Ezekiel 38 13

Ezekiel 38:13 kjv

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Ezekiel 38:13 nkjv

Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?' " '

Ezekiel 38:13 niv

Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, "Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?"?'

Ezekiel 38:13 esv

Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, 'Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?'

Ezekiel 38:13 nlt

But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, 'Do you really think the armies you have gathered can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think you can drive away their livestock and seize their goods and carry off plunder?'

Ezekiel 38 verses

Ezekiel 38 13 meaning

Ezekiel 38:13 details the reaction of distant trading nations to Gog's impending invasion of Israel. These nations – Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish with their "young lions" – are not expressing a desire to defend Israel, but rather questioning Gog's blatant economic motives. They challenge whether Gog's vast military mobilization is solely for the purpose of plundering the abundant wealth (silver, gold, livestock, and goods) that Israel will possess in that future time. Their inquiry highlights Gog's greedy, mercenary intent.

Ezekiel 38 13 Context

Ezekiel 38:13 is nestled within a dramatic prophecy describing the "Gog of Magog" invasion against Israel in the "latter years" (v. 8) or "latter days" (v. 16). Gog, leading a vast confederacy of nations, is prophesied to descend upon a seemingly peaceful and unsuspecting Israel, recently regathered from exile. The motivation for this invasion, as God declares, is for Gog to come "to capture spoil and to seize plunder" (v. 12). Verse 13 then records the reaction of a specific group of nations: Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, along with their "young lions." These are established trading powers known for their wealth and long-distance commerce. Their response serves to underscore and echo the mercenary nature of Gog's invasion that God Himself had revealed. They observe the massive military deployment and interpret it as an obvious venture for material gain, an act of sheer avarice. Historically, in the ancient Near East, conquering nations often plundered the vanquished for wealth and resources; Gog's ambition here fits this pattern but is highlighted specifically because of the unprecedented scale and target (God's chosen people restored to their land).

Ezekiel 38 13 Word analysis

• Sheba (שְׁבָא - Sheva): Located in modern-day Yemen (South Arabia), a major center of trade. Known for frankincense, myrrh, gold, and spices. Symbolizes distant wealth and trade partners. Its mention here signifies awareness of Israel's renewed prosperity.
• and Dedan (וּדְדָן - u'Dedan): A prominent North Arabian trading city, often associated with Sheba and engaged in caravan trade. Dedan traded ivory and ebony. Together with Sheba, they represent the established commercial powers of the Arabian peninsula.
• and the merchants of Tarshish (וְסֹחֲרֵי תַרְשִׁישׁ - v'socharei Tarshish): "Merchants" (socharei) denotes commercial operators. Tarshish's exact location is debated (perhaps Spain, or a general term for distant Western trade). It represents long-distance sea trade, known for silver, iron, tin, and lead. Its inclusion emphasizes the global awareness and concern over Gog's actions due to its scale and economic impact.
• with all her young lions (וְכָל־כְּפִירֶיהָ - v'chol kefireyha): Literally "young lions." This phrase is often interpreted metaphorically. It can refer to powerful dependencies, satellite nations, aggressive leaders, or associated trading ventures/agents of Tarshish, akin to colonial outposts or strong commercial partners who extend Tarshish's influence. It suggests Tarshish's network and capacity.
• will say to you, (יֹאמְרוּ־לָךְ - yomeru lach): Direct address to Gog. Implies a collective, public accusation or rhetorical question rather than just a private thought.
• Have you come (הֲלִשְׁלֹל - ha'lishlol): An interrogative (signified by 'ha-' prefix) indicating a question of intent. The root "שָׁלַל" (shalal) means "to plunder" or "to take spoil." It signifies an act of forceful taking of goods after conquest.
• to take plunder? (שָׁלָל - shalal): The noun for "spoil," "booty," or "plunder." The repetition of the root word highlights the primary, base motivation.
• Have you gathered your army (הֲלָבֹז בַּז - ha'lavoz baz): Another interrogative. "לָבֹז" (lavoz) means "to seize booty" or "to despoil," and "בַּז" (baz) is the noun "booty" or "prey." These terms, often used interchangeably with shalal, reinforce the economic focus of the invasion, specifically material goods.
• to seize spoil? (בַּז - baz): See above. Used to intensify the accusation of material greed.
• to carry away silver and gold, (לָשֵׂאת כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב - laseyt kesef v'zahav): "Carry away" (laseyt) indicates transportation of goods. "Silver and gold" are universal symbols of wealth and key targets for plunder. This specifies the type of precious metals Gog is after.
• to take away livestock and goods, (לָקַחַת מִקְנֶה וְקִנְיָן - lakachat mikneh v'qinyan): "Take away" (lakachat) implies acquiring by force. "Livestock" (mikneh) refers to domestic animals, a significant form of wealth in ancient agricultural societies. "Goods" (qinyan) is a broader term for possessions or acquisitions. This expands the list of targeted plunder beyond metals to tangible assets.
• to carry away a great spoil? (לָשֵׂאת שָׁלָל גָּדוֹל - laseyt shalal gadol): Reiterates the phrase "carry away spoil," but adds "great" (gadol), emphasizing the massive scale and abundance of the intended plunder, reflecting Israel's substantial future prosperity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish with all her young lions: This collective represents international commerce and global awareness. They are not part of Gog's invasion force, nor are they defenders of Israel. Rather, they are astute observers who understand the true economic driver behind such an ambitious military endeavor, possibly from their own commercial experience or by recognizing familiar patterns of avarice. Their distant perspective underlines the universality of this coming event.
• will say to you, 'Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to seize spoil?': These rhetorical questions are a pointed accusation. They strip away any pretense Gog might have, immediately cutting to the core of his greedy motivation. The double question, using both "plunder" (shalal) and "spoil" (baz), adds emphasis and intensifies the accusation of avarice. It implies that Gog's intentions are so obvious they are questioned even by foreign nations not directly involved.
• to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to carry away a great spoil?: This segment itemizes the specific objects of Gog's greed, confirming that his aims are not strategic, ideological, or political, but purely material. The accumulation of specific wealth types (precious metals, animals, general possessions) underlines the thoroughness of the intended plunder and the richness of the target, "a great spoil," confirming the enormous prosperity Israel will experience.

Ezekiel 38 13 Bonus section

The mention of Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish serves several purposes. Firstly, it indicates the future global awareness of this event. Nations far from the conflict zone will be discussing and commenting on it, highlighting its significance on a world stage. Secondly, it implicitly contrasts God's righteous character with the world's pursuit of material gain. While these trading nations might normally pursue commerce, they recognize Gog's endeavor as illegitimate and based on covetousness. Lastly, it suggests that these nations, being trading partners and observers, might be economically affected or concerned about the disruption of established trade routes and stability that Gog's massive invasion implies. Their question is one of economic observation, not necessarily moral outrage or military challenge to Gog. They highlight Gog's vulnerability and his base intentions, thus fulfilling part of God's broader plan to reveal Gog for what he is, prior to His divine intervention.

Ezekiel 38 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 38:13 is a prophetic interjection that lays bare the cynical motivation behind Gog's grand invasion. While God declared that He would put "hooks in your jaws" (v. 4) and draw Gog to Israel to display His glory, Gog's human motive is unadulterated greed. Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish, renowned trading powers of antiquity, perceive this immediately. Their question is rhetorical, serving not as a call to intervention but as a clear articulation of Gog's rapacious intent. This exposes Gog's true character as an unprincipled plunderer seeking to enrich himself from the unexpected prosperity of Israel in the latter days. The phrase "her young lions" often implies subordinate powers or strong trading partners, emphasizing the network of commerce associated with Tarshish, further illustrating the international reach of this observation. The contrast is stark: Gog seeks earthly riches, while God orchestrates the event for His divine, ultimate glory, showcasing His protection of Israel and judgment of those who challenge His sovereignty. This revelation, coming from outside nations, also serves to vindicate God's righteous judgment against Gog, as even human observers recognize the blatant injustice of his aims.