Ezekiel 34:9
New International Version
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

New Living Translation
Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD.

English Standard Version
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Berean Standard Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’

King James Bible
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

New King James Version
therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!

New American Standard Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

NASB 1995
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

NASB 1977
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Legacy Standard Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh:

Amplified Bible
therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Christian Standard Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!”

American Standard Version
therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:

English Revised Version
therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So, you shepherds, listen to the word of the LORD.

Good News Translation
So listen to me, you shepherds.

International Standard Version
"Therefore, you shepherds, listen to what the LORD says:

Majority Standard Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!?

NET Bible
Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

New Heart English Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

World English Bible
therefore, you shepherds, hear Yahweh’s word!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore, O shepherds, hear a word of YHWH!

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, O shepherds, hear a word of Jehovah:

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, hear ye shepherds, the word of Jehovah:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:

Catholic Public Domain Version
because of this, O shepherds, listen to the word of the Lord:

New American Bible
therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

New Revised Standard Version
therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, Shepherds, hear the word of LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For this cause, O shepherds,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against Israel's Shepherds
8‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because My flock lacks a shepherd and has become prey and food for every wild beast, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but fed themselves instead, 9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’ 10This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand from them My flock and remove them from tending the flock, so that they can no longer feed themselves. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’…

Cross References
Jeremiah 23:1-4
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD. / Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. ...

John 10:11-16
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. ...

Zechariah 11:4-17
This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter, / whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them. / For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.” ...

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Isaiah 56:10-12
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: / “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

Matthew 23:1-4
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: / “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ...

Jeremiah 50:6
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.

1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. / And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Acts 20:28-30
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. / I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, / equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Micah 3:1-3
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

Luke 15:4-7
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? / And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, / comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

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Ezekiel 34
1. A reproof of the shepherds
7. God's judgment against them
11. His providence over his flock
20. The kingdom of Christ














therefore, you shepherds,
This phrase addresses the leaders of Israel, often referred to as shepherds in biblical literature. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, kings and leaders were commonly depicted as shepherds of their people, responsible for their welfare and guidance. The use of "therefore" indicates a conclusion or judgment based on previous statements, specifically the failures of these leaders to care for their flock. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages, such as Psalm 23, where God is depicted as the ultimate Shepherd, and John 10, where Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, contrasting with the negligent leaders.

hear the word of the LORD!
This command emphasizes the authority and urgency of God's message. In the prophetic tradition, "hear" is not merely about listening but involves obedience and response. The phrase "word of the LORD" signifies divine revelation, a common expression in the prophetic books indicating that the message comes directly from God. This call to attention is a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, where leaders are expected to heed God's instructions. The failure to do so often results in judgment, as seen in other prophetic texts like Jeremiah 23, where false shepherds are condemned. This phrase underscores the accountability of leaders to divine authority and foreshadows the coming of Jesus, who perfectly fulfills the role of the obedient Shepherd.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites.

2. Shepherds
In this context, the shepherds symbolize the leaders of Israel, including kings, priests, and prophets, who were responsible for guiding and caring for the people.

3. Israel
The nation of Israel, God's chosen people, who were in a state of spiritual and political turmoil during Ezekiel's time.

4. Babylonian Exile
The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.

5. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who speaks through Ezekiel to address the failures of Israel's leaders.
Teaching Points
Accountability of Leaders
Leaders are accountable to God for the care and guidance of those they lead. They must listen to God's word and act accordingly.

Spiritual Leadership
True spiritual leadership involves selfless service and genuine concern for the well-being of others, reflecting God's heart.

Consequences of Neglect
Neglecting responsibilities as a leader can lead to spiritual and communal decay, as seen in Israel's history.

God's Sovereignty
Despite human failures, God remains sovereign and will ultimately shepherd His people, ensuring their care and restoration.

Call to Hear God's Word
Both leaders and followers are called to hear and respond to God's word, allowing it to guide their actions and decisions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
therefore,
לָכֵן֙ (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

you shepherds,
הָֽרֹעִ֔ים (hā·rō·‘îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

hear
שִׁמְע֖וּ (šim·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the word
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD!’
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 34:9 Therefore you shepherds hear the word (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 34:8
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