flourishing condition, represented as a garden (alluding to
Eden, [Genesis 2:8-11](../../../kjv/genesis/2/8-11), with its
various trees, good for food and pleasant to the sight), the planting
of the Lord ([Isaiah 60:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/21); [Isaiah 61:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/3)),
and an object of "renown" among the heathen.

**31. ye my flock . . . are men**—not
merely an explanation of the image, as JEROME
represents. But as God had promised many things which mere "men"
could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from *man's*
might their realization is to be looked for, but from GOD,
who would perform them for His covenant-people, "*His*
flock" [ROSENMULLER].
When we realize most our weakness and God's power and faithfulness to
His covenant, we are in the fittest state for receiving His
blessings.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ezekiel 34"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ezekiel 34","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 34   :-. REPROOF OF THE\nFALSE SHEPHERDS;\nPROMISE OF THE TRUE\nAND GOOD SHEPHERD. Having in the thirty-third chapter\nlaid down repentance as the nec","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel","name":"Ezekiel"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/34","name":"34"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```