Ezekiel 34:18

[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?

Seemeth it a small thing {H4592} unto you to have eaten up {H7462} the good {H2896} pasture {H4829}, but ye must tread down {H7429} with your feet {H7272} the residue {H3499} of your pastures {H4829}? and to have drunk {H8354} of the deep {H4950} waters {H4325}, but ye must foul {H7515} the residue {H3498} with your feet {H7272}?

Wasn't it enough for you to feed on the best pasture and drink from the clearest water? Did you have to trample the rest of the pasture and foul the remaining water with your feet?

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have fed upon the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? and to have drunk of the clear waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?

Ezekiel 34:18 (KJV) delivers a powerful indictment against the corrupt leaders of Israel, who are metaphorically depicted as "shepherds" neglecting and exploiting their flock. This verse highlights the profound injustice of those in power who not only consume the best resources but actively spoil what remains for the common people.

Context

Chapter 34 of Ezekiel is a pivotal passage addressing the spiritual and political leadership of Israel during a time of national decline and impending exile. God, speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, condemns the "shepherds" (kings, priests, and elders) for their selfishness, neglect, and abuse of the people. Instead of feeding and protecting the flock, these leaders have fed themselves, scattered the sheep, and failed to seek the lost or heal the sick. Verse 18 specifically exposes their egregious behavior: not content with merely enjoying the "good pasture" and "deep waters" (representing the nation's prosperity and spiritual blessings), they deliberately "tread down" and "foul" the remainder, making it unusable for the rest of the sheep. This passage sets the stage for God's promise to intervene personally and become the true shepherd of His people, culminating in the prophecy of a righteous Davidic king, foreshadowing the Messiah.

Key Themes

  • Abuse of Power: The verse vividly portrays leaders who exploit their position for personal gain, disregarding the well-being of those under their care. It speaks to the universal problem of corruption and greed in authority.
  • Oppression and Injustice: By spoiling the "residue," the leaders actively deny the vulnerable access to basic necessities and resources, highlighting systemic injustice and the suffering it causes.
  • Selfishness and Neglect: The core accusation is one of extreme self-interest, where the leaders' consumption and waste directly harm the very people they are meant to serve and protect.
  • Divine Judgment: This verse is part of God's righteous judgment against those who misuse their stewardship. It underscores God's concern for the oppressed and His commitment to justice.

Linguistic Insights

The imagery in verse 18 is stark and visceral. "Tread down with your feet" (Hebrew: רָמַס - ramas, to trample) and "foul the residue" (Hebrew: עָכַר - 'akar, to stir up, trouble, make muddy) convey a deliberate, destructive, and contemptuous action. It's not just passive neglect; it's active ruination. The leaders don't just take their fill; they ensure that what's left is spoiled, making it unusable for others. This emphasizes the depth of their depravity and the extent of their harm to the community.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 34:18 remains profoundly relevant for all forms of leadership today—whether in government, business, religious institutions, or even families. It serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership involves stewardship, sacrifice, and serving the needs of others, not personal enrichment or exploitation. Leaders are called to be guardians of resources and opportunities, ensuring equitable access and preserving the common good, rather than consuming disproportionately and leaving ruin in their wake. For those who feel oppressed or neglected, this verse offers comfort, revealing God's awareness of injustice and His promise to act on behalf of the vulnerable. Indeed, God himself promises to be the true Shepherd who feeds His flock and makes them lie down in good pasture, a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 11:52

    Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

  • Matthew 23:13

    But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

  • Numbers 16:13

    [Is it] a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

  • 2 Samuel 7:19

    And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

  • Isaiah 7:13

    And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

  • Numbers 16:9

    [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

  • Ezekiel 34:2

    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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