Ezekiel 34

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.” The line’s distinctive content terms include clothe, feed, flock. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bound, broken, cruelty. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they…” The line’s distinctive content terms include scattered, beasts, became. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face…” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, face, flock. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD ;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD , surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD ;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include scattered, sheep, cloudy. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD .” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bind, broken, destroy. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include feet, drink, flock. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD .” The verse names God and Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.