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Ezekiel 38:17

in Ezekiel 38

This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring thee against them?

KJV

Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

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This verse in Ezekiel 38

Commentary

7 notes on this verse
Gog - is not mentioned by name in any existing prophecy before Ezekiel’s time. The reference here shows (1) that the conflict with Gog does not represent a particular event, but one of which the prophets in general had to speak; (2) that in the interpretation of Old Testament prophecy we are to look beyond special fulfillments. Events in the world’s history come within a prophet’s ken as parts of the divine administration whereby evil struggles against but is overcome by good.

This site's exposition

Are you the one of whom I have spoken

The Lord asks whether Gog is the figure earlier prophets already pointed toward. The commentators propose Joel's northern army, Isaiah's northern invader and Jeremiah's foe from the north, and they differ on which is meant. The verse states the link to prior prophecy and leaves the referent open.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Ezekiel · Written before 420.

proposed

(Chapter XXXVIII.) \"And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of the head (or head of) Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And you shall say to him: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of the head (or head of) Meshech and Tubal.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

It is here foretold that this furious formidable enemy should be utterly cut off in this attempt upon Israel, and that it should issue in his own ruin. This is supposed by many to have its accomplishment in the many defeats given by the Maccabees to the forces of Antiochus and the remarkable judgments of God executed upon his own person, for he died of sore diseases.
Thus saith the Lord God,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Isa 27:1; compare Isa 26:20, 21; God is represented as addressing Gog at the time of his assault; therefore, the "old time" is the time long prior, when Ezekiel uttered these prophecies; so, he also, as well as Daniel (Da 11:1-45) and Zechariah (Zec 14:1-21) are included among "the prophets of Israel" here. many years--ago.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time - This prophecy concerning Antiochus and the Jews was delivered about four hundred years before the events took place. - Martin. Calmet maintains that Cambyses is spoken of, and refers to ancient prophecies, especially Isaiah 14, Isa 15:1-9, Isa 16:1-14, Isa 20:1-6, 21.

The words behind it

21 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • כֹּֽה־thus

    koh-H3541 →577 times

  • אָמַ֞רhe says

    ʾamarH559 →5305 times

  • אֲדֹנָ֣י[the] Lord

    ʾadonaiH136 →440 times

  • יְהוִ֗הYahweh

    yahwehH3069 →306 times

  • הַֽאַתָּה־¿ [are] you

    haatah-H859 →1094 times

  • ה֨וּאhe

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־whom

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • דִּבַּ֜רְתִּיI spoke

    dibartiH1696 →1141 times

  • בְּיָמִ֣יםin days

    beyamimH3117 →2304 times

  • קַדְמוֹנִ֗יםformer

    kadmonimH6931 →10 times

  • בְּיַד֙by [the] hand of

    beyadH3027 →1618 times

  • עֲבָדַי֙servants my

    ʾavadaiH5650 →799 times

  • נְבִיאֵ֣י[the] prophets of

    nevieiH5030 →314 times

  • יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael

    yisraelH3478 →2507 times

  • הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛יםwho prophesied

    hanibeimH5012 →115 times

  • בַּיָּמִ֥יםin the days

    baiyamimH3117 →2304 times

  • הָהֵ֖ם<the> those

    hahemH1992 →553 times

  • שָׁנִ֑יםyears

    shanimH8141 →877 times

  • לְהָבִ֥יאto bring

    lehavi'H935 →2568 times

  • אֹתְךָ֖<obj.> you

    ʾotekhaH853 →10935 times

  • עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ סon them

    ʾaleihemH5921 →5755 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

17 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Daniel 11:40–45At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.6 worksEzekiel 38:16You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes.5 worksIsaiah 63:1–6Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”5 worksJoel 3:9–14Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack!5 worksEzekiel 38:10–11This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.4 worksIsaiah 34:1–6Come near, O nations, to listen; pay attention, O peoples. Let the earth hear, and all that fills it, the world and all that springs from it.4 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Ezekiel 39:8Yes, it is coming, and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken.4 worksIsaiah 44:26who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’4 worksIsaiah 66:15–16For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.3 worksZechariah 14:1–21Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence.3 worksZechariah 12:2–8“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.3 worksJeremiah 26:5and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen,3 worksIsaiah 27:1In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.2 worksPsalms 110:5–6The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath.2 works2 Kings 14:10You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”2 worksExodus 14:3For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’2 worksPsalms 139:2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.-3 works

The walk

5 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ezekiel 38:16

    You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations…

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 38:23

      I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

    • Ezekiel 39:21

      I will display My glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment that I execute and the hand that I lay upon them.

    • Hosea 3:5

      Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

    • Daniel 2:28

      But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your…

    • 1 Timothy 4:1

      Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Ezekiel

Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezekiel: the study guide →Read Ezekiel 38 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Ezekiel 38 →