Ezekiel38
New King James Version
1Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
3and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
4I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.
5Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
6Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.
7“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.
8After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
9You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
10‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:
11You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—
12to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.
13Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’
14“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?
15Then you will come from your place out of the far 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 like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”
17Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?
18“And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face.
19For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,
20so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’
21I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
22And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 38.
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.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
גּוֹג: Gog, the name of an Israelite, also of some nothern nation
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מָגוֹג: Magog, a son of Japheth; also a barbarous northern region
רֹאשׁ: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
Cross References
Ezekiel 38John's Apocalypse adopts 'Gog and Magog' from here as the ultimate global anti-Christian confederacy.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical metaphor of Yahweh putting hooks into a proud, out-of-control monarch's jaws to turn him back.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel's own parallel imagery of hooks in jaws, used of Pharaoh, showing God's sovereign restraint.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Genesis Table of Nations names Japheth's sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The direct sequel to this prophecy, repeating the identical threat against Gog and Magog.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical precedent of God causing invaders to turn their swords against their own brothers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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
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
Pharaoh's identical evil logic, assuming God's people are trapped and vulnerable, prompting his pursuit.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Describes a wealthy, secure nation dwelling without gates or bars, parallel to Israel's state.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic parallel of God overthrowing thrones and making every man fall by his brother's sword.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's jealousy and holy anger on behalf of his restored, sanctuary-dwelling people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical archetype of fire and brimstone rained from heaven as divine judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's ultimate purpose in both restoration and judgment: to vindicate and sanctify His great name.
Supported by Matthew Henry