Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time {H3117} shall things {H1697} come {H5927} into thy mind {H3824}, and thou shalt think {H2803} an evil {H7451} thought {H4284}:
"Adonai ELOHIM says: 'When that day comes, thoughts will well up in your mind, and you will devise a sinister scheme.
This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into thy mind, and thou shalt devise an evil device:
-
Micah 2:1
¶ Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. -
Psalms 36:4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way [that is] not good; he abhorreth not evil. -
Acts 5:9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and shall carry thee out. -
Isaiah 10:7
Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. -
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. -
Psalms 83:3
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. -
Psalms 83:4
They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from [being] a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
Ezekiel 38:10 stands as a pivotal verse within the detailed prophecy concerning Gog of Magog, a significant end-times antagonist. This prophecy, found in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, outlines a massive invasion against the land of Israel in a future era.
Context
The prophet Ezekiel delivers a divine message to Gog, a leader from the land of Magog, identifying him as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Verses leading up to 38:10 describe Gog's immense military coalition and his eventual march against a restored Israel. The phrase "at the same time" refers to the specific future period when God will supernaturally draw Gog and his allies to invade Israel. This invasion is not merely a human initiative but part of God's sovereign plan to demonstrate His glory and holiness to the nations, as seen in Ezekiel 38:16.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase translated "evil thought" is machashabah ra'ah (מַחֲשָׁבָה רָעָה). Machashabah refers to a plan, design, or purpose—it's more than just a passing idea; it signifies a deliberate intention or scheme. Ra'ah means evil, wicked, or harmful. Thus, Gog's "evil thought" is a well-formed, malevolent strategy aimed at causing harm and seizing spoil, orchestrated by divine decree to bring about God's ultimate purposes.
Practical Application
For believers today, Ezekiel 38:10 offers profound reassurance: God remains sovereign over all global events and the intentions of world leaders, even those who harbor evil designs. We can trust that His plans will ultimately prevail, regardless of the turmoil or threats in the world. This verse encourages us to place our confidence in God's ultimate control and His faithfulness to His prophetic word, knowing that He uses even the schemes of the wicked to achieve His righteous purposes and demonstrate His glory to all nations, as seen in Ezekiel 39:7.