Ezekiel 39:15

KJV

And the passengers [that] pass through the land, when [any] seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the passengers {H5674} that pass through {H5674} the land {H776}, when any seeth {H7200} a man's {H120} bone {H6106}, then shall he set up {H1129} a sign {H6725} by {H681} it, till the buriers {H6912} have buried {H6912} it in the valley {H1516} of Hamongog {H1996}.

Complete Jewish Bible

As they go through the land, if anyone sees a human bone, he will put a marker next to it until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-Gog.

Berean Standard Bible

As they pass through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will set up a pillar next to it, until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog.

American Standard Version

And they that pass through the land shall pass through; and when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 39:15 describes a specific aspect of the extensive cleanup operation following God's devastating judgment on Gog's invading army, highlighting the meticulous process required to purify the land of Israel from the defilement of countless unburied corpses. It emphasizes that even casual travelers will encounter human bones, necessitating a system where they mark the location for designated burial teams, ensuring the complete sanctification of the land in the designated Valley of Hamongog.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 39:15 is situated within the climactic prophecy against Gog and Magog in [Ezekiel chapters 38-39](/ezekiel/38 "Ezekiel 38-39 - The Prophecy Against Gog and Magog"). These chapters detail a massive invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by Gog, followed by God's dramatic and supernatural intervention to utterly destroy this formidable foe on the mountains of Israel. The immediate context of verse 15 is the aftermath of this divine judgment, specifically the extensive seven-month cleanup operation described from [Ezekiel 39:11](/ezekiel/39-11 "Ezekiel 39:11 - Burial of Gog's Multitude") onwards. The verse underscores the overwhelming scale of the defeat, where the sheer number of casualties necessitates a systematic and prolonged effort to bury the dead and ritually purify the land. It builds upon the previous verses that designate the "Valley of Abarim" (or "Valley of the Passengers") as the primary burial ground, later named "Hamongog."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, contact with a dead body, especially an unburied one, rendered a person ritually unclean (cf. [Numbers 19:11-16](/numbers/19-11 "Numbers 19:11-16 - Laws of Uncleanness from the Dead")). This defilement was a serious matter, requiring specific purification rites. The presence of countless unburied corpses from Gog's army would have rendered the entire land of Israel ritually impure, making it unfit for God's holy presence and the dwelling of His people. Therefore, the meticulous and prolonged burial process described in Ezekiel 39, including the role of "passengers" in marking bones and the "buriers" in interring them, was not merely a practical sanitation effort but a profound act of ritual purification essential for the restoration and sanctification of the land. The designated "Valley of Hamongog" would become a permanent memorial to God's judgment and the restoration of His people's purity.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Judgment and Vindication**, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His unwavering commitment to defend His people and land. The utter destruction of Gog's forces leaves no doubt about God's power and justice, as seen in [Ezekiel 39:21](/ezekiel/39-21 "Ezekiel 39:21 - God's Glory Displayed Among the Nations"). Secondly, the emphasis on the cleanup highlights the theme of **Sanctification and Purity**. God's holy presence demands a pure land, and the removal of defilement is integral to the restoration of Israel. This aligns with the broader theme of God's desire for His people to be holy, as expressed throughout the Mosaic Law and reiterated in prophetic calls for repentance and cleansing (e.g., [Isaiah 1:16-17](/isaiah/1-16 "Isaiah 1:16-17 - Wash Yourselves Clean")). Finally, it underscores the theme of **God's Glory and Reputation**, as the overwhelming nature of the victory and the subsequent cleanup will cause the nations to know that the Lord is God, as stated in [Ezekiel 39:7](/ezekiel/39-7 "Ezekiel 39:7 - God's Holy Name Known").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Passengers (Hebrew, _ʻâbar'_):** From H5674, a primitive root meaning "to cross over," used widely for any transition. Here, it refers to those "passing through" or "wayfaring men," emphasizing that even casual travelers, not just designated cleanup crews, would encounter the vast number of bones. This highlights the pervasive nature of the defilement.
* **Bone (Hebrew, _ʻetsem'_):** From H6106, meaning "a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame." In this context, "a man's bone" signifies the remnants of the countless human corpses, emphasizing the physical evidence of the immense destruction and the resulting ritual impurity.
* **Sign (Hebrew, _tsîyûwn'_):** From H6725, meaning "a monumental or guiding pillar; sign, title, waymark." This refers to a marker or flag set up by the passerby to indicate the location of a bone, serving as a temporary warning and a signal for the burial teams. It underscores the systematic and organized nature of the cleanup, ensuring no defilement is overlooked.
* **Hamongog (Hebrew, _Hămôwn Gôwg'_):** From H1996, meaning "the multitude of Gog." This is the fanciful, emblematic name given to the valley designated for the mass burial of Gog's army. The name itself serves as a perpetual memorial, proclaiming the sheer number of the defeated enemy and God's decisive victory over "the multitude of Gog."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the passengers that pass through the land,"**: This refers to ordinary travelers or those who are not part of the dedicated burial teams, but who are simply traversing the territory. It implies that the land will be so littered with remains that even casual transit will lead to discovery.
* **"when any seeth a man's bone,"**: This emphasizes the accidental nature of the discovery. The sheer volume of unburied remains is such that finding a human bone is an inevitable occurrence for anyone moving through the area. "Man's bone" specifically denotes human remains, the source of ritual impurity.
* **"then shall he set up a sign by it,"**: Upon discovering a bone, the passerby is obligated to erect a marker. This "sign" (Hebrew: _tsiyyun_) serves as a temporary warning to others to avoid contact and, more importantly, as a signal for the professional buriers to locate and inter the remains. This highlights the communal responsibility for maintaining purity.
* **"till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog."**: This specifies the ultimate purpose of the sign—to facilitate the proper burial. The "buriers" are the designated teams responsible for the extensive cleanup, and the "valley of Hamongog" is the designated mass grave, a place whose name will forever commemorate the "multitude of Gog" and God's overwhelming victory.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 39:15 employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Hyperbole** is evident in the description of the cleanup; while literally possible, the imagery of every passerby encountering bones and needing to mark them emphasizes the *overwhelming* scale of the destruction and the sheer number of corpses, underscoring the completeness of God's victory. The "valley of Hamongog" itself functions as **Symbolism** and **Metonymy**. As **Symbolism**, it represents the place of ultimate divine judgment and the permanent memorial to God's triumph. As **Metonymy**, the name "Hamongog" (multitude of Gog) stands in for the defeated army, making the burial site a perpetual testament to their demise. The meticulous, almost bureaucratic, process of marking bones and designated buriers provides a stark **Contrast** to the chaos of battle, highlighting the divine order that prevails even in the wake of immense destruction and ensuring the land's ritual purification.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 39:15 powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty and His meticulous concern for the purity of His land and people. The extensive cleanup operation, necessitated by the overwhelming defeat of Gog, underscores that God's victory is not merely military but also involves the restoration of ritual and spiritual order. This divine initiative ensures that the land, once defiled by the presence of unburied enemies, is thoroughly cleansed, making it fit for God's continued dwelling among His people. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of God's redemptive work, which addresses not only external threats but also internal defilement, ultimately leading to the full vindication of His holy name before all nations.

* [Deuteronomy 21:23](/deuteronomy/21-23 "Deuteronomy 21:23 - Burial of the Executed")
* [Numbers 19:11](/numbers/19-11 "Numbers 19:11 - Uncleanness from a Dead Body")
* [Leviticus 11:24](/leviticus/11-24 "Leviticus 11:24-25 - Laws of Unclean Animals")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 39:15, while describing a future prophetic event, offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is not only powerful enough to defeat the greatest threats to His people but also meticulous enough to oversee the subsequent restoration and purification. This should inspire immense confidence in His sovereign control over all circumstances, even those that seem chaotic or overwhelming. Spiritually, the emphasis on cleansing the land from defilement serves as a powerful metaphor for the importance of personal and corporate purity. Just as the physical land needed to be cleansed for God's glory, so too do our lives and communities require ongoing purification from sin and its effects. We are called to be agents of purity, not merely avoiding defilement but actively participating in the removal of spiritual "bones" from our midst, marking them out for God's redemptive work. This verse encourages us to trust in God's ultimate justice and to participate actively in His ongoing work of sanctification in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous cleanup operation in Ezekiel 39:15 deepen your understanding of God's holiness and His desire for purity?**
* **In what ways might we, as "passengers" in our own spiritual journey, be called to "set up a sign" against spiritual defilement in our lives or communities?**
* **How does the assurance of God's ultimate victory and subsequent restoration, as seen in this passage, impact your perspective on current global challenges or personal struggles?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of "Hamongog" in this prophecy?**

Answer: "Hamongog" (Hebrew: _Hămôwn Gôwg_) literally means "the multitude of Gog." Its significance lies in its role as the designated mass burial site for Gog's vast army. The name itself serves as a perpetual, emblematic memorial to the overwhelming number of the defeated enemy and, more importantly, to God's decisive and complete victory over them. It ensures that the memory of God's judgment and His vindication of Israel will endure, fulfilling the purpose stated in [Ezekiel 39:13](/ezekiel/39-13 "Ezekiel 39:13 - Glorifying God Through Burial").

**Why is such a detailed cleanup necessary after God's victory?**

Answer: The detailed cleanup is necessary for both practical and, more importantly, ritual reasons. Practically, the sheer number of corpses would pose a massive public health crisis. Ritually, contact with dead bodies rendered a person and the land unclean according to Mosaic Law (e.g., [Numbers 19:11-16](/numbers/19-11 "Numbers 19:11-16 - Laws of Uncleanness from the Dead")). God's presence among His people demands a holy and pure land. Therefore, the meticulous, seven-month burial process, as mentioned in [Ezekiel 39:12](/ezekiel/39-12 "Ezekiel 39:12 - Seven Months for Burial"), is an essential act of sanctification, restoring the land's ritual purity and demonstrating God's complete control and order even in the aftermath of immense destruction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 39:15 describes a future, literal event, its underlying principles find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The meticulous cleanup and purification of the land from the defilement of death foreshadow the ultimate and complete cleansing accomplished by Christ. Just as the bones of Gog's army defiled the land, so too does sin and death defile humanity and creation. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, bearing the defilement of our sin on the cross (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Made Sin for Us")). Through His death and resurrection, He not only defeated the power of sin and death (cf. [Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death")) but also initiated the process of spiritual purification for all who believe, making us holy and blameless before God (cf. [Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World")). The future cleansing of the land in Ezekiel points to the new heavens and new earth, where there will be no more death or defilement (cf. [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")), a reality secured by Christ's victory and His ongoing work of sanctification in His church.

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

Luke 11:44

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over [them] are not aware [of them].