Ezekiel 38
The Prophecy Against Gog
1The LORD’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, ‘The Lord GOD says: “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“‘The Lord GOD says: “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, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions, 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, ‘The Lord GOD says: “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.”
God's Wrath Against Gog
17“‘The Lord GOD says: “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 GOD, “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 GOD. “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, on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, torrential rains 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 the LORD.”’
Ezekiel receives a prophecy against Gog of Magog, a mysterious leader who will gather a vast coalition of nations to attack Israel in the latter days. God declares that He will orchestrate this invasion against His restored people, who will be dwelling securely in their land, but ultimately it serves His purpose to demonstrate His sovereignty and holiness before the nations. The chapter emphasizes that while Gog devises evil plans for plunder, God remains in complete control and will use this conflict to reveal His glory and defend His people.
Context
This chapter follows Ezekiel's vision of Israel's restoration and introduces the climactic end-times conflict that continues in chapter 39.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3Divine Commission Against GogGod commands Ezekiel to prophesy against Gog, the prince of Magog and ruler over Meshech and Tubal.
- 4-7The Great Coalition AssembledGod describes how He will gather Gog's massive army including Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Togarmah with their weapons and forces.
- 8-13The Invasion of Restored IsraelGog will attack Israel in the latter days when the people dwell securely, motivated by greed to plunder the prosperous, undefended land.
- 14-17God's Sovereign Purpose RevealedThe Lord declares He will bring this invasion to demonstrate His holiness and fulfill ancient prophecies spoken through His servants.
- 18-23Divine Wrath and JudgmentGod's fury will be unleashed through earthquake, plague, bloodshed, and natural disasters to destroy Gog's forces and vindicate His name.
The Prophecy Against Gog
38:1–38:16God prophesies through Ezekiel against Gog of Magog, describing a future invasion of Israel by a great coalition of nations. The prophecy details how God will orchestrate this attack against His restored people who dwell securely.
person_contrast
Ezekiel uniquely shifts from condemning Israel's disobedience to orchestrating cosmic warfare, with God declaring "I will turn you around" and "bring you up" against His own restored people.
God's Wrath Against Gog
38:17–38:23God declares His wrath against Gog's invasion, promising cosmic upheaval and divine judgment through natural disasters and warfare. Through this dramatic intervention, God will magnify Himself and reveal His identity to the nations.
person_contrast
Gog's invasion uniquely triggers God's "jealousy" (qin'ah) and "glory" (kavod) together—a rare pairing that appears only here and in Isaiah 42:8, linking cosmic judgment with divine honor.
Ezekiel 38:2
Ezekiel 39:1lexical“You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Mes…
1 Chronicles 1:5lexicalThe sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Genesis 10:2lexicalThe sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Ezekiel 27:13lexical“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandis…
Ezekiel 32:26lexical“There is Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitude. Their graves are around them, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the…
Ezekiel 38:3
Ezekiel 39:1lexical“You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Mes…
Ezekiel 27:13lexical“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandis…
1 Chronicles 1:5lexicalThe sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Genesis 10:2lexicalThe sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Ezekiel 32:26lexical“There is Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitude. Their graves are around them, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the…
Ezekiel 38:4
Ezekiel 23:12lexicalShe lusted after the Assyrians, governors and rulers—her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses,…
Ezekiel 23:24lexicalThey will come against you with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples. They will set themselves a…
Jeremiah 46:9lexicalGo up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, wh…
Jeremiah 46:4lexicalHarness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand up with your helmets. Polish the spears, put on the coats of mai…
Ezekiel 23:6lexicalwho were clothed with blue—governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.
Ezekiel 38:5
Ezekiel 27:10lexical“‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your bea…
Jeremiah 46:9lexicalGo up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, wh…
Genesis 10:6lexicalThe sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
Nahum 3:9lexicalCush and Egypt were her boundless strength. Put and Libya were her helpers.
Ezekiel 30:5lexical“‘“Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with…
Ezekiel 38:6
1 Chronicles 1:6lexicalThe sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.
Genesis 10:3lexicalThe sons of Gomer were: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
Ezekiel 38:11
Jeremiah 49:31lexicalArise! Go up to a nation that is at ease, that dwells without care,” says the LORD; “that has neither gates nor bars, th…
Nehemiah 3:15lexicalShallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and…
2 Chronicles 8:5lexicalAlso he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
Deuteronomy 3:5lexicalAll these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, in addition to a great many villages without walls.
Nehemiah 3:13lexicalHanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its ba…
Ezekiel 38:12
Isaiah 10:6lexicalI will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plun…
Ezekiel 29:19lexicalTherefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off…
Isaiah 33:23lexicalYour rigging is untied. They couldn’t strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn’t spread the sail. Then the prey of…
Jeremiah 49:32lexicalTheir camels will be a booty, and the multitude of their livestock a plunder. I will scatter to all winds those who have…
Ezekiel 38:13
Ezekiel 29:19lexicalTherefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off…
Isaiah 10:6lexicalI will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plun…
Joshua 22:8lexicaland spoke to them, saying, “Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, wit…
Isaiah 33:23lexicalYour rigging is untied. They couldn’t strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn’t spread the sail. Then the prey of…
Esther 8:11lexicalIn those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and to defend their liv…
Ezekiel 38:15
Jeremiah 31:8lexicalBehold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the…
Ezekiel 26:7lexical“For the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, wit…
Ezekiel 38:18
Jeremiah 7:20lexicalTherefore the Lord GOD says: “Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man, on animal, on the…
Ezekiel 25:14lexicalI will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will do in Edom according to my anger and accordin…
Ezekiel 36:6lexicalTherefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and tell the mountains, the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, ‘…
Ezekiel 13:13lexical“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower…
Ezekiel 20:33lexicalAs I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will b…
Ezekiel 38:20
Genesis 9:2lexicalThe fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that…
Genesis 1:26lexicalGod said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over th…
Zephaniah 1:3lexicalI will sweep away man and animal. I will sweep away the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the heaps of rubble w…
Hosea 4:3lexicalTherefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the an…
Genesis 6:7lexicalThe LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping…
Ezekiel 38:21
Ezekiel 32:32lexical“For I have put his terror in the land of the living. He will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain…
Ezekiel 30:6lexical“‘The LORD says: “They also who uphold Egypt will fall. The pride of her power will come down. They will fall by the swo…
Ezekiel 32:31lexical“Pharaoh will see them and will be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword,”…
Ezekiel 11:8lexicalYou have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword on you,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 31:18lexical“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Ezekiel 38:22
Ezekiel 13:13lexical“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower…
Ezekiel 13:11lexicalTell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailston…
Psalms 11:6lexicalOn the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
Genesis 19:24lexicalThen the LORD rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of the sky.
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