Ezekiel38

The prophet Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. The Lord declares He will bring Gog and a vast coalition of nations against the land of Israel in the latter years, when Israel dwells safely. Gog's intent is to take a great spoil from the restored people, but God will intervene with overwhelming judgment, including a great shaking, pestilence, fire, and brimstone, to magnify and sanctify Himself before all nations.

Prophecy Against Gog of Magog

1
the 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, ​
3
and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:
4
and 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; ​
5
Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; ​
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.
7
Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them.

The Invasion's Timing and Motive

8
After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall 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 shall dwell securely, all of them. ​
9
You shall ascend, you shall come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
10
Thus says the Lord GOD: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device:
11
and you shall 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; ​
12
to take the plunder and to take the 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. ​
13
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it, shall tell 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? ​

God's Purpose in the Latter Days

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Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, Thus says the Lord GOD: In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, shall you not know it?
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You shall 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;
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and you shall come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes. ​
17
Thus says the Lord GOD: 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? ​

The Lord's Fury and Great Judgment

18
It shall happen in that day, when Gog shall come against Eretz-Israel, says the Lord GOD, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils. ​
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For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in Eretz-Israel; ​
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so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface 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.
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I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains, says the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
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With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur. ​
23
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 the LORD. ​

Study Notes for Ezekiel 38

Verse 2

Gog is likely a title for a ruler, not a personal name. Magog, Meshech, and Tubal generally refer to northern peoples (modern Turkey/Black Sea region), symbolizing the ultimate enemy from the farthest reaches of the world.

Verse 4

The imagery of 'hooks into thy jaws' emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty. Gog is not acting independently but is controlled and directed by Yahweh for His own ultimate purpose.

Verse 5

The coalition includes nations from the East (Persia/Iran), South (Ethiopia/Cush), and West (Libya/Put), highlighting the global scale and comprehensive nature of the invading force.

Verse 8

The phrase 'in the latter years' signals an eschatological event, occurring after the initial restoration of Israel (chs. 36-37). This is a final, climactic confrontation against the secure, returned exiles.

Verse 11

'Land of unwalled villages' contrasts sharply with the heavily fortified cities of Ezekiel's time. This detail emphasizes the security and peace that God had promised the restored nation (cf. 34:25).

Verse 12

The motive for the invasion is purely economic plunder. Gog views the restored Israel, which has 'gotten cattle and goods,' as wealthy and vulnerable prey.

Verse 13

Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish (representing the Arabian Peninsula and the distant West) question Gog’s actions. They do not join the attack but recognize it globally as an act of brazen greed.

Verse 16

This verse reveals the central theological purpose: God brings Gog against Israel so 'that the heathen may know me.' God uses the judgment of the enemy to demonstrate His holiness and power universally.

Verse 17

This rhetorical question suggests that the judgment of a massive, northern enemy was a recurring theme in prophetic tradition, demonstrating that this event is part of God's long-established plan.

Verse 18

The arrival of Gog triggers God’s intense, jealous wrath. This response is necessary because the attack on restored Israel is viewed as a direct affront to God's holiness and covenant faithfulness.

Verse 19

The 'great shaking' describes a massive, cosmological upheaval. Divine intervention is so powerful that it impacts the entire created order—the sea, the land, and all creatures.

Verse 22

God fights for Israel using devastating natural forces (plague, rain, hailstones, fire, brimstone), recalling the plagues in Egypt and the judgment of Sodom, emphasizing divine control over creation.

Verse 23

The ultimate outcome of the conflict is the vindication and sanctification (setting apart as holy) of Yahweh, fulfilling the overarching theme of the entire prophecy.

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