Ezekiel 38 20

Ezekiel 38:20 kjv

So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

Ezekiel 38:20 nkjv

so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.'

Ezekiel 38:20 niv

The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.

Ezekiel 38:20 esv

The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground.

Ezekiel 38:20 nlt

All living things ? the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people on earth ? will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth.

Ezekiel 38 verses

Ezekiel 38 20 meaning

Ezekiel 38:20 describes the overwhelming, universal impact of God's wrath and intervention against Gog and his forces in the land of Israel. As divine fury erupts, an immense earthquake will shake the entire earth, causing all living creatures—from the fish in the sea to every human—to tremble in terror before the Lord's presence. Furthermore, the physical landscape itself will be radically altered: mountains will collapse, cliffs will crumble, and all fortified human structures will fall to the ground, illustrating the absolute, unchallengeable power of God over all creation and human defenses.

Ezekiel 38 20 Context

Ezekiel 38:20 is situated within Ezekiel's detailed prophecy concerning the invasion of Gog of Magog, which occurs "in the latter days" (Ezek 38:8, 16). This prophecy envisions a massive coalition of nations, led by Gog from the distant north, ascending against the resettled and prosperous nation of Israel. God permits this invasion to unfold as a strategic divine trap, ultimately purposing to manifest His holiness and power to both Israel and all the Gentile nations. Verse 19 explicitly states that God's "great wrath" will cause a "great earthquake in the land of Israel." Verse 20 elaborates on the global and total devastating effects of this divinely initiated earthquake. The historical and cultural context for Ezekiel's original audience in Babylonian exile was one of despair and doubt concerning God's faithfulness. This prophecy served as an assurance of God's ultimate vindication of His people and the defeat of all His enemies, demonstrating His singular sovereignty over creation and world affairs against the backdrop of their foreign captivity and the apparent triumph of pagan gods.

Ezekiel 38 20 Word analysis

• So that (וְרָעֲשׁוּ): This connective phrase introduces the direct consequence or purpose of the intense divine wrath and subsequent earthquake mentioned in the preceding verse (Ezek 38:19). It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship between God's intervention and the resulting global tremor.
• the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth: This extensive enumeration of living creatures represents the entire animal kingdom. The Hebrew for "all creeping things" (כָּל הָרֶמֶשׂ הָרֹמֵשׂ - kol hāremeś hārōmēś) uses a verb from the same root as the noun, emphasizing the nature and universality of these smaller creatures. This comprehensive list, spanning water, air, and land (including the smallest organisms), highlights the universal reach of God's power and the panic His presence instills across all biological life.
• and all mankind who are on the face of the earth: This addition completes the scope of universal impact, ensuring that no living being, especially humanity, is excluded from the terror induced by God's display of might. It underscores humanity's subservient position to divine power.
• shall tremble (רָעֲשׁוּ - rāʿăšû): The Hebrew verb means "to quake," "shake," or "tremble violently." It often describes seismic activity (as in Psa 18:7) or intense fear/terror. Here, it conveys both physical shaking and profound existential dread among all creatures. The passive construction emphasizes that this trembling is an effect caused by an external force—God Himself.
• at my presence (מִפָּנַי - mippānay): Literally "from my face" or "before my face." This highly significant phrase denotes a direct, personal encounter with God's manifest power and presence. It is not merely an impersonal force but the active, terrifying manifestation of God Himself that causes this universal reaction, underscoring His imminence and direct agency.
• And the mountains shall be thrown down (וְנֶהֶרְסוּ הֶהָרִים - wə-neher sû hehārim): The Hebrew verb "thrown down" (נֶהֶרְסוּ - neher sû, Niphal perfect of הָרַס - haras) signifies utter destruction, being pulled down, or demolished. Mountains, often symbols of permanence, strength, and stability in the ancient world (Psa 90:2), are shown here to be susceptible to God's power, signifying the radical restructuring of the earth itself.
• and the steep places shall fall (וְנָפְלוּ הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת - wə-nāpə lô hammadrêḡwōṯ): "Steep places" (מַדְרֵגוֹת - maddregot) can refer to terraced areas, stairs, or rugged, elevated terrain/cliffs. Their falling signifies the collapse of difficult or formidable geographical features, indicating a complete topographical upheaval.
• and every wall shall fall to the ground (וְכָל חוֹמָה לָאָרֶץ תִּפּוֹל - wə-kol ḥôwmâ lāʾāreṣ tippôl): A "wall" (חוֹמָה - ḥôwmâ) is a universal symbol of human security, defense, and urban protection. The destruction of "every wall" highlights the futility of human constructs and reliance on human strength or fortifications when confronted by divine judgment. All earthly defenses are rendered useless.

Ezekiel 38 20 Bonus section

This verse contains a subtle yet powerful polemic against any pagan belief system that would ascribe limited power or localized influence to a deity. By demonstrating God's sovereign command over all strata of life (aquatic, aerial, terrestrial, and human) and all aspects of the physical world (mountains, cliffs, and human structures), it powerfully asserts that the God of Israel is the one true, universal God, whose power transcends all boundaries. The imagery also foreshadows the complete renewal of creation in the eschatological future, where old heavens and earth give way to new, even if the immediate context is one of judgment and destruction, the underlying theme is God's absolute control and ultimate plan for the earth. The sequence of God's great wrath leading to universal shaking points to an end-time event, commonly understood as a component of "The Day of the Lord," characterized by the dramatic manifestation of God's justice and power.

Ezekiel 38 20 Commentary

Ezekiel 38:20 vividly portrays the overwhelming magnitude of God's impending judgment against Gog, expanding from a regional event to a cosmic cataclysm. The trembling of all living creatures underscores the terror of God's presence, an instinctual reaction demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all biological life, far beyond just humanity. The subsequent geological upheaval, involving the collapse of mountains and "steep places," symbolizes a complete dismantling of earthly permanence and stability. Critically, the destruction of "every wall" emphasizes the utter uselessness of human efforts at security, military might, or any reliance apart from God in the face of His divine wrath. This prophetic vision serves as a profound affirmation of God's power to defend His people and establish His glory universally, fulfilling His purposes irrespective of opposing forces.