Ezekiel 38:16 kjv
And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
Ezekiel 38:16 nkjv
You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes."
Ezekiel 38:16 niv
You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
Ezekiel 38:16 esv
You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
Ezekiel 38:16 nlt
and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 38 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 38:1 | "The word of the LORD came to me: ..." | Ezekiel 38:1 (Setting the stage) |
| Ezekiel 38:4 | "... I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws ..." | Ezekiel 38:4 (God's sovereign control) |
| Ezekiel 38:8 | "... be ready and keep your whole company drawn up around me ..." | Ezekiel 38:8 (Preparation for invasion) |
| Ezekiel 38:15 | "You will come from your dwelling in the remotest parts of the north, ..." | Ezekiel 38:15 (Direction of origin) |
| Psalm 2:1-2 | "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? ..." | Psalm 2:1-2 (Nations conspiring against God) |
| Jeremiah 50:9 | "For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations ..." | Jeremiah 50:9 (Alliance against enemy) |
| Revelation 20:7-8 | "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in all four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle." | Revelation 20:7-8 (Future fulfillment echoing the theme) |
| Isaiah 8:9 | "Raise a war cry, nations, and you will be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Equip yourselves, and you will be shattered! ..." | Isaiah 8:9 (Nations against God will be shattered) |
| Joel 2:20 | "I will drive the northern army far away from you..." | Joel 2:20 (Northern foe) |
| Zechariah 14:2 | "I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it..." | Zechariah 14:2 (Jerusalem as a focal point) |
| 2 Chronicles 20:1-2 | "After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, and some of the Meunites, marched out to wage war against Jehoshaphat." | 2 Chronicles 20:1-2 (Historical example of coalition) |
| Proverbs 16:4 | "The LORD works out everything for his own purposes— even the wicked for the day of disaster." | Proverbs 16:4 (God using nations for His purposes) |
| Matthew 24:6-7 | "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." | Matthew 24:6-7 (Wars as signs) |
| Revelation 16:14 | "...they are spirits of demons performing signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty." | Revelation 16:14 (Demonic influence in final gathering) |
| Revelation 19:19 | "Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army." | Revelation 19:19 (Final battle imagery) |
| Jeremiah 30:11 | "Though I destroy all the nations to which I scatter you, I will not destroy you completely. But I will discipline you justly; I cannot let you go entirely unpunished." | Jeremiah 30:11 (God's justice and preservation) |
| Psalm 46:6 | "The nations make uproar, the kingdoms tumble; he lifts his voice, the earth melts." | Psalm 46:6 (Nations’ futility) |
| Isaiah 13:4-5 | "Hark, an uproar from the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Hark, the commotion of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war." | Isaiah 13:4-5 (Gathering for war) |
| Zechariah 12:3 | "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against it, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the peoples. All who try to move it will injure themselves." | Zechariah 12:3 (Jerusalem as focal point) |
| Acts 4:25 | "... Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed." | Acts 4:25 (Nations uniting against God's Anointed) |
Ezekiel 38 verses
Ezekiel 38 16 Meaning
This verse describes the nations Gog will lead, emphasizing their diverse origins and immense numbers. It speaks of their assembly and readiness for an assault described in subsequent verses. The focus is on the vast coalition being amassed against God's people and land.
Ezekiel 38 16 Context
This chapter of Ezekiel is part of the prophet’s visions concerning God's judgment on nations and future restoration for Israel. Chapter 38 specifically describes a future invasion of the land of Israel by a formidable coalition of nations led by Gog from the land of Magog. This invasion is presented as a final, unprovoked assault against God's people after their return and settlement. The verse places this event in a temporal setting following Israel's regathering and a period of apparent peace, making them seem vulnerable to the aggressors.
Ezekiel 38 16 Word Analysis
- And thou shalt come (וּבָאתָ / uvāṯā): First-person masculine singular perfect verb from בּוֹא (bō' - to come, go, enter). It signifies an intentional movement towards a destination.
- from thy removed places (מִמְּקֹמֹתֶיךָ / mim’qōmōṯeḵā): From "מָקוֹם" (māqōm - place, site, region), in the plural "מְקוֹמוֹת" (m’qōmōṯ), and the second person masculine singular possessive suffix. Refers to Gog’s dwelling or base of operations.
- from the ends of the north (מִקְצֹוֹת צָפוֹן / miqṣōṯ ṣāp̄ō n): "קָצֶה" (qāṣeh - end, extremity, border) in the plural "קְצוֹת" (qəṣōṯ). Indicates a far-northern geographical location, commonly understood to be beyond the usual territorial boundaries of the ancient Near East.
- with thee (עִמָּךְ / ʻimmāḵ): Preposition "עִם" (ʻim - with) plus second person masculine singular pronoun suffix. Denotes accompaniment and a unified force.
- many peoples (הַרְבֵּה עַמִּים / harbeh ʻammim): "רַב" (rav - many, much, great) as an adverb, followed by "עָם" (ʻam - people, nation), plural "עַמִּים" (ʻammim). Highlights the multitude and diverse nationalities involved.
- all of them (כֻּלָּם / kullām): A collective pronoun meaning "all of them." Reinforces the completeness of the gathered forces.
- riding upon horses (רֹכְבִים סוּס / rōḵəḇim sū s): Present participle from רָכַב (rāk aḇ - to ride) with "סוּס" (sū s - horse), plural. Depicts the mode of transportation and the mounted nature of the invading army.
- a great company (נָהָר גָּדוֹל / nāhār gāḏōl): "עַד הַרְבֵּה" (ʻaḏ harbeh - up to great number). The "company" or "multitude" emphasizes the vast size and overwhelming nature of the assembly, with "great" amplifying it. The Hebrew here suggests a flood-like assembly.
- and an army (וְצָבָא / wəṣāḇāʼ): Conjunction "וְ" (wə - and) plus "צָבָא" (ṣāḇāʼ - army, host, multitude). Further specifies the organized military nature of the gathered forces.
Ezekiel 38 16 Bonus Section
The term "Magog" itself is significant. While its precise geographical location remains debated among scholars, it is consistently understood in eschatological contexts as representing a significant gentile power arrayed against God's people. The description of nations coming from the "ends of the north" has led many to associate this region with modern-day Russia and surrounding territories, although the primary focus remains on the military alliance and its purpose rather than exact modern geopolitical mapping. The "riding upon horses" evokes ancient warfare, but in the context of future interpretation, it can represent any form of modern military mobilization or force. The comprehensive gathering also echoes earlier prophecies where nations conspired against Israel, underlining a consistent theme of opposition to God’s covenant people throughout history and into the end times.
Ezekiel 38 16 Commentary
Ezekiel 38:16 describes a vast military confederation assembled against Israel. The assembled force originates from "thy removed places" and the "ends of the north," signifying geographical distance and a potentially hostile origin. The key elements are the immense size ("many peoples, all of them," "great company") and the composition ("riding upon horses," "and an army"). This verse establishes the overwhelming nature of Gog's coalition. It portrays a united front, moving as one force under Gog's command. This comprehensive gathering signifies a final, significant military operation aimed at conquest and plunder, setting the stage for God's direct intervention and judgment upon them.