Ezekiel 39 11

Ezekiel 39:11 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.

Ezekiel 39:11 nkjv

"It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.

Ezekiel 39:11 niv

"?'On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog.

Ezekiel 39:11 esv

"On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.

Ezekiel 39:11 nlt

"And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the way of those who travel there, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog's Hordes.

Ezekiel 39 verses

Ezekiel 39 11 meaning

Ezekiel 39:11 describes the aftermath of God's decisive judgment against Gog and his invading multitude. God himself will designate a burial site for Gog and his army in Israel, specifically in a valley traversed by travelers from the east of the sea. The sheer number of corpses will so extensively litter and block this vital passage that it will forever bear the name "Valley of Hamon-Gog," meaning "Valley of the Multitude of Gog," memorializing God's overwhelming victory and the utter annihilation of this formidable enemy. This act ensures the physical cleansing of the land and the public declaration of God's sovereign power.

Ezekiel 39 11 Context

Ezekiel 39:11 follows God's detailed prophecy of Gog's devastating defeat on the mountains of Israel. Chapters 38 and 39 describe an unprecedented invasion of Israel by Gog, leading a vast confederacy of nations, depicted as a final, comprehensive assault on God's people in the latter days. The preceding verses in Chapter 39 emphasize God's direct intervention, completely obliterating Gog's army and illustrating the divine display of power for all nations to witness. Verse 11 introduces the immediate logistical and ritual challenge of disposing of the immense number of corpses, a necessity not only for hygiene but also to prevent the ritual defilement of the Holy Land, an issue of profound concern in ancient Israelite culture. Historically, Ezekiel wrote to exiles, providing them with a vision of ultimate restoration, divine vindication, and the defeat of all enemies, affirming God's sovereignty over history and nations.

Ezekiel 39 11 Word analysis

• On that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayyôm hahūʾ): This phrase typically signifies a momentous and pivotal point in time, often referring to "the Day of the Lord," an eschatological day of divine judgment, salvation, or significant events in prophetic literature. It marks the commencement of the aftermath following Gog's defeat.
• I will give Gog (וְאֶתְּנָה לְג֣וֹג - wəʾettənâ ləḡôḡ): Emphasizes God's active, sovereign involvement. This is not an offering but a deliberate divine act of bestowing a specific outcome—a place of burial, which is in fact a judgment upon him.
• a burial place (מְק֖וֹם קֶ֑בֶר - məqôm qever): A "place of grave" or "burial site." Given the context of a massive army, this implies a communal, mass grave rather than an individual burial. The verb קבר (qavar) means to bury. The word signifies an allocated final resting place, underscoring the finality of Gog's defeat.
• in Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל - bəyiśrāʾēl): This emphasizes that God's land, where the battle occurred, is also where the consequences of the battle are dealt with. It highlights God's proprietary relationship with the land and the public nature of the defeat before the world.
• in the Valley of those who travel east of the Sea (גֵּי הָעֹבְרִ֖ים מִקֶּ֥דֶם לַיָּֽם - gê hāʿōvrîm miqqeḏem layyām):
  • Valley (גֵּי - gê): A ravine or wadi. Valleys are often sites of battles and judgment in the Bible (e.g., Valley of Achor, Valley of Jehoshaphat).
  • of those who travel east (הָעֹבְרִים מִקֶּדֶם - hāʿōvrîm miqqeḏem): This is subject to scholarly discussion. עֹבְרִים (ʿōvrîm) means "passers-by" or "travelers." מִקֶּדֶם (miqqeḏem) means "from the east." Some interpret this as referring to the Valley of Abarim (the mountains east of the Dead Sea/Jordan), a significant ancient route. Others see it as simply a well-known travel route for those coming from the east, suggesting its public and prominent location. It marks a place visible and accessible to travelers.
  • the Sea (לַיָּם - layyām): Likely refers to the Dead Sea, given the geographical context, or perhaps the Jordan River in the broader sense.
• which will block the way of those who travel (וְחֹסֶ֣מֶת אֶת־פִּ֔י הָעֹבְרִ֖ים - wəḥōsemêṯ ʾeṯ-pî hāʿōvrîm): חֹסֶמֶת (ḥōsemeṯ) means "it will block" or "obstruct." פִּי (pî) refers to the "mouth" or "opening," often used metaphorically for the entrance or way of a pass. The vast quantity of corpses will literally obstruct a common thoroughfare, graphically demonstrating the enormity of the destruction.
• So it will be called (וְקָרְא֥וּ אֶת־שְׁמָ֖הּ - wəqārəʾū ʾeṯ-šmâ): The naming of a place after a significant event ensures its remembrance. This act solemnizes the judgment.
• the Valley of Hamon-Gog (גֵּי הָמ֣וֹן גּֽוֹג - gê hāmôn gôḡ): הָמוֹן (hāmôn) means "multitude," "crowd," or "tumult." Thus, "Valley of the Multitude/Horde of Gog." This name perpetually memorializes the immense host that invaded Israel and their complete annihilation, testifying to God's ultimate victory.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel": This phrase highlights God's direct agency and ownership over the land, providing a burial that, despite its practicality, serves as a profound act of judgment and humiliation for the defeated aggressor. It emphasizes divine authority.
• "in the Valley of those who travel east of the Sea, which will block the way of those who travel": This paints a vivid, albeit gruesome, picture. The specified location suggests a prominent, well-known pathway. The physical obstruction by the sheer number of dead underscores the catastrophic scale of Gog's defeat and the overwhelming nature of God's judgment, rendering a key route impassable due to divine action.
• "So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-Gog": This conclusive statement underscores the enduring impact of God's judgment. Naming the valley ensures a permanent, inescapable memorial to the vast multitude that God destroyed. It acts as an eternal historical marker and a testament to His omnipotence over nations and their forces.

Ezekiel 39 11 Bonus section

• Ritual Cleansing Importance: In the broader context of Eze 39:12-16, the need to bury the dead leads to a seven-month process for the Israelites to cleanse the land. This indicates the severity of defilement from corpses under Mosaic Law (Num 19:11-16) and highlights God's concern for the ritual purity of Israel, emphasizing the necessity of meticulous effort after such widespread death.
• Theological Humiliation: Gog, an archetype of powerful gentile opposition to God and Israel, receives not a grand kingly burial but a mass grave in a common valley. This public, collective burial represents ultimate humiliation and disgrace, contrasting sharply with any pretense of royal or heroic status, signifying God's complete triumph over human pride and military might.
• Fulfillment of God's Oath: This verse, and the events surrounding it, demonstrate God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel. He protects His people not for their righteousness but for the sake of His holy name and promises (Eze 39:7, 25-29), ensuring their security and purity in the restored land.

Ezekiel 39 11 Commentary

Ezekiel 39:11 serves as a grim and potent reminder of the irreversible consequences of defying God. Following the spectacular annihilation of Gog's army, God explicitly dictates the details of their burial. The designated location, a prominent valley near the Dead Sea traversed by international travelers, ensures that the scope of this divine judgment is publicly displayed. The phrase "Valley of those who travel east of the Sea" likely indicates a significant, well-traveled pass. The blocking of this path by the countless corpses signifies the totality and magnitude of God's victory. The subsequent renaming to "Valley of Hamon-Gog" (Valley of the Multitude of Gog) transforms the physical landscape into a perpetual monument to the devastating defeat of God's enemies. Beyond merely disposing of the dead, this act is crucial for ritually cleansing the land from the profound defilement caused by such a massive amount of unburied bodies (as per Levitical law), underscoring God's meticulous care for the holiness of His dwelling place and His people. It ultimately vindicates God's holiness and His promise to protect Israel, manifesting His power to all nations.