Ezekiel — Chapter 38

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1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2“Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him

3and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

4I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords.

5Persia, Cush, and Put will accompany them, all with shields and helmets,

6as well as Gomer with all its troops, and Beth-togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.

7Get ready; prepare yourself, you and all your company gathered around you; you will be their guard.

8After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and all now dwell securely.

9You and all your troops, and many peoples with you will go up, advancing like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

10This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.

11You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a quiet people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates—

12in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder, to turn a hand against the desolate places now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and possessions and who live at the center of the land.’

13Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will ask, ‘Have you come to capture the plunder? Have you assembled your hordes to carry away loot, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?’

14Therefore prophesy, son of man, and tell Gog that this is what the Lord GOD says: On that day when My people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not take notice of this?

15And you will come from your place out of the far north—you and many peoples with you, all riding horses—a mighty horde, a huge army.

16You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes.

17This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?

18Now on that day when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, My wrath will flare up.

19In My zeal and fiery rage I proclaim that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

20The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that crawls upon the ground, and all mankind on the face of the earth will tremble at My presence. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.

21And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.

22I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

23I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and I will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

4And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

5Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

6Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

7Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

8After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

9Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

10Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

11And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

14Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

15And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

16And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

17Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

18And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.

19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

20So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

21And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

22And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

1And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

2Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:

4and I will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;

5Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

6Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with thee.

7Be thou prepared, yea, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy companies that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

8After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, upon the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.

9And thou shalt ascend, thou shalt come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy hordes, and many peoples with thee.

10Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into thy mind, and thou shalt devise an evil device:

11and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;

12to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places that are [now] inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth.

13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take the spoil? hast thou assembled thy company to take the prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil?

14Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In that day when my people Israel dwelleth securely, shalt thou not know it?

15And thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army;

16and thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

17Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for [many] years that I would bring thee against them?

18And it shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils.

19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

20so that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

21And I will call for a sword against him unto all my mountains, saith the Lord Jehovah: every man`s sword shall be against his brother.

22And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.

1The Lord’s message came to me:

2“Son of man, turn toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him

3and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

4I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them fully armed, a great company with shields of different types, all of them armed with swords.

5Persia, Ethiopia, and Put are with them, all of them with shields and helmets.

6They are joined by Gomer with all its troops and by Beth Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples are with you.

7“‘Be ready and stay ready, you and all your companies assembled around you, and be a guard for them.

8After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come to a land restored from the ravages of war, from many peoples gathered on the mountains of Israel that had long been in ruins. Its people were brought out from the peoples, and all of them will be living securely.

9You will advance; you will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the earth, you, all your troops, and the many other peoples with you.

10“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.

11You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled towns; I will advance against those living quietly in security—all of them living without walls and barred gates—

12to loot and plunder, to attack the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center of the earth.”

13Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its young warriors will say to you, “Have you come to loot? Have you assembled your armies to plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to haul away a great amount of spoils?”’

14“Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice

15and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army.

16You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In future days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself through you, O Gog.

17“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them?

18On that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, my rage will mount up in my anger.

19In my zeal, in the fire of my fury, I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

20The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts, all the things that creep on the ground, and all people who live on the face of the earth will shake at my presence. The mountains will topple, the cliffs will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground.

21I will call for a sword to attack Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord; every man’s sword will be against his brother.

22I will judge him with plague and bloodshed. I will rain down on him, his troops, and the many peoples who are with him a torrential downpour, hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

2“Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

4I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;

5Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

6Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you.

7“‘“Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them.

8After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought out of the peoples, and they will dwell securely, all of them.

9You will ascend. You will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.”

10“‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “It will happen in that day that things will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.

11You will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12to take the plunder and to take prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten livestock and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth.’

13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder? Have you assembled your company to take the prey, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”’

14“Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, will you not know it?

15You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.

16You will come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land. It will happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I am sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.”

17“‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for years that I would bring you against them?

18It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that my wrath will come up into my nostrils.

19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I have spoken. Surely in that day there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

20so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth will shake at my presence. Then the mountains will be thrown down, the steep places will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground.

21I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.

22I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood. I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, with great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.

23I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”’

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

God directs Ezekiel to prophesy against Gog, of the land of Magog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (vv. 1-3). A massive coalition from the north — including Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah — will invade a restored, peaceful Israel in the latter years, drawn by the prospect of plunder (vv. 4-16). God declares that He Himself draws this army in, only to destroy it with earthquake, plague, and fire and brimstone, vindicating His holiness before all the watching nations (vv. 17-23).

Authorship & Background

Author: Ezekiel son of Buzi (see Chapter 1 notes for full details).
Classification: Prophetic Oracle — Eschatological Warfare
Key Themes: God's sovereignty over hostile nations, the Gog-Magog invasion, divine protection of restored Israel, supernatural judgment, the vindication of God's holiness among the nations
Historical Context: Ezekiel writes from Babylonian exile (c. 571 BC), having just delivered the glorious vision of the valley of dry bones (ch. 37) — Israel's national resurrection and reunification. Now the prophet addresses the final threat to God's restored people. After regathering and before the temple vision (chs. 40-48), God reveals that one last great enemy will rise — and be utterly destroyed.
Gog, and the Coalition (vv.1-6): Set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and then the allies, Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer, and the house of Togarmah of the north quarters. No Gog has ever been identified in any record, and the names that can be placed are peoples on the far rim of the known world in every direction at once, north, south and east. That is generally taken to be deliberate: the enemy here is not a current political threat with a policy, but everything outside, gathered. The opening gesture is the same one used on Pharaoh at 29:4, I will put hooks into thy jaws.
After Many Days (vv.7-9): The timing is stated twice and it matters for reading the whole passage, after many days thou shalt be visited, in the latter years thou shalt come into the land. And the land is described as already restored, brought back from the sword, gathered out of many people, and they shall dwell safely all of them. So this invasion comes after the promises of chapters 36 and 37 have been kept, not before. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land.
The Thought That Comes into His Heart (vv.10-13): The motive is quoted as an internal monologue, and what attracts the attack is precisely the peace just promised: I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates. The aim is plunder, to take a spoil, and to take a prey. Then an odd and very human detail, Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish stand off and ask, art thou come to take a spoil, hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey. Trading nations working out whether there is a share in it for them.
That the Heathen May Know Me (vv.14-16): Thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army. The purpose given is not military and not punitive, and it is put in the first person, I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. The invasion is described as being arranged for what it will demonstrate.
Earthquake, Sword, Pestilence and Fire (vv.17-23): The battle is not a battle. Israel takes no part in it, and the agents named are geological and epidemiological: a great shaking in the land of Israel, so that the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. Then every man's sword shall be against his brother, which is the coalition destroying itself, and I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood, and I will rain upon him an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. The section closes on the same purpose the previous one gave, thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations.

Map & Geography

  • Persia (v.5): Empire that conquered Babylon; allowed Israel's return from exile.
  • Tarshish (v.13): Distant port city (possibly Spain); represents the farthest reaches of the known world.

Places on this map

  • PersiaFars, IranThe empire's ceremonial center was Persepolis in the Iranian highlands, but it governed from Susa and Babylon and ran roads from the Indus to the Aegean. Its scale is the point of Esther's opening: 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. Wikipedia
  • Babylonnear Hillah, IraqOn the Euphrates about 55 miles south of modern Baghdad. Judah's exiles were marched roughly 900 miles to get here, the long way round the Arabian desert, which is why the journey took months and the return was a genuine undertaking rather than a short trip home. Wikipedia
  • Tarshishprobably southern SpainUsually identified with Tartessos near the mouth of the Guadalquivir in southern Spain, at the far western end of the Phoenician trade routes, though the identification is not certain. Either way it meant the end of the known world, and it lies almost exactly opposite Nineveh from Joppa. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Ezekiel 38 - Bible Study, Explanation, and Application
2BeLikeChrist

Ezekiel 38-39 | The Disarming of Gog | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Ezekiel -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • A Hook in the Aggressor's Jaw (v.4) — God announces that He Himself will turn Gog around and lead him into battle, meaning even the enemy's plans stay under His control. What threat in your life needs you to remember that God, not the threat, holds the final say?
  • Peace Without Walls (v.11) — God's people are targeted precisely because they live securely without defenses, trusting Him rather than fortifications. Where are you tempted to build your own walls instead of resting in God's protection?
  • Drawn In for a Purpose (v.16) — God says He will bring Gog against Israel so that the nations may know Him when His holiness is displayed in the outcome. Can you see how a battle you're facing might become a platform for God to reveal Himself rather than just a threat to survive?
  • A Shaking Only God Can Cause (v.20) — every living creature and the mountains themselves tremble at God's presence, dwarfing the coalition arrayed against Israel. Does your view of God's power match the scale Scripture describes, or is it too small for what you're facing?
  • The Point Was Always to Be Known (v.23) — God's goal in both judgment and deliverance is that the nations know He is the Lord. Is your life, in hardship and in rescue alike, pointing others toward who God is?