Ezekiel 38:8

KJV

After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land [that is] brought back from the sword, [and is] gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

KJV (with Strong's)

After many {H7227} days {H3117} thou shalt be visited {H6485}: in the latter {H319} years {H8141} thou shalt come {H935} into the land {H776} that is brought back {H7725} from the sword {H2719}, and is gathered {H6908} out of many {H7227} people {H5971}, against the mountains {H2022} of Israel {H3478}, which have been always {H8548} waste {H2723}: but it is brought forth {H3318} out of the nations {H5971}, and they shall dwell {H3427} safely {H983} all of them.

Complete Jewish Bible

After many days have passed, you will be mustered for service; in later years you will invade the land which has been brought back from the sword, gathered out of many peoples, the mountains of Isra'el. They had been lying in ruins for a long time, but now Isra'el has been extracted from the peoples and all of them are living there securely.

Berean Standard Bible

After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and all now dwell securely.

American Standard Version

After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, upon the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 38:8 is a pivotal prophetic declaration within the larger context of the Gog-Magog prophecy, foretelling a future invasion of the land of Israel. This verse specifically describes the conditions preceding this invasion: a restored Israel, regathered from global dispersion, inhabiting its ancient homeland, the "mountains of Israel," which had long been desolate. Crucially, the prophecy emphasizes that this restored nation will be dwelling in a state of perceived security and safety, setting the stage for the divine intervention that will demonstrate God's sovereignty over all nations and His faithfulness to His covenant people in the "latter years."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 38:8 initiates the detailed prophecy concerning Gog of Magog, which spans chapters 38 and 39. This section immediately follows Ezekiel's profound prophecies of Israel's spiritual and physical restoration, particularly the vision of the dry bones in [Ezekiel 37](/ezekiel/37 "Ezekiel 37 - The Valley of Dry Bones") and the reunification of Judah and Israel. The Gog-Magog prophecy serves as a climactic demonstration of God's power and glory, occurring *after* Israel's return to the land and their spiritual renewal, ensuring that the world knows that the Lord is holy and that He will ultimately vindicate His people. The invasion described in this chapter is portrayed as a direct challenge to God's restored people and His name, prompting a divine response that brings ultimate glory to God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile (c. 593-571 BC), a period when the land of Israel lay desolate and its people were scattered throughout the Babylonian Empire. The historical reality for the Jewish people at this time was one of displacement, loss, and apparent abandonment. The "mountains of Israel" were indeed "waste," reflecting the destruction wrought by the Babylonian conquest. Against this backdrop of despair, Ezekiel's prophecies offered hope of future restoration, not merely a return from exile but a comprehensive national and spiritual renewal. The cultural understanding of "safety" (Hebrew: *betach*) would have been deeply significant for a people who had experienced repeated invasions, subjugation, and dispersion, highlighting a divinely orchestrated peace that would precede a final, dramatic conflict.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ezekiel and broader biblical prophecy. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Eschatological Timing**, with phrases like "after many days" and "in the latter years" pointing to God's predetermined plan for the end times, a concept explored in other prophetic books like [Daniel 2:28](/daniel/2-28 "Daniel 2:28 - God Reveals Mysteries"). Secondly, the verse highlights the **Restoration and Regathering of Israel**, emphasizing that the land will be "brought back from the sword" and its people "gathered out of many people," a core promise reiterated throughout Ezekiel, such as in [Ezekiel 36:24](/ezekiel/36-24 "Ezekiel 36:24 - God Gathers Israel from the Nations"). Thirdly, it introduces the theme of **Perceived Security Leading to Invasion**, where Israel's dwelling "safely" becomes the very condition that draws the invading forces, ironically setting the stage for God's ultimate demonstration of power. This state of peace, often a sign of God's blessing, is a prelude to a significant prophetic event.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **latter years (Hebrew, _ʼachărîyth shâneh'_):** The combination of H319 (`ʼachărîyth`, meaning "the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity") and H8141 (`shâneh`, meaning "a year (as a revolution of time)") denotes a specific prophetic period. This phrase, `acharit ha-yamim` (latter days/years), is a common eschatological marker in Hebrew prophecy, pointing to a distinct future era, often associated with the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the unfolding of end-time events. It signifies a time far removed from Ezekiel's immediate historical context, emphasizing the long-term, divine perspective of the prophecy.
* **mountains (Hebrew, _har'_):** H2022 (`har`, meaning "a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion") specifically grounds the prophecy geographically. The "mountains of Israel" refer to the central highlands of the land, the traditional heartland of the Jewish people. This detail emphasizes the physical, tangible nature of the promised land and the specific location where these prophetic events will unfold, reinforcing the literal fulfillment of God's promises concerning the land.
* **dwell safely (Hebrew, _yâshab beṭach'_):** The combination of H3427 (`yâshab`, meaning "to sit down... to dwell, to remain") and H983 (`beṭach`, meaning "a place of refuge; abstract, safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverb with or without preposition) safely") conveys a profound sense of security, trust, and freedom from fear. This phrase describes a state of divinely orchestrated peace and prosperity, indicating that the restored nation of Israel will be living without apprehension of external threats, a stark contrast to their historical vulnerability. This perceived security, however, becomes the very lure for the invading forces, highlighting a divine paradox.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land":** This opening clause establishes the divine timing of the prophecy. "After many days" and "in the latter years" emphatically point to a distant future, an eschatological period determined by God. The "visitation" (from God, either for judgment or intervention) and the "coming into the land" refer to Gog's arrival in Israel, not Israel's return.
* **"that is brought back from the sword, [and is] gathered out of many people":** This describes the condition of the land and its inhabitants prior to Gog's invasion. "Brought back from the sword" signifies recovery from past wars and desolation, while "gathered out of many people" refers to the miraculous regathering of the Jewish diaspora from various nations back to their homeland. This highlights a period of national restoration and resettlement.
* **"against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste":** This specifies the geographical target of the invasion: the central highlands of Israel. The description "always waste" underscores the historical desolation of the land during the exile and preceding periods, contrasting sharply with its future restored state. It emphasizes the miraculous nature of the land's revitalization.
* **"but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them":** This final clause reinforces the miraculous nature of Israel's restoration and their subsequent state of security. "Brought forth out of the nations" reiterates the regathering. The phrase "they shall dwell safely all of them" is crucial, depicting a period of profound peace and security for the inhabitants, a condition that ironically makes them seem vulnerable to Gog's opportunistic attack.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 38:8 employs several potent literary devices to convey its prophetic message. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the description of Israel's future state of peace and regathering explicitly sets the stage for the impending invasion, creating a sense of dramatic irony where security precedes conflict. The phrase "latter years" serves as a **Time Marker**, signaling an eschatological period and emphasizing the divine orchestration of history. **Contrast** is vividly used between the past state of the "mountains of Israel" having "been always waste" and their future state of being "brought forth out of the nations" and inhabited safely, highlighting the miraculous nature of God's restorative work. Furthermore, the detailed geographical and demographic descriptions contribute to the **Verisimilitude** of the prophecy, making the future events feel tangible and real, even as they are yet to unfold.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 38:8 is deeply significant for understanding God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises concerning the nation of Israel and His ultimate sovereignty over world events. It underscores the divine orchestration of history, revealing that even seemingly devastating events like the Gog-Magog invasion are part of God's larger plan to display His holiness and power to all nations. The regathering of Israel from global dispersion, their return to the desolate land, and their subsequent dwelling in security are portrayed as miraculous acts of God, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This verse affirms that God's redemptive purposes for Israel are intricately linked to His global agenda, where the vindication of His people serves as a powerful witness to His identity as the one true God.

* [Deuteronomy 30:3-5](/deuteronomy/30-3 "Deuteronomy 30:3-5 - God Will Restore Israel")
* [Isaiah 11:11-12](/isaiah/11-11 "Isaiah 11:11-12 - The Second Gathering of Israel")
* [Jeremiah 23:6](/jeremiah/23-6 "Jeremiah 23:6 - Righteous Branch and Safe Dwelling")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 38:8 invites believers to reflect on the profound faithfulness of God and His meticulous plan for history. Observing the modern-day regathering of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, a phenomenon unprecedented in history, can be seen by many as a tangible sign of biblical prophecy unfolding before our eyes, strengthening our faith in the reliability of God's Word. This verse encourages us to trust in God's perfect timing, recognizing that He works according to His sovereign calendar, even when events seem chaotic or unpredictable to human eyes. It also serves as a powerful reminder that true security ultimately rests not in geopolitical alliances or military strength, but in God's protective hand. Even in times of apparent peace, vigilance and a deep reliance on God's divine protection are essential, as prophetic events can unfold unexpectedly, always leading to the ultimate glorification of His name.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the historical context of Israel's desolation and dispersion make the prophecy of their future regathering and safe dwelling particularly impactful?**
* **What does the phrase "in the latter years" teach us about God's long-term plan and our role in understanding biblical prophecy?**
* **How might the concept of "dwelling safely" be both a blessing and, ironically, a vulnerability in the context of this prophecy?**
* **In what ways does this prophecy encourage us to trust in God's faithfulness to His promises, even when their fulfillment seems distant or improbable?**

### FAQ

**What does "the latter years" mean in biblical prophecy?**

Answer: The phrase "the latter years" (Hebrew: *acharit ha-yamim*) is a significant prophetic idiom that typically refers to the end times or the culmination of God's plan for history. It denotes a future period, distinct from the immediate historical context of the prophet, during which major eschatological events will unfold. This concept is found throughout the Old Testament, such as in [Daniel 10:14](/daniel/10-14 "Daniel 10:14 - Understanding the Latter Days"), and signifies God's predetermined timeline for the fulfillment of His promises and judgments, leading to the ultimate establishment of His kingdom.

**How does Israel's return from the sword and gathering from many people relate to modern events?**

Answer: Many biblical scholars and theologians interpret the description of Israel being "brought back from the sword" and "gathered out of many people" as a direct prophecy of the modern-day regathering of the Jewish people from around the world to the land of Israel, particularly since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This historical phenomenon, following centuries of dispersion and persecution (the "sword"), is seen as a remarkable fulfillment of prophecies found not only in Ezekiel but also in books like [Isaiah 43:5-6](/isaiah/43-5 "Isaiah 43:5-6 - God Gathers His People") and [Jeremiah 31:10](/jeremiah/31-10 "The Lord Will Gather Israel"). This regathering sets the stage for further prophetic fulfillments, including the events described in Ezekiel 38-39.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 38:8 directly concerns the nation of Israel and its future in the "latter years," its themes resonate deeply with the broader Christ-centered narrative of biblical fulfillment. The "visitation" mentioned in the verse, though initially referring to Gog's hostile incursion, ultimately points to God's decisive intervention, which finds its ultimate expression in Christ. Jesus, as the true Shepherd, gathers His people (both Jew and Gentile) not merely to a physical land but into His spiritual kingdom, offering a security far greater than any geopolitical peace. The "land brought back from the sword" and "gathered out of many people" foreshadows the spiritual restoration and gathering of all believers into the body of Christ, who is our true "place of refuge" and "safety" ([Psalm 46:1](/psalm/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God is Our Refuge and Strength")). The promise that "they shall dwell safely all of them" finds its ultimate and eternal realization in the New Heavens and New Earth, where Christ reigns supreme and His redeemed people dwell in perfect peace and unassailable security, free from all threats and evil ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Pain")). Thus, Ezekiel 38:8, while detailing a specific future event for Israel, ultimately points to the comprehensive and eternal security, gathering, and divine intervention that is fully realized in and through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who conquers all enemies and establishes everlasting peace ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ's Triumphant Return")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 24:22

And they shall be gathered together, [as] prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

Ezekiel 38:16

And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Ezekiel 38:11

And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Ezekiel 38:12

To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places [that are now] inhabited, and upon the people [that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Ezekiel 34:13

And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Ezekiel 36:1

¶ Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:

Ezekiel 36:8

But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.