Ezekiel 38:22

And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

And I will plead {H8199} against him with pestilence {H1698} and with blood {H1818}; and I will rain {H4305} upon him, and upon his bands {H102}, and upon the many {H7227} people {H5971} that are with him, an overflowing {H7857} rain {H1653}, and great hailstones {H417}{H68}, fire {H784}, and brimstone {H1614}.

I will judge him with plague and with blood. I will cause torrential rain to fall on him, his troops and the many peoples with him, along with huge hailstones, fire and sulfur.

I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 38:22 is a pivotal verse within Ezekiel's prophecy concerning the invasion of Israel by a powerful confederacy of nations led by "Gog of the land of Magog." This prophecy, often understood as taking place in the "latter days," describes a time when Israel is dwelling securely in their land. The preceding verses detail the immense scale of this invading army, composed of forces from various regions. Verse 22 then introduces God's direct, supernatural, and overwhelming response to this audacious assault, demonstrating His sovereignty and defending His chosen people against an seemingly unstoppable enemy.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse vividly portrays God's direct and catastrophic intervention. The phrase "I will plead against him" signifies a divine judicial act, where God Himself executes judgment against Gog and his forces. This underscores God's absolute control over nations and events, highlighting that no earthly power can stand against His will.
  • Supernatural Destruction: The methods of judgmentโ€”"pestilence and with blood," "overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone"โ€”are reminiscent of biblical accounts of divine wrath. The raining down of "fire, and brimstone" specifically recalls the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24, emphasizing the unprecedented and overwhelming nature of this divine intervention, far beyond any human military capability.
  • Protection of Israel: While the primary focus is on the judgment of Gog, the underlying purpose is God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people. The utter annihilation of Gog's forces serves as a clear demonstration of God's power to the nations, ensuring that they know He is the Lord and that He fiercely defends Israel. This theme aligns with other prophetic assurances of God's defense of Jerusalem, such as Zechariah 14:3.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "plead" is shaphat (ืฉึธืืคึทื˜), which carries the meaning of to judge, to govern, or to execute judgment. This implies a legal or judicial process, reinforcing that God's actions are not arbitrary but a righteous verdict against those who oppose Him. The description of "overflowing rain" (geshem sheteph - ื’ึถึผืฉึถืื ืฉึถืื˜ึถืฃ) denotes a torrential, flooding downpour, emphasizing the sheer volume and destructive force of this divine deluge.

Practical Application

While Ezekiel 38:22 describes a specific future prophetic event, its core message offers timeless truths for believers. It assures us of God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers and His unwavering faithfulness to His promises. In a world often filled with threats and uncertainties, this verse reminds us that divine justice will ultimately prevail and that God remains the steadfast protector of His people. It encourages unwavering trust in His omnipotence and His perfect plan, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. The vivid imagery serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness, His commitment to His covenant, and His ultimate authority over all creation. This event is often understood to have parallels or connections to the final battle described in Revelation 20:8, highlighting God's consistent victory over His enemies throughout history and into the future.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 11:6

    Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

  • Revelation 16:21

    And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

  • Ezekiel 13:11

    Say unto them which daub [it] with untempered [morter], that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend [it].

  • Jeremiah 25:31

    A noise shall come [even] to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them [that are] wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 66:16

    For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

  • Psalms 18:12

    At the brightness [that was] before him his thick clouds passed, hail [stones] and coals of fire.

  • Psalms 18:14

    Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.