Ezekiel 34:12

Translation
King James Version
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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KJV (with Strong's)
As a shepherd H7462 seeketh out H1243 his flock H5739 in the day H3117 that he is among H8432 his sheep H6629 that are scattered H6567; so will I seek out H1239 my sheep H6629, and will deliver H5337 them out of all places H4725 where they have been scattered H6327 in the cloudy H6051 and dark H6205 day H3117.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Just as a shepherd looks after his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.
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Berean Standard Bible
As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
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American Standard Version
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
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World English Bible Messianic
As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
As a shepherd searcheth out his flocke, when he hath bene among his sheepe that are scattered, so wil I seeke out my sheepe and wil deliuer them out of all places, where they haue beene scattered in the cloudie and darke day,
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Young's Literal Translation
As a shepherd's searching of his drove, In the day of his being in the midst of his scattered flock, so I do seek My flock, And have delivered them out of all places, Whither they have been scattered, In a day of cloud and thick darkness.
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See also
Isaiah 40:11John 10:11John 10:12Luke 19:10Luke 15:4Luke 15:6Ezekiel 30:3
In the KJVVerse 21,326 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 34:12 offers a profound and comforting declaration of God's unwavering commitment to His people, portraying Himself as the ultimate, diligent Shepherd. This verse stands as a powerful divine promise of active restoration and compassionate deliverance for His scattered flock, sharply contrasting His faithful care with the negligence of human leaders. It assures a future gathering of His dispersed people from even the direst circumstances, signifying His relentless love and redemptive initiative to bring them back into His protective fold.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Ezekiel 34 is a pivotal chapter within the broader prophetic book, which primarily addresses the spiritual decline of Judah, the reasons for its impending exile, and the glorious promises of future restoration. Immediately preceding this verse, God delivers a scathing indictment against the corrupt "shepherds" of Israel—its kings, priests, and prophets—who have exploited, neglected, and scattered His "sheep," the people of Israel. These false leaders prioritized their own gain over the well-being of the flock, leading to the nation's spiritual and physical dispersion. In stark contrast to their abject failure, Ezekiel 34:11 introduces God's solemn declaration: "For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." Verse 12 then elaborates on the intensity, scope, and compassionate nature of this divine rescue operation, setting the stage for God's direct and personal intervention as the true and faithful Shepherd.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The prophecies in Ezekiel were delivered during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 BC), a time of immense national trauma and spiritual crisis for the Jewish people. Jerusalem and its sacred Temple lay in ruins, and the populace had been forcibly removed from their homeland, scattered across various foreign territories. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the shepherd was a deeply understood and highly respected figure, embodying leadership, protection, provision, and intimate care for the flock. Kings and rulers were frequently referred to as shepherds of their people. By adopting this powerful metaphor, God directly challenges the failed human leadership of Israel and unequivocally asserts His own rightful, compassionate, and supremely effective authority over His flock. The "scattered" state of the sheep vividly reflects the physical and spiritual dispersion of the Israelites, a direct consequence of the exile and the catastrophic failures of their appointed leaders.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to Ezekiel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights God as the True Shepherd, emphasizing His active, personal, and compassionate care for His people, standing in stark contrast to the negligent human leaders condemned earlier in Ezekiel 34. Secondly, it underscores Divine Seeking and Restoration, portraying God's sovereign initiative to find and deliver His dispersed people, promising their comprehensive gathering from "all places where they have been scattered." This theme of gathering and return is a cornerstone of post-exilic prophecy, anticipating a future restoration of Israel. Thirdly, the evocative phrase "the cloudy and dark day" signifies a time of severe judgment, profound distress, and overwhelming calamity, specifically referring to the Babylonian exile and its aftermath, but also broadly applicable to any period of deep spiritual or national crisis. This imagery resonates with other prophetic books, such as Joel 2:2 and Zephaniah 1:15. Finally, the verse powerfully affirms God's Unwavering Faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating that despite Israel's unfaithfulness and the failures of its human leaders, God will not abandon His people but will personally ensure their ultimate salvation and gathering.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • seek out (Hebrew, bâqar', H1239): Derived from H1239, this primitive root properly means "to plough, or (generally) break forth, i.e. (figuratively) to inspect, admire, care for, consider; (make) inquire (-ry), (make) search, seek out." The use of this word emphasizes a thorough, diligent, and meticulous search, rather than a casual or superficial glance. It conveys God's profound attention and deep concern for each individual sheep, implying a personal and exhaustive effort to locate and restore them.
  • scattered (Hebrew, pûwts', H6327): This primitive root means "to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse); break (dash, shake) in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive, retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad." This word vividly describes a violent, destructive, and widespread dispersion, highlighting the vulnerable, fragmented, and desperate state of the sheep. It underscores the severity of the judgment and the dire circumstances from which God promises to deliver His people.
  • cloudy and dark day (Hebrew, yôwm_ ʻânân _ʻărâphel', H3117): This powerful phrase combines H3117 (day), H6051 (cloud), and H6205 (gloom/darkness). Yôwm signifies a specific period, often with significant implications. ʻânân refers to a covering cloud, often associated with divine presence or judgment. ʻărâphel denotes a thick, lowering gloom or gross darkness, suggesting obscurity and distress. Together, they create a potent image of a day of divine judgment, profound distress, obscured understanding, and overwhelming calamity. It represents a time when God's presence might seem hidden, and human understanding is clouded by overwhelming suffering, signifying the deep despair and confusion of the exilic period.

Verse Breakdown

  • "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered;": This initial clause establishes a compelling simile, drawing upon the universally understood and familiar image of a diligent pastoral worker. It describes the active, painstaking effort of a human shepherd who meticulously searches for his dispersed sheep on a day when they have been scattered. This sets the expectation and provides a tangible illustration for the divine action that immediately follows, emphasizing the personal, active, and absolutely necessary nature of the search.
  • "so will I seek out my sheep,": Here, God emphatically applies the shepherd metaphor directly to Himself. The "I" is intensely emphatic in the Hebrew, highlighting God's personal commitment, sovereign initiative, and unparalleled responsibility. He promises to undertake the very same diligent, caring, and exhaustive search for His people, demonstrating His unique love and profound responsibility for His flock, in stark contrast to the negligent and self-serving human shepherds.
  • "and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered": This clause reveals the ultimate purpose and comprehensive scope of God's seeking. His aim is not merely to locate but to rescue, liberate, and bring His people to safety and wholeness. The phrase "out of all places" powerfully underscores the comprehensive nature of this divine deliverance, indicating that no matter how far or wide His sheep have been dispersed, God's reach and power are utterly sufficient to gather every single one.
  • "in the cloudy and dark day.": This final phrase specifies the dire context of both the scattering and the promised deliverance. It refers to a period of intense distress, divine judgment, and profound obscurity—the "day of the Lord" often associated with calamity and divine wrath. It highlights that God's intervention is most profound, most necessary, and most glorious precisely when His people are in their deepest trouble, despair, and spiritual disorientation, demonstrating His faithfulness even in the darkest hours.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 34:12 is exceptionally rich in Imagery and Metaphor, primarily employing the pervasive Shepherd-Flock Metaphor to convey the intimate and responsible relationship between God and His people, Israel. God is portrayed as the ultimate, caring, and diligent shepherd, while Israel is depicted as His vulnerable, scattered flock. This central metaphor establishes a profound sense of personal care, divine responsibility, and tender protection. The phrase "cloudy and dark day" is a powerful instance of Symbolism, representing a time of severe judgment, profound distress, and spiritual obscurity, often specifically associated with the Babylonian exile and the outpouring of divine wrath. The verse also skillfully utilizes Simile ("As a shepherd... so will I...") to draw a direct and compelling comparison between the diligent actions of a human shepherd and God's own meticulous, active, and personal search for His scattered people. This literary structure powerfully emphasizes the direct, personal, and intentional nature of God's redemptive work. Furthermore, the repeated emphasis on the state of being "scattered" throughout the verse (and chapter) serves as a form of Repetition, underscoring the dire predicament of the flock and simultaneously highlighting the comprehensive and necessary nature of the promised divine restoration.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 34:12 stands as a profound declaration of God's sovereign and compassionate care for His people, particularly in times of profound distress and dispersion. It establishes a foundational theological truth: unlike fallible and self-serving human leaders, God Himself is the ultimate, faithful Shepherd who actively pursues and restores His lost and scattered flock. This divine initiative is not merely a passive waiting for repentance but an active, searching love that seeks to deliver from the consequences of sin and the failures of others. The promise of gathering from "all places" foreshadows a comprehensive restoration, both physical and spiritual, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even when they are in their "cloudy and dark day" of judgment and suffering. This theme of divine seeking and gathering forms a crucial bridge between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment, pointing towards a greater Shepherd to come.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Ezekiel 34:12 offers profound comfort and enduring hope for believers across all generations. It assures us that even in our most vulnerable moments, when we feel lost, scattered, or overwhelmed by life's "cloudy and dark days"—be they personal crises, spiritual wandering, emotional distress, or societal turmoil—God is never distant or indifferent. Rather, He is the active, pursuing Shepherd, diligently seeking us out with meticulous care and unwavering love. This verse reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in our own ability to find our way back, but in God's relentless commitment to find and deliver us. It calls us to trust implicitly in His sovereign power to gather us from whatever circumstances have dispersed us, bringing us securely into His protective fold and restoring us to spiritual wholeness. It serves as a powerful antidote to despair, affirming that no matter how fragmented or hopeless our circumstances may seem, God's promise of rescue and restoration remains eternally true and active in our lives.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what "cloudy and dark day" of your life have you most profoundly experienced God's active pursuit and delivering grace?
  • How does the vivid image of God as a diligent shepherd seeking out His scattered sheep deepen your understanding of His personal love and care for you?
  • What practical steps can you take to more fully lean into God's seeking love and trust His gathering power when you feel spiritually lost, isolated, or scattered?

FAQ

What does "the cloudy and dark day" signify in this verse?

Answer: The phrase "the cloudy and dark day" (Hebrew: yom anan va'arafel) is a potent biblical idiom signifying a time of severe judgment, profound distress, and overwhelming calamity. In the immediate context of Ezekiel 34, it primarily refers to the period of the Babylonian exile, when the people of Israel were scattered and vulnerable due to their disobedience and the catastrophic failure of their human leaders. It describes a time of national catastrophe, spiritual confusion, and profound suffering, where God's presence might seem obscured by the overwhelming circumstances. However, it can also broadly represent any period of intense hardship, divine discipline, or spiritual disorientation that individuals or communities may experience. This imagery is common in prophetic literature, often associated with the "Day of the Lord," as seen in passages like Joel 2:2 and Zephaniah 1:15.

How does this verse relate to the Babylonian exile?

Answer: Ezekiel 34:12 is deeply rooted in the historical reality of the Babylonian exile. The "scattered" sheep directly represent the Jewish people who had been forcibly dispersed from their homeland, Judah, and were living as exiles in various foreign lands, particularly Babylon. The "cloudy and dark day" vividly describes the trauma, suffering, and spiritual disorientation of this exile, which was understood by the prophets as divine judgment for their unfaithfulness and the corrupt leadership of their kings and priests. In this dire context, God's promise to "seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered" was a direct and profound assurance of future restoration. It promised that despite their current dire circumstances, God Himself would personally intervene to gather His people from their dispersion and bring them back to their land, fulfilling His covenant promises, as further elaborated in Ezekiel 36:24.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Ezekiel 34:12 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. While Ezekiel's prophecy primarily promised a physical gathering of Israel from exile, its deepest spiritual reality is realized in Christ's divine mission to seek and save the lost. Jesus Himself unequivocally declared, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). He is the divine Shepherd who actively came into a world scattered by sin, lost in spiritual ignorance, and living in the "cloudy and dark day" of rebellion against God. His incarnation, His compassionate ministry, and His sacrificial death on the cross were the supreme acts of "seeking out" His sheep and "delivering them out of all places where they have been scattered" by the pervasive power of sin and death. As Luke 19:10 profoundly states, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Through His atoning work, Jesus gathers a new, universal flock, composed of believers from every nation, bringing them into His secure fold, providing abundant spiritual nourishment, divine protection, and the promise of eternal life (John 10:16). He is the one who truly rescues us from the darkest days of our spiritual wandering and leads us to green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23:2), fulfilling the ancient promise of the diligent and faithful Shepherd.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 34 verses 7–16

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

Upon reading the foregoing articles of impeachment drawn up, in God's name, against the shepherds of Israel, we cannot but look upon the shepherds with a just indignation, and upon the flock with a tender compassion. God, by the prophet, here expresses both in a high degree; and the shepherds are called upon (Eze 34:7, Eze 34:9) to hear the word of the Lord, to hear this word. Let them hear how little he regards them, who made much of themselves, and how much he regards the flock, which they made nothing of; both will be humbling to them. Those that will not hear the word of the Lord giving them their direction shall be made to hear the word of the Lord reading them their doom. Now see here,

I. How much displeased God is at the shepherds. Their crimes are repeated, Eze 34:8. God's flock became a prey to the deceivers first that drew them to idolatry, and then to the destroyers that carried them into captivity; and these shepherds took no care to prevent either the one or the other, but were as if there had been no shepherds; and therefore God says (Eze 34:10), and confirms it with an oath (Eze 34:8), I am against the shepherds. They had a commission from God to feed the flock, and made use of this name in what they did, expecting he would stand by them. "No," says God, "so far from that, I am against them." Note, It is not our having the name and authority of shepherds that will engage God for us, if we do not the work enjoined us, and be not faithful to the trust reposed in us. God is against them, and they shall know it; for, 1. They shall be made to account for the manner in which they have discharged their trust: "I will require my flock at their hands, and charge it upon them that so many of them are missing." Note, Those will have a great deal to answer for in the judgment-day who take upon them the care of souls and yet take no care of them. Ministers must watch and work as those that must give account, Heb 13:17. 2. They shall be deprived officio et beneficio - both of the work and of the wages. They shall cease from feeding the flock, that is, from pretending to feed it. Note, It is just with God to take out of men's hands that power which they have abused and that trust which they have betrayed. But, if this were all their punishment, they could bear it well enough; therefore it is added, "Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more, for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, which, instead of protecting, they had made a prey of." Note, Those that are enriching themselves with the spoils of the public cannot expect that they shall always be suffered to do so. Nor will God always permit his people to be trampled upon by those that should support them, but will find a time to deliver them from the shepherds their false friends, as well as from the lions their open enemies.

II. How much concerned God is for the flock; he speaks as if he were the more concerned for them because he saw them thus neglected, for with him the fatherless finds mercy. Precious promises are made here upon the occasion, which were to have their accomplishment in the return of the Jews out of their captivity and their re-establishment in their own land. Let the shepherds hear this word of the Lord, and know that they have no part nor lot in the matter. But let the poor sheep hear it and take the comfort of it. Note, Though magistrates and ministers fail in doing their part, for the good of the church, yet God will not fail in doing his; he will take the flock into his own hand rather than the church shall come short of any kindness he has designed for it. The under-shepherds may prove careless, but the chief Shepherd neither slumbers nor sleeps. They may be false, but God abides faithful.

1.God will gather his sheep together that were scattered, and bring those back to the fold that had wandered from it: "I, even I, who alone can do it, will do it, and will have all the glory of it. I will both search my sheep and find them out (Eze 34:11) as a shepherd does (Eze 34:12), and bring them back as he does the stray-sheep, upon his shoulders, from all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." There are cloudy and dark days, windy and stormy ones, which scatter God's sheep, which send them hither and thither, to divers and distant places, in quest of secresy and safety. But, (1.) Wherever they are the eye of God will find them out; for his eyes run to and fro through the earth, in favour of them. I will seek out my sheep; and not one that belongs to the fold, though driven ever so far off, shall be lost. The Lord knows those that are his; he knows their work and where they dwell (Rev 2:13), and where they are hidden. (2.) When his time shall come his arms will fetch them home (Eze 34:13): I will bring them out from the people. God will both incline their hearts to come by his grace and will by his providence open a door for them and remove every difficulty that lies in the way. They shall not return one by one, clandestinely stealing away, but they shall return in a body: "I will gather them from the countries into which they are dispersed, not only the most considerable families of them, but every particular person. I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away," Eze 34:16. This was done when so many thousand Jews returned triumphantly out of Babylon, under the conduct of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and others. When those that have gone astray from God into the paths of sin are brought back by repentance, when those that erred come to the acknowledgment of the truth, when God's outcasts are gathered and restored, and religious assemblies, that were dispersed, rally again, upon the ceasing of persecution, and when the churches have rest and liberty, then this promise has a further accomplishment.

2.God will feed his people as the sheep of his pasture, that had been famished. God will bring the returning captives safely to their own land (Eze 34:13), will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, and that is a good pasture, and a fat pasture (Eze 34:14); there shall their feeding be, and there shall be their fold; and it is a good fold. There God will not only feed them, but cause them to lie down (Eze 34:15), which denotes a comfortable rest after they had tired themselves with their wanderings, and a constant continuing residence; they shall not be driven out again from these green pastures, as they have been, nor shall they be disturbed, but shall lie down in a sweet repose and there shall be none to make them afraid. Psa 23:2, He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Compare this with the like promise (Jer 23:3, Jer 23:4), when God restored them not only to the milk and honey of their own land, to the enjoyment of its fruits, but to the privileges of his sanctuary on Mount Zion, the chief of the mountains of Israel. When they had an altar and a temple again, and the benefit of a settled priesthood, then they were fed in a good pasture.

3.He will succour those that are hurt, will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick, will comfort those that mourn in Zion and with Zion. If ministers, who should speak peace to those who are of a sorrowful spirit, neglect their duty, yet the Holy Ghost the Comforter will be faithful to his office. But, as it follows, the fat and the strong shall be destroyed. He that has rest for disquieted saints has terror to speak to presumptuous sinners. As every valley shall be filled, so every mountain and hill shall be brought low, Luk 3:5.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–16. Public domain.
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Gregory of NazianzusAD 390
IN DEFENSE OF HIS FLIGHT TO PONTUS, ORATION 2:117
He is shepherd to shepherds and a guide to guides: that we may feed his flock with knowledge, not with the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Verse 35, 36, and following) And I will bring you into a desert of peoples, and there I will judge you face to face. Just as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, says the Lord. And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will bring you into the bonds of the covenant, and I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked: from their place of residence I will bring them out, and they will not enter the land of Israel, and you will know that I am the Lord. Thus says the Lord: I will do for you who are in Babylon, and now serve idols, what I did for your ancestors in Egypt. I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face, just as I contended with them in judgment when they came out of Egypt. And after I have judged you, I will subject you to my scepter and rule, and I will make a covenant with you and bring you into your land with the bonds of love, so that bound by my love, you will never be able to depart from me. But I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked, who persist in the hardness of their hearts in evil deeds, not for possession, but for rejection. And I will indeed bring them out of the land of their dwelling, so that when they are brought out, they will not enter the land of Israel; but they will perish in various regions. And by the distinction between good and evil, you shall know that I am the Lord, who judges all things. The rest of the discourse hastens, and we briefly go through each point, in order to provide only the meaning to the readers.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Chapter 34.) And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds (or to the shepherds) of Israel, prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves. (Or: O shepherds of Israel, do the shepherds not feed themselves?) Do not the flocks feed on the shepherds? (Or do the sheep not feed the shepherds?) You have eaten the curds, and you have clothed yourselves with the wool, and you have slaughtered the fat animals, but you have not fed my flock. You did not strengthen what was weak (or comforted); and you did not heal what was sick; you did not bind up what was broken, and you did not bring back what was cast away (or wandering); you did not seek what was lost; but with severity you commanded them, and with power (or what happened to be, you afflicted them with labor). And my sheep were scattered because there was no shepherd (or shepherds), and they became a prey to all the beasts of the field, and they were scattered. My flocks (or sheep) had wandered upon all the mountains, and upon every high hill, and were scattered upon the face of the whole earth; and there was none to seek them, there was no one, I say, to seek (or bring back) them. Therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks (or sheep) have been made a prey, and my sheep have been devoured by every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd (or shepherds), for my shepherds sought not after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and did not feed my flocks. Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will require my flock from their hand, and I will make them cease to shepherd my flock any longer; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves (or the sheep) any longer, and I will deliver my flock (or sheep) from their mouth, and they shall no longer be food for them. For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his dispersed sheep (or when there is darkness and clouds among his separated sheep), so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them (whether female or male) from the peoples (or from the nations), and I will gather them (whether female or male) from the lands (or from the regions), and I will bring them (whether female or male) into their own land, and I will feed them (whether female or male) on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the inhabited places of the land. In the most fertile pastures I will feed them (whether female or male), and they will be grazing their (or their sheep's) pastures on the high mountains of Israel: there they will rest in green grass, and in rich pastures they will graze on the mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep, and I will make them lie down (or rest), says the Lord God. I will seek what was lost, and I will bring back what was cast away (or wandered): and I will bind up what was broken, and I will strengthen (or comfort) what was weak: and I will watch over the fat and strong ones, and I will feed them with judgment (or justice). But you, my flock (or sheep), this says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between the sheep, and between rams and goats. Was it not enough for you to graze on good pastures? Moreover, you trampled the remnants of your pastures with your feet, and when you drank the purest water, you disturbed the rest with your feet. And my sheep, which were trampled by your feet, were fed, and those feet of yours that disturbed, they drank. Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I myself will judge between the fat livestock and the lean (or between the strong and the weak livestock): because you pushed with your sides and shoulders, and with your horns you scattered all the weak animals until they were scattered outside. I will save my flock, and it will no longer be plundered, and I will judge between sheep and sheep (or between ram and ram). And I will raise up over them (here and elsewhere) (or over them) one shepherd who will feed them (or him), my servant David: he will feed them (or him): and he will be their shepherd. But I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken. And I will make a covenant (or testament) of peace with them, and I will cause the most harmful beasts to cease from the earth, and those who dwell in the wilderness will sleep safely in the woods. And I will place them around my hill as a blessing, and I will bring rain in its season, and the rains will be a blessing. And the trees of the field will yield their fruit, and the land will give its increase, and they will dwell in their land without fear (or in the hope of peace), and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the yoke and deliver them from the hand of those who have enslaved them. And they will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will the beasts of the earth devour them, but they will dwell securely (or in hope) without any fear. And I will raise up for them a renowned offspring (or a peaceable plantation), and they will no longer be cut off (or destroyed) by famine in the land, nor bear the reproach of the nations anymore. And they will know that I am the Lord their God, for I am with them, and they are my people, the house of Israel, declares the Lord God. But you, my flock, are men, the flock of my pasture (or sheep), and I am the Lord your God, says the Lord God. I have often advised to mix both editions, in order to magnify the greatness of the books, in those parts only, which do not differ much from themselves in translation. After the capture of Jerusalem, after he announced in Babylon that he had fled, he spoke about those who dwelt in the ruined Jerusalem, and then about those who were placed in captivity but nevertheless persisted in evil, unwilling to hear the words of the prophets: now he directs his speech to the shepherds, that is, to the leaders, whose fault the sheep, that is, the people, were scattered. And this should be noted, that from the twelfth year, tenth month, fifth day of the month of transmigration, or captivity of Jechoniah, and those who were captured with him, until the twenty-fifth year, when the temple is built on the mountain of the city, and the incredible sacraments of the Church are revealed, there is no middle year, and no specific time is mentioned; but it is simply said: The word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, speak to those and to them, that we may understand everything that is read in thirteen years, at different times; and yet certain intervals of time are not specified among them. But the word is directed to the shepherds of Israel, whom we must understand as either kings, or princes, scribes and Pharisees, and teachers of the Jewish people. Or certainly in the Gospel people, the bishops, presbyters, and deacons: or according to mystical understanding, the Angels of the individual Churches, to whom John wrote in his Apocalypse (Apoc. I), and whose Angels daily see the face of God (Matthew XV). And it is said first: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who, although they should feed the Lord's flock and provide for its salvation, hasten to satisfy their own luxury. Therefore, great caution must be taken, and those precepts must be observed: Do not seek to become a judge, lest you may not be able to remove injustices (Eccli. VII, 6). And again: The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself, and in the sight of the Lord you will find favor (Ibid. III, 29). And again: They have made you a leader, do not be exalted, but be among them as one of them (Eccli. XXXII, 1). Thus the Apostle says that he is like a little child and a nursing infant among the disciples (I Cor. III). And that which follows: You were eating milk, and were clothed with wool, speaks metaphorically of the shepherds to the princes, of whom it is written elsewhere: Who devour my people like bread (Ps. LII, 5). Understand all food in milk: in wool, the various variety of garments. But when it is said: And you killed the fat, it speaks of the rich in the people, whom the wicked princes are said to slay in the churches, while they preach to them, and dare not rebuke their vices. Concerning whom the prophet also says: 'My people, who call you blessed, deceive you and undermine the path of your feet' (Isaiah 3:12). Concerning whom also James speaks (James 2:3), that when they enter, they are honored with precious clothing and a gold ring, and to the holy poor it is said: 'But you, sit on a stool, or on the ground, or stand.' They do not strengthen or consolidate what is weak. And Paul also speaks: Receive the weak (Rom. XIV, 1). And: receive the weak in faith. And: Many among you are weak and sick. To whom divine speech is sent, about which it is written in the Psalms: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (Ps. CV, 10). And he says that what is broken is not bound: not considering mortal wounds in the people, such as adultery, murder, sacrilege. And they do not bring back what has been rejected or what they have seen to be in error, allowing them to be deceived by heretics. And they do not seek what has been lost, not desiring to save those who are perishing, but rather to devour those who are in the Churches: but they command them with severity and with power, which properly belongs to the superciliousness of the bishops, namely, those who disgrace the dignity of their name by their actions and assume pride in humility, so that they consider themselves to have gained honor, not burden: and they strive to oppress anyone in the Church whom they see as powerful and as having the word of God. Where in the Septuagint it is written: And what was by chance, you afflicted with labor. And the people of God was dispersed, either by vices or by the error of heretics: because there was no good shepherd who would lay down his life for the sheep: but all were mercenaries, who only considered their own profit from the flocks, and when they saw a wolf, they fled. By their negligence, the flock of the Lord is devoured by the beasts of the field, of which it is written: You have set darkness, and it became night: in it all the beasts of the field shall pass, the lion's whelps roaring, that they may snatch and seek food from God (Ps. 103:20-21). And they are scattered and wander on all the mountains, which rise up against the knowledge of God, and on every lofty hill, which through heretical pride despise the simplicity of the Church. And they are scattered over the whole face of the earth, seeking earthly things, not heavenly. And there was no one who would seek or lead them back, because they are occupied with pleasures and do not care for the losses of the Lord's flock. Therefore, the word of the Lord is addressed to the wicked shepherds, because they have done these things that I have explained above, and which are enumerated a second time: Behold, I myself will come to the shepherds and seek my flock from their hand, for it is expedient that the millstone of the donkey be tied around their neck (Matthew 18), rather than they cause the least scandal to my people. And this will be their punishment or rather the greatest punishment, that they shall no longer pasture my flock: lest under the excuse of feeding the sheep they feed on themselves, and gather riches: And I will deliver my people from their mouth. I will require, says the Lord, from their hand, and I will deliver from their mouth what is devoured by greedy jaws. But when He shall require the sheep, He will visit them as if they were sick and emaciated, and scattered by the negligence of the shepherds: and He will deliver from all places in the day of the cloud and darkness, of which also Joel speaks: The day of the Lord is near, and it is the day of darkness and gloom, and the day of clouds and mist (Joel. II, 1, 2). Then they shall be brought out from the lands, to be brought into their own land, which is the land of the living: and he himself shall feed them in the mountains of Israel, of which David speaks: I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence shall come my help (Ps. CXX, 1). And not only in the mountains, but in the rivers, and in all the seats of the earth, in fertile pastures, and on the high mountain, of which Isaiah and Micah prophesy more fully (Isa. II; Mic. IV, VII): or in the high mountains of Israel. There they will rest in green pastures, and they will say: The Lord feeds me, and nothing will be lacking to me; he has placed me there in the place of pasture. He has led me forth above the waters of refreshment (Ps. 22:1-2). And they will be fed in the richest pastures on the mountains of Israel. It is an endless promise and hope of blessedness, when the Lord himself promises, saying: I will feed my sheep, and I will never commit them to evil shepherds, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God, so that they may rest in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then what was lost among the peoples of the nations will be sought after, and what had wandered in the persuasion of heretics will be brought back, and what was broken will be bound up, and what was crushed and weak will be strengthened, so that what is written may be fulfilled: He heals their infirmities and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). For a broken and humbled heart, God will not despise (Psalm 51:19). Therefore, even the holy one says: Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled (Psalm 6:2). And in the thirty-seventh Psalm (Verse 4) the penitent says: There is no peace in my bones because of the face of my sins: and what is fat, he says, I will keep: lest it be devoured by beasts. And he will feed his sheep in judgment, knowing to which sheep what pastures are owed. For there are many mansions with the Father (John XIV). And: The Father does not judge anyone: but he has given all judgment to the Son (Ibid., V). But these things he spoke against the shepherds: now he speaks to the sheep, that is, to the people: and to the flock of both kinds of livestock, that is, the sheep and the goats: and not only to the sheep and goats, but also to the rams and the bucks, who are the leaders in the flocks, to whom he says: Was it not enough for you to feed on the good pastures of the Scriptures? But in addition, you were trampling on the remnants of your pastures with your feet. And while you were drinking the purest waters of God's teachings, you were disturbing the remaining waters with your feet, so that my people would eat and drink trampled pastures and tainted waters because of your fault, which in itself was good but became corrupted and violated. Indeed, this is what all heretics do, they pick apart the words of the Scriptures and, to the best of their ability, stain them. But even the ecclesiastical men who do not preserve the truth of the doctrines, but instead fabricate them from their own hearts, and hold their presumption as a teacher, are held captive by a similar error. When they persuade the people that the things they invent are true, and when they incite applause and cheers in a theatrical manner, they become forgetful of their own ignorance, and with raised eyebrows, weighing their words, and brandishing them, they assume the authority of teachers for themselves. Let us therefore see what judgment there is between one flock and another: and by what judgment the good and true shepherd, who has received all judgment from the Father, may judge them. Behold, he says, I myself judge between the fat flock and the lean, or between the strong and the weak. For the strong push and butt the weak with their sides and shoulders, and they fan them with their horns, not knowing that the bull should be punished by the law of the horn (Exodus 21). But they keep pushing on the sides, and they fan with their horns until they scatter and drive the sheep outside. For the pride of the ancestors and the injustice of the leaders, they are frequently driven out of the Church, so that they may be scattered by the Lord, whom He Himself saved. But the Lord will not let them continue to plunder, and He will judge between sheep and sheep: not between the names of dignitaries, by which the leaders swell with pride; but between man and man, according to what each servant of the Lord is. Then He will raise up one shepherd, who says in the Gospel: I am the good shepherd (John 10:11); His servant David according to what form of a servant He deigned to assume (Philippians 2); who is interpreted as 'mighty by hand'. He Himself will pasture them, and the Lord will be their God, either the Son and the Father, or certainly the shepherd according to assumed flesh: But the Lord, and God, according to the Word which was in the beginning with God. That David, as the rational animal advances in the flock, will by no means be called a shepherd, but rather a prince among them, about whom it is written: But there is one among you whom you do not know (John 1:26). Then he will make a covenant of peace with them, not of war or discord, for his dwelling place is in peace (Psalm 75), but the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4), who says: My peace I give to you: my peace I leave with you (John 14, 27). And he will cause the most harmful creatures to cease from the earth, vices, or disturbances, by which human souls are tormented: or opposing powers, by which they are attacked. And those who dwell in the wilderness shall sleep securely in the forests. For the Lord will reveal the hidden places of the woods, and in His temple all shall declare glory (Ps. 28:9). And with the beasts driven away and the land reduced to solitude, those who sleep securely shall say: The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear (Ps. 26:1)? And He will place them, who sleep securely, around His mountain or hill, and they shall receive blessings. Then he will give rain in its season, and there will be rain of blessings, which he promises in the blessings of Deuteronomy (Deut. XXVIII). And he will give, it is said, the tree of life, of which it is written in Genesis (Genes. II): and the tree of wisdom, of which it is said, It is a tree of life to all who take hold of it (Prov. III, 18). And he will give its fruit, when the earth also gives its fruit: whether it be the trees of the regions, a great multitude of the saints. And the earth will give its fruit: for truth has arisen from the earth (Ps. 84, 12). And they shall be in their land without fear, or in the hope of peace, in the land of the living, in the land of the meek, of whom it is written: Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land (Matt. 5, 4): so that they may know by the happiness of all things that He is the Lord: when He has broken the chains, or the iron circle of their yoke, with which they were oppressed as if by a most severe power, and has freed them from the hand of those who held them in power or afflicted them with servitude. For everyone is a slave of whoever conquers them. And they will no longer be a prey to demonic nations; nor will the beasts of the earth devour those of whom we have spoken: but they will dwell confidently without any fear, according to the above explanation. And I will raise up for them a named offspring, or a planting of peace, which is spoken of in the Gospel: I am the true vine (John 15:1). And they will no longer be diminished by hunger on the earth. Therefore, hunger is on earth: the hunger to hear the word of God, which, under a good shepherd and a named branch, and celebrated in the speech of all, and the planting of peace, will never be on earth; nor will they be subjected any longer to the reproaches of the nations, saying: Where is their God (Psalm 113, 10)? And after all this, it is known that not only is He the Lord, as He Himself had said before, but with the addition that He is the Lord of all and truly their God, with those who says in the Gospel to the Apostles: Behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28, 20). But when He Himself shall be their Lord God, then they shall also be His people, not anyone, but those who have merited to be called the house of Israel. And so that we may not think that all that has been said pertains to shepherds and goats and rams, He solves the riddle, or rather the metaphor, and states more plainly: But you are My sheep, and you, men, are the sheep of My pasture. Therefore, every divine word is for human beings, to whom He says: I am the Lord your God, says the Lord God.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
SERMON 46:23
When it is difficult for them to be found, now I will find them. The fog is dense, the storm cloud thick; nothing escapes his eyes.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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