Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;
therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:
Therefore, O shepherds, hear a word of Jehovah:
— therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah.
Ezekiel — The exile prophet — priest taken to Babylon in 597 BC, writing to a community still convinced the exile is temporary. Wheels within wheels, the glory departing, dry bones coming to life, and the city whose new name is YHWH Shammah — ‘the LORD is there.’
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
Voices5
(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?)
Jerome· Commentary on Ezekiel, 420patristic
I myself will go to the shepherds and will seek out my flock from the hand of those who find it convenient to have a millstone placed around their neck.
Jerome· COMMENTARY ON EZEKIEL 11:34.1-31, 420patristic
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is repeated, that it might be observed, and for the confirmation of it; it might be depended upon that what follows would be accomplished, unless they changed their conduct and behaviour; and, to leave them inexcusable, they are again called upon to hear what the Lord should say unto them. The Targum is, "therefore, O ye wicked governors, return to the law, and I will have mercy on you; hearken to the doctrine of the law, and receive the word of the Lord.''
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)reformed
A gracious promise that God would take care of his flock, though they did not, and that it should not always suffer as it had done by their mal-administrations,
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan
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. How much displeased God is at the shepherds. Their crimes are repeated,
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan
The verses this one reaches2
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
