Ezekiel 38NIV
Books
All books

Ezekiel38

New International Version

1The word of the Lord came to me:

2“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him

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

4I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.

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

6also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.

7“‘Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them.

8After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade 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 now all of them live in safety.

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

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

11You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.

12I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.”

13Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?”’

14“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it?

15You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.

16You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

17“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel. At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them.

18This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord.

19In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

20The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.

21I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.

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

23And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 38.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The army and malice of Gog. (1-13). God's judgments. (14-23).

vv1-13

These events will be in the latter days. It is supposed these enemies will come together to invade the land of Judea, and God will defeat them. God not only sees who are now the enemies of his church, but he foresees who will be so, and lets them know by his word that he is against them; though they join together, the wicked shall not be unpunished.

vv14-23

The enemy should make a formidable descent upon the land of Israel. When Israel dwell safely under the Divine protection, shalt not thou be made to know it by finding that endeavours to destroy them are made in vain? Promises of security are treasured up in the word of God, against the troubles and dangers the church may be brought into in the latter days. In the destruction of sinners, God makes it appear that he is a great and holy God. We should desire and pray daily. Father, glorify thine own name.

Cross References

Ezekiel 38
v2Revelation 20:8allusion

John's Apocalypse adopts 'Gog and Magog' from here as the ultimate global anti-Christian confederacy.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v42 Kings 19:28thematic

Identical metaphor of Yahweh putting hooks into a proud, out-of-control monarch's jaws to turn him back.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Ezekiel 29:4thematic

Ezekiel's own parallel imagery of hooks in jaws, used of Pharaoh, showing God's sovereign restraint.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Genesis 10:2thematic

Genesis Table of Nations names Japheth's sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Ezekiel 39:1thematic

The direct sequel to this prophecy, repeating the identical threat against Gog and Magog.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Judges 7:22thematic

Historical precedent of God causing invaders to turn their swords against their own brothers.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Ezekiel 27:13thematic

Earlier reference listing Meshech and Tubal together as trading partners with ancient Tyre.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Provides immediate context of Israel gathered and dwelling safely under God's covenant prior to the invasion.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v22Revelation 20:9allusion

The fire and brimstone judgment on Gog's army is echoed in Revelation's final judgment.

Supported by JFB

Genealogical parallel listing Japheth's sons, establishing the geographic origins of Magog, Meshech, and Tubal.

Supported by JFB

v11Exodus 14:3thematic

Pharaoh's identical evil logic, assuming God's people are trapped and vulnerable, prompting his pursuit.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Jeremiah 49:31thematic

Describes a wealthy, secure nation dwelling without gates or bars, parallel to Israel's state.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Haggai 2:22thematic

Prophetic parallel of God overthrowing thrones and making every man fall by his brother's sword.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v19Ezekiel 39:25thematic

God's jealousy and holy anger on behalf of his restored, sanctuary-dwelling people.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v22Genesis 19:24thematic

The historical archetype of fire and brimstone rained from heaven as divine judgment.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v23Ezekiel 36:23thematic

God's ultimate purpose in both restoration and judgment: to vindicate and sanctify His great name.

Supported by Matthew Henry