The Meaning of Ezekiel 34:16 Explained

Ezekiel 34:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: The lost I seek, and the driven away bring back, And the broken I bind up, and the sick I strengthen, And the fat and the strong I destroy, I feed it with judgment.

Darby: I will seek the lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up the broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong: I will feed them with judgment.

ASV: I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ezekiel 34:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezekiel 34:1-16 - Selfish Shepherds
The shepherds of this chapter were not the religious leaders of the people, but rulers who sought in their government not the good of the people but their own selfish ends. But the statements made by the prophet may be rightly applied to rapacious priests who care more for the fleece than for the flock. Pastors are required to lead the flock of God not for filthy lucre but as examples for the sheep, 1 Peter 5:2-3. It is their duty, also, to strengthen the spiritually diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken in heart, and seek the lost.
Notice the tender manner in which the Lord Jesus Himself supplies the deficiencies of His unfaithful servants. In beautiful contrast to their selfish cruelty and rapacity, He sets Himself in cloudy and dark days to gather and tend His people, though they had been as scattered sheep, each taking his own way. When the ministers of His Church fail in their duty, the Lord hastens to supply their lack. Without doubt these gracious promises refer primarily to the Lord's Second Advent, when He will seek out and deliver His Chosen People, and bring them to their own land. But surely we must not limit the reference thus. We are His sheep, by purchase and by choice. He knows us, as we know Him. He has sought and saved us. He feds us and causes us to lie down beside the waters of rest. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 34:16 mean?

- What was lost I will seek and what was driven away bring back and the broken bind up what was sick strengthen but the fat the strong I will destroy and feed them in judgment
אֶת־ הָאֹבֶ֤דֶת אֲבַקֵּשׁ֙ וְאֶת־ הַנִּדַּ֣חַת אָשִׁ֔יב וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֣רֶת אֶחֱבֹ֔שׁ הַחוֹלָ֖ה אֲחַזֵּ֑ק וְאֶת־ הַשְּׁמֵנָ֧ה הַחֲזָקָ֛ה אַשְׁמִ֖יד אֶרְעֶ֥נָּה בְמִשְׁפָּֽט

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאֹבֶ֤דֶת  What  was  lost 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
אֲבַקֵּשׁ֙  I  will  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
הַנִּדַּ֣חַת  what  was  driven  away 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: נָדַח 
Sense: to impel, thrust, drive away, banish.
אָשִׁ֔יב  bring  back 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וְלַנִּשְׁבֶּ֣רֶת  and  the  broken 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
אֶחֱבֹ֔שׁ  bind  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: חָבַשׁ  
Sense: to tie, bind, bind on, bind up, saddle, restrain, bandage, govern.
הַחוֹלָ֖ה  what  was  sick 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
אֲחַזֵּ֑ק  strengthen 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
הַשְּׁמֵנָ֧ה  the  fat 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: שָׁמֵן  
Sense: fat, rich, robust.
הַחֲזָקָ֛ה  the  strong 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חָזָק  
Sense: strong, stout, mighty.
אַשְׁמִ֖יד  I  will  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
אֶרְעֶ֥נָּה  and  feed  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: רָעָה 
Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.
בְמִשְׁפָּֽט  in  judgment 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.