Ezekiel chapter 38

Gog invades Israel. Ezekiel prophesies against Gog.

 


 

GOG INVADES ISRAEL

 

VERSE 1. The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

 

VERSE 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,

Rosh. The Hebrew word “Rosh” means “chief.” So the word can be interpreted as an adjective. For example, “head” prince.

Then again, it can be interpreted as a proper noun. A location.

 

VERSE 3. and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

I am against you, Gog. The LORD God is going to intervene against one of the enemies.

 

VERSE 4. I 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;

put hooks into your jaws. Gog will attack Israel. This is an evil plan (see verse 10 below).

And yet somehow it is orchestrated by the LORD God.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

VERSE 8. After 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.

In the latter years. Biblical authors use the phrase “in the latter days.” In some cases it means “the present day.” But in other cases, it means “the future” or “The End of Days.” Read more »

 

VERSE 9. You 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.”

 

VERSE 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.

you will devise an evil plan. Gog’s attack on Israel is an evil plan.

 

VERSE 11. You 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,

those who are at rest. Israel is at rest.

who dwell securely. Israel is secure.

 

VERSE 12. to 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.’

gathered out of the nations. Israel’s people have gathered from many nations.

 

VERSE 13. Sheba, 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?’ ” ’

 

VERSE 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?

prophesy, and tell. The NAB translation puts it: “Prophesy, son of man, and say.”

The great task for the prophet of the LORD God is to speak. They are called upon to speak things people don’t want to hear.

 

VERSE 15. You 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.

 

VERSE 16. You 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.”

in the latter days. Biblical authors use the phrase “in the latter days.” In some cases it means “the present day.” But in other cases, it means “the future” or “The End of Days.” Read more »

 

EZEKIEL PROPHESIES AGAINST GOG

 

VERSE 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?

 

VERSE 18. It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against Eretz-Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that my wrath will come up into my nostrils.

when Gog comes against Eretz-Israel. The army of Gog will reach Israel.

my wrath will come up into my nostrils. When the armies reach Israel, the anger of the Most High God will be provoked.

 

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

there will be a great shaking. There will be a massive earthquake in Israel. It will disrupt the invasion by Gog.

 

VERSE 20. so 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.

will shake at my presence. The earthquake will terrify everybody.

 

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

Every man’s sword will be against his brother. The four invading armies begin attacking each other.

 

VERSE 22. I 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.

The slaughter of the invading armies will be aided by natural disasters: torrential rains, great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.

 

VERSE 23. I 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.” ’

make myself known in the eyes of many nations. The Old Testament foresees Gentiles coming to faith in the One God of Israel and bringing gifts to Jerusalem. Here are the key Bible verses about this »

 


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EZEKIEL

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