Ezekiel 38:1 kjv
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 38:1 nkjv
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezekiel 38:1 niv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 38:1 esv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 38:1 nlt
This is another message that came to me from the LORD:
Ezekiel 38 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 38:2 | Son of man, set your face against Gog... | Introduction of Gog and his allies |
| Jeremiah 23:19 | Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD... | Divine judgment from the LORD |
| Isaiah 1:1 | The vision of Isaiah... | Formal pronouncement of prophecy |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD does nothing... | LORD reveals His plans to prophets |
| 1 Kings 18:1 | ...the word of the LORD came to Elijah... | Direct communication from the LORD |
| Hosea 1:1 | The word of the LORD that came to... | Inauguration of prophetic message |
| Joel 1:1 | The word of the LORD that came to Joel... | Commissioning of a prophet |
| Micah 1:1 | The word of the LORD that came to Micah.. | Divine oracle |
| Zephaniah 1:1 | The word of the LORD that came to... | Word of the LORD delivered |
| Haggai 1:1 | In the second year of Darius the king... | Direct divine instruction |
| Zechariah 1:1 | In the eighth month...the word of the LORD... | LORD speaks through prophet |
| Matthew 3:3 | For this is he who was spoken of by... | Fulfillment of prophetic word |
| Luke 3:2 | ...the word of God came to John... | Divine message to a messenger |
| Acts 11:12 | And the Spirit told me to go with them... | Divine guidance through the Spirit |
| Acts 15:32 | And Judas and Silas, who were also... | Prophetic encouragement |
| Acts 20:27 | ...I did not shrink from declaring... | Proclaiming God's full counsel |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:15 | For this we declare to you by a word... | LORD's own word regarding His return |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed... | Divine origin of Scripture |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and... | Power and authority of God's word |
| Revelation 1:1 | The revelation of Jesus Christ, which... | Revelation from God |
| Ezekiel 40:3 | And he brought me there, and behold... | Visionary experience |
| Isaiah 13:1 | The oracle concerning Babylon... | Specific oracle |
Ezekiel 38 verses
Ezekiel 38 1 Meaning
The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel. This signifies a divine pronouncement delivered directly to the prophet. It introduces a significant prophecy concerning a future invasion. The verse itself is a formal inauguration of a prophetic message.
Ezekiel 38 1 Context
Ezekiel was a prophet in exile in Babylon during the time of Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian captivity. This chapter marks the beginning of a new section in Ezekiel's prophecy, shifting from judgment on Israel and surrounding nations to a future prophetic vision concerning an eschatological conflict involving the land of Israel. The audience of Ezekiel's prophecy were fellow exiles, offering them hope and reassurance amidst their distress and a vision of God's ultimate triumph.
Ezekiel 38 1 Word analysis
- וַיְהִי (vay'-hee): "And it came to pass" or "And it was." A common Hebrew conjunctive and narrative particle, often beginning historical accounts or signaling a transition in the text. It establishes the continuity of God's communication with the prophet.
- דְּבַר (d'-var): "The word." The essential message or speech. This clearly indicates a direct communication from God.
- יְהוָה (Yhvh): "The LORD." The personal covenantal name of God, translated in many English versions as "LORD" (all caps). It emphasizes that the message originates from the sovereign Creator and covenant God.
- אֶל (el): "to." A preposition indicating the recipient of the communication.
- יְחֶזְקֵאֵל (Y'-chez-ke-El): "Ezekiel." Meaning "God strengthens" or "May God strengthen." This signifies the prophet's calling and his reliance on God's empowerment to deliver His messages.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- וַיְהִי דְבַר יְהוָה אֶל יְחֶזְקֵאֵל (vay'-hee d'-var Yhvh el Y'-chez-ke-El): "And the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel." This phrase is a recurring formula in prophetic literature. It marks the direct and authoritative divine commissioning of the prophet for a specific message. It underscores the source and legitimacy of Ezekiel's prophecy, asserting divine inspiration.
Ezekiel 38 1 Bonus section
The formula "the word of the LORD came to" emphasizes the active and initiating role of God in revelation. It establishes God as the ultimate author and source of truth conveyed through human vessels. Ezekiel's ministry was marked by powerful visions and symbolic actions, and this message concerning Gog of Magog is one of the most detailed eschatological prophecies in the Old Testament. The timing of this prophecy is placed in the latter part of Ezekiel's ministry, possibly after the fall of Jerusalem, reinforcing themes of God's sovereignty over history and His ultimate vindication.
Ezekiel 38 1 Commentary
This opening verse serves as a formal introduction to a significant prophetic oracle concerning a future battle and divine intervention. The "word of the LORD" signifies an authentic message directly from God, conveyed to Ezekiel, whose name means "God strengthens," a fitting name for one empowered by the divine to deliver His messages. This communication is not casual; it is an authoritative declaration from the sovereign God (Yhvh) to His chosen prophet. The structure of this phrase is typical throughout the Old Testament, highlighting the supernatural source of prophetic revelation.