[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? [3] Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. [4] The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. [5] And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. [6] My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
| Question | Answer |
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| What is the difference between "prophesy" [ending in sy] and "prophecy" [ending in cy]?" | Prophecy [prof-eh-see – Noun]. Prophesy [prof-eh-sigh – Verb]. "Prophecy" is a noun referring to a prediction, often divine, while "prophesy" is a verb meaning to make such a prediction. Prophets deliver prophecies by prophesying. |
Verses 1-2 Expanded Bible Comments
| And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| From whom does this message come? | "The LORD." |
| To whom is the message given? | "Son of man." Seventh Messenger, Pastor Russell. |
| Who is the target of this prophecy? | "The shepherds of Israel." In Br. Russel's day, the nominal Christian leaders (popes, bishops, cardinals, pastors, elders, etc.) |
| What is this message from GOD, delivered by "Son of Man" (Pastor Russell) to "The shepherds of Israel" (nominal Christian ministers?) | "Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!" Compare Luke 20:46-47 |
| What is the LORD's declaration as to what these shepherds should be doing? | "Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" John 10:11-14 |
Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments
| Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| "Ye eat... ye clothe... ye kill... ye feed not..." Who is "ye?" | "The shepherds of Israel," the nominal church ministers, the "hireling shepherds." John 10:13 |
| What does it mean to "eat the fat?" | Basically it means to eat of the best food. Isa. 25:6; Luke 15:23 |
| What's wrong with "you clothe yourselves with wool?" | During cold weather there is nothing wrong with this. The problem here is that these "hireling shepherds" do this only for themselves at the expense of the sheep. |
| What is meant by "you kill them that are fed?" | "Kill = slaughter their influences, cast out their names as evil." – Meggison. John 16:2; Rev. 6:9 R4746. |
| If the shepherds "do not feed the flock," how is it that they are able to "kill them that are fed?" Where are the sheep getting food if not from the shepherds? | While this verse does not explicitly tell us, one thing is certain. The sheep are being fed. Since they are not being fed by the shepherds, clearly the Lord is supplying the food from some other source. |
Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments
| The weak have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| How could the shepherds strengthened the weak sheep? | Weak Strong's H2470 One way the shepherds could strengthen the sheep is to give them good, healthy food, but, alas, they themselves have rejected the good food. How then could they give good food to the sheep?חָלָה châlâh khaw-law' A primitive root (compare H2342, H2490); properly to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causatively) to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat: - beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, X pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick, sore, be sorry, make suit (X supplication), woman in travail, be (become) weak, be wounded. Total KJV occurrences: 76 |
| How could they have "healed that which was sick?" | Most are aware that showing love and kindness to others (even animals like literal sheep) aids in healing. This, at a minimum, is what the shepherds should have done. Instead they added burdens to those who were under their care. Matt. 23:2-5; Luke 11:46See further discussion of this verse, especially considering "the weak" and the "sick." |
| How could they "have ye bound up that which was broken?" | There are several ways. We will take a simple look at one. They could have told them the truth about "hell." But this was too great a money-maker for them. So they pushed this false doctrine. If they had simply told them the truth they would have help to bind "up that which was broken," i.e., bound up their broken spirit. Contrast what they did with the St. Paul's advice to Timothy in 2 Tim. 1:7. |
| Why would the shepherds be held responsible for "that which was driven away?" | In the Bible, a shepherd�s job involved:
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| Why should the shepherds seek for "that which was lost?" | Because it is the job of the shepherd to keep and care for all the sheep. Consider Matt. 18:12-14. |
| Part of the criticism of the shepherds here is that "with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them." Isn't a firm hand often required to keep the flock in line? Why then the criticism? | Discipline is needed. Prov. 22:15; Prov. 23:13-14.The criticism is because this was done "with force and with cruelty" instead of being done with love and true caring. |
| If we question the translation of a verse, can we simply look at Strong's definition and safely come up with a better understanding? "The weak have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick." | For the most part we might gain some additional understanding, but we are not translators. There are great challenges when attempting to translate from another language into English. The sentence structure is usually different. What about idioms. Can you imagine someone from Brazil using something like a concordance to English and attempting to understand why someone was talking about one who "kicked the bucket?" Most likely they would be completely confused.This verse is somewhat like that. It becomes even more complicated when we realize that the words "weak" [or "diseased"] and the word "sick" are both the exact same Hebrew word! H2470. Why are they translated differently? Every translation we looked at has it that way, i.e., the first H2470 and the second H2470 are translated by different English words. – We should understand that context also plays an important part in the meaning of the words.The main point we are making is that we need to be careful. Finding the Strong's definition and then drilling down two or three levels and then declaring that this must be the true meaning can be a dangerous thing. Remember, we are handling the Word of God! |
Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments
| And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Why were the Lord's sheep scattered? | "Because there is no shepherd." |
| Who are "the beasts of the field?" | The governments (beasts) of the field ("the field is the world.") |
| What happened to the sheep "when they were scattered?" | "They became meat to all the beasts of the field." |
Verse 6 Expanded Bible Comments
| My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Where did the LORD's sheep wander and what does that mean? | "My sheep wandered through all the mountains [kingdoms of so-called Christendom], and upon every high hill [strong government, even though not a part of so-called Christendom]." |
| What else happened to the LORD's sheep? | "My flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth." |
| Did the shepherds seek for them? | "None did search or seek after them." |
[7] Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; [8] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; [9] Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; [10] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
Verses 7-8 Expanded Bible Comments
| Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; [8] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| This verse begins with "Therefore." What does that mean? | Cause and effect. What follows is a direct result of what has just been described in the prior verses. |
| To whom is this message directed? | "Ye shepherds." Those who are supposed to be leading, protecting, feeding and caring for the Lord's sheep. |
| What are these "shepherds" instructed to do and what does that mean? | They are instructed to "hear the word of the LORD." This indicates that they not only need to hear but also to pay attention and to act upon what God tells them. |
| What does it indicate when we see the phrase "As I live, saith the Lord GOD?" | This is the same as we find in Heb. 6:13. |
| Is the LORD being vague about what He is about to do? | "Surely because my flock..." Most translations use words like "surely, truly, verily," etc. |
| How is it that "my flock became a prey?" | Because His shepherds abdicated their responsibilities. |
| What is meant by "my flock became meat to every beast of the field?" | His flock (His sheep, the justified) became meat (food) to every beast (government) of the field (the world.) |
| Why did this happen? | "Because there was no shepherd." |
| If there was "no shepherd," why does the next expression say "neither did my shepherds search for my flock?" | Because those who were supposed to be caring for the Lord's flock became completely overwhelmed by the Adversary. Instead of following the example of Jesus (John 10:11) they only looked out for themselves, they were "hireling shepherds." (John 10:12-13) |
| Instead of searching for and feeding the Lord's flock, what did these "hireling shepherds" do? | "The (hireling) shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock." |
Verse 9 Expanded Bible Comments
| Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| This verse begins with "Therefore." What does that mean? | Cause and effect. What follows is a direct result of what has just been described in the prior verses. |
| To whom is this message directed? | "O ye shepherds." Those who are supposed to be leading, protecting, feeding and caring for the Lord's sheep. |
| "Hear the word of the LORD." Does this mean these shepherds will actually hear the audible voice of Jehovah? | They need to listen to what they are being told by the Almighty. They then need to digest what they hear. Remember, this is exactly what they were told to do in verse 7. Clearly to "hear" indicates to understand. The fact that they are told this exact same message two times in rapid sequence conveys an urgency they really should pay attention to. |
Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What is really indicated by the phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD?" | The word "Lord" here is Strong's H136 Strong's H136 The word "GOD" here is Strong's H3069אֲדֹנָי 'ădônây ad-o-noy' An emphatic form of H113; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only): - (my) Lord. Total KJV occurrences: 438 Strong's H3069 H3068 is the name Jehovah. H3069 is yet another way of saying Jehovah. The fact is that JEHOVAH GOD Himself is here speaking. – This may very well be the most powerful phrase in the universe!יְהֹוִה yehôvih yeh-ho-vee' A variation of H3068 (used after H136, and pronounced by Jews as H430, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce H3068 as H136): - God. Total KJV occurrences: 302 |
| If any of us were of "the shepherds" here being spoken of, could we imagine being in a more dangerous position? | NO! Heb. 10:31 |
| "I will require my flock at their hand." What does that mean? | |
| Basically, what is the job of a shepherd? | To lead, protect, feed and care for the Lord's sheep. |
| The LORD then speaks to the shepherds about feeding the flock. What does He promise to do about feeding "the flock" and about feeding "the shepherds?" | |
| Upon what were "the shepherds" feeding? | "I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them." These shepherds were feeding upon the very sheep they were supposed to be protecting and caring for. |
[11] For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. [13] And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. [15] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. [16] I will seek that which was lost, and bring again 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 with judgment.
Verse 11 Expanded Bible Comments
| For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 12 Expanded Bible Comments
| As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. | |
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Verse 13 Expanded Bible Comments
| And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. | |
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Verse 14 Expanded Bible Comments
| I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. | |
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Verse 15 Expanded Bible Comments
| I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. | |
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Verse 16 Expanded Bible Comments
| I will seek that which was lost, and bring again 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 with judgment. | |
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[17] And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. [18] Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? [19] And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
Verse 17 Expanded Bible Comments
| And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. | |
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Verse 18 Expanded Bible Comments
| Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? | |
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Verse 19 Expanded Bible Comments
| And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. | |
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[20] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. [21] Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; [22] Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. [23] And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. [24] And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
Verse 20 Expanded Bible Comments
| Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. | |
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Verse 21 Expanded Bible Comments
| Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; | |
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Verse 22 Expanded Bible Comments
| Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. | |
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Verse 23 Expanded Bible Comments
| And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. | |
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Verse 24 Expanded Bible Comments
| And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. | |
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[25] And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. [26] And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. [27] And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. [28] And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. [29] And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. [30] Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. [31] And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
Verse 25 Expanded Bible Comments
| And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. | |
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Verse 26 Expanded Bible Comments
| And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. | |
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Verse 27 Expanded Bible Comments
| And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. | |
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Verse 28 Expanded Bible Comments
| And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. | |
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Verse 29 Expanded Bible Comments
| And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. | |
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Verse 30 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. | |
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Verse 31 Expanded Bible Comments
| And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD. | |
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