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Ezekiel 38:2

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Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, set {H7760} thy face {H6440} against Gog {H1463}, the land {H776} of Magog {H4031}, the chief {H7218} prince {H5387} of Meshech {H4902} and Tubal {H8422}, and prophesy {H5012} against him,

"Human being, turn your face toward Gog (of the land of Magog), chief prince of Meshekh and Tuval; and prophesy against him.

“Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him

Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 38:2 (KJV)

Ezekiel 38:2 introduces a pivotal prophecy concerning a formidable end-time invasion of the land of Israel. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation orchestrated by God Himself, highlighting His sovereign control over nations and history.

Context

The prophecy in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 follows immediately after the vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37, which symbolizes the spiritual and physical restoration of Israel. Having promised to regather His people back into their land, God then reveals a future event where a great confederacy of nations, led by Gog, will attempt to invade this restored Israel. The timing of this prophecy is crucial: it describes an event that takes place after Israel's return and dwelling securely in their land. This specific verse initiates the divine command to the prophet Ezekiel to confront this future adversary.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Orchestration: God explicitly commands Ezekiel to "set thy face against Gog," indicating that this future conflict is not random but divinely purposed. God is the one who brings Gog forth, as further detailed in Ezekiel 38:4.
  • Prophetic Judgment Against Hostile Nations: Gog and his allies represent forces hostile to God and His people. This prophecy serves as a powerful declaration of God's coming judgment upon those who oppose His divine plan and His chosen nation.
  • God's Glory Revealed: The ultimate purpose of this dramatic intervention is not merely judgment, but the revelation of God's holiness and power to all nations, as stated in Ezekiel 38:23 and Ezekiel 39:7.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" is particularly significant. The Hebrew word translated "chief" is rosh (רֹאשׁ), which also means "head." Many scholars interpret rosh here not just as an adjective ("chief") but as a proper noun, "Rosh," identifying a specific nation or region. This interpretation suggests Gog is the "prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal." Meshech and Tubal (along with Magog, Gomer, and Togarmah mentioned later in Ezekiel 38:6) are ancient peoples and regions historically associated with areas north of Israel, often linked to modern-day Turkey, the Caucasus, and parts of Russia. This linguistic nuance has fueled much speculation about the identity of the invading forces in end-times prophecy.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 38:2 reminds believers that God remains sovereign over all world events, even amidst geopolitical turmoil and the rise of hostile powers. This prophecy, like many others concerning the end times, serves to:

  • Build Trust: It reassures us that God has a clear plan and will ultimately triumph over all opposition.
  • Encourage Watchfulness: While not providing a precise timetable, it encourages believers to be aware of world events in light of biblical prophecy.
  • Promote Evangelism: The ultimate purpose of God's actions in this prophecy is for His glory to be known among the nations. This underscores the urgency of sharing the gospel, so that people may know the true God before these dramatic events unfold.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 39:1 (10 votes)

    ¶ Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

  • Ezekiel 27:13 (5 votes)

    Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they [were] thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.

  • Ezekiel 38:3 (5 votes)

    And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

  • Genesis 10:2 (5 votes)

    The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

  • Ezekiel 2:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

  • Revelation 20:8 (3 votes)

    And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.

  • Revelation 20:9 (3 votes)

    And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.