Ezekiel 34:5
New International Version
So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.

New Living Translation
So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal.

English Standard Version
So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered;

Berean Standard Bible
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.

King James Bible
And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

New King James Version
So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.

New American Standard Bible
They scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every animal of the field and scattered.

NASB 1995
“They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.

NASB 1977
“And they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.

Legacy Standard Bible
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.

Amplified Bible
They were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the predators of the field.

Christian Standard Bible
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered.

American Standard Version
And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

Contemporary English Version
They strayed in every direction, and because there was no shepherd to watch them, they were attacked and eaten by wild animals.

English Revised Version
And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. When they were scattered, they became food for every wild animal.

Good News Translation
Because the sheep had no shepherd, they were scattered, and wild animals killed and ate them.

International Standard Version
"Since they have no shepherd, they have been scattered around and have become prey for all sorts of wild animals. How scattered they are!

Majority Standard Bible
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.

NET Bible
They were scattered because they had no shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast.

New Heart English Bible
They were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the animals of the field, and were scattered.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became food to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

World English Bible
They were scattered, because there was no shepherd. They became food to all the animals of the field, and were scattered.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they are scattered from want of a shepherd, "" And are for food to every beast of the field, "" Indeed, they are scattered.

Young's Literal Translation
And they are scattered from want of a shepherd, And are for food to every beast of the field, Yea, they are scattered.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will be scattered from Without a shepherd: and they will be for consuming to all the beasts of the field, and they will be scattered.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd. And they became devoured by all the wild beasts of the field, and they were dispersed.

New American Bible
So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. They were scattered

New Revised Standard Version
So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And my sheep were scattered because they had no shepherd; and they became food for all the wild beasts of the field.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And my sheep were scattered without a Shepherd, and they were food for every animal of the wilderness
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So were they scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And my sheep were scattered, because there were no shepherds: and they became meat to all the wild beasts of the field.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against Israel's Shepherds
4You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. 6My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’…

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. ...

Zechariah 11:16-17
For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves. / Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”

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.

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. ...

Isaiah 56:9-12
Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest. / 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: ...

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.

Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

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!’ ...

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.

Zechariah 10:2
For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

Jeremiah 10:21
For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

Mark 6:34
When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

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.”

Acts 20:28-29
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.

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.


Treasury of Scripture

And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

they were

Ezekiel 34:6
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.

Ezekiel 33:21,28
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten…

1 Kings 22:17,17
And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace…

because there is no shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:8
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;

Zechariah 10:2,3
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd…

and they became

Ezekiel 34:8
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;

Isaiah 56:9
All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

Jeremiah 12:9-12
Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour…

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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














So they were scattered
The phrase "So they were scattered" reflects the dire consequences of neglect and poor leadership. In the Hebrew text, the word for "scattered" is "פָּרַץ" (parats), which conveys a sense of being broken apart or dispersed. This scattering is not merely a physical dispersion but also a spiritual and communal fracturing. Historically, the Israelites experienced such scattering during the Babylonian exile, a period marked by the loss of national identity and spiritual direction. This scattering serves as a metaphor for the consequences of straying from God's guidance and the failure of leaders to shepherd their people faithfully.

for lack of a shepherd
The phrase "for lack of a shepherd" underscores the critical role of leadership in maintaining the cohesion and spiritual health of a community. The Hebrew word for "shepherd" is "רֹעֶה" (ro'eh), which implies not only one who tends to sheep but also a leader who guides, protects, and nurtures. In the biblical context, shepherds were responsible for the well-being of their flock, ensuring they were fed, safe, and led to good pastures. The absence of a shepherd symbolizes a leadership void, leading to chaos and vulnerability. This imagery is a powerful reminder of the need for godly leaders who reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who cares for His flock with compassion and wisdom.

and when they were scattered
The repetition of the concept of scattering emphasizes the severity of the situation. The Hebrew verb "פָּרַץ" (parats) is used again, reinforcing the idea of being broken and dispersed. This scattering is not just a physical displacement but also a spiritual disorientation. The historical context of the Babylonian exile illustrates how the Israelites were not only removed from their land but also from their spiritual center, the Temple in Jerusalem. This scattering serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of spiritual neglect and the importance of remaining anchored in God's truth.

they became food for all the wild beasts
The phrase "they became food for all the wild beasts" paints a vivid picture of vulnerability and danger. In the Hebrew text, "wild beasts" is "חַיָּה" (chayyah), which can refer to any living creature but often denotes predatory animals. This imagery suggests that without proper leadership and protection, the people are left defenseless against external threats. Historically, this can be seen in the way surrounding nations preyed upon Israel during times of weakness. Spiritually, it represents the dangers of false teachings and moral decay that can devour a community lacking strong, godly leadership. This serves as a call to vigilance and the necessity of shepherds who will guard the flock against such threats.

(5) They were scattered, because. . . .--The calamities of the people are attributed to the fault of the rulers, not because the people themselves were free from sin--the contrary has already been abundantly asserted in this book--but because the people's sins were largely due to the evil example, the idolatries, the oppressions, and the disobedience of their rulers.

Verse 5. - And they were scattered. The words are an echo of 1 Kings 22:17, and are, in their turn, echoed by Matthew 9:36. The words that follow paint the sufferings of the exiles who left their homes and were scattered among the heathen in the days of Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Of these the kings took no heed, and shut themselves up in the luxurious seclusion of their palace.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They were scattered
וַתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָה (wat·tə·p̄ū·ṣe·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered

for lack of
מִבְּלִ֣י (mib·bə·lî)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 1097: Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as

a shepherd,
רֹעֶ֑ה (rō·‘eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

and when they were scattered,
וַתְּפוּצֶֽינָה׃ (wat·tə·p̄ū·ṣe·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered

they became
וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה (wat·tih·ye·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

food
לְאָכְלָ֛ה (lə·’āḵ·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 402: Food, eating

for all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the wild
הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

beasts.
חַיַּ֥ת (ḥay·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 34:5 They were scattered because there was no (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 34:4
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