Ezekiel 39:19 kjv
And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
Ezekiel 39:19 nkjv
You shall eat fat till you are full, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you.
Ezekiel 39:19 niv
At the sacrifice I am preparing for you, you will eat fat till you are glutted and drink blood till you are drunk.
Ezekiel 39:19 esv
And you shall eat fat till you are filled, and drink blood till you are drunk, at the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you.
Ezekiel 39:19 nlt
Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you.
Ezekiel 39 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ez 39:17 | Speak unto every feathered fowl… Assemble yourselves… ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty… | The "ye" in 39:19 refers to these scavengers. |
| Isa 34:6 | The LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter… | Strong parallel: God's "sacrifice" of judgment on enemies. |
| Jer 46:10 | For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts… the sword shall devour… it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD… hath a sacrifice… | Strong parallel: Divine judgment as a saturating sacrifice. |
| Rev 19:17-18 | Come, gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings… and the flesh of all men, both free and bond… | Eschatological fulfillment: "Great supper of God" feast of judgment. |
| Rev 19:21 | And the remnant were slain with the sword of him… and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. | Direct echo of fowl being filled after great slaughter. |
| Zeph 1:7 | Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. | Feast imagery of divine judgment for enemies. |
| Dt 32:41-42 | If I whet my glittering sword… I will render vengeance to mine enemies… I will make mine arrows drunk with blood… | God's direct vengeance leading to a bloodbath. |
| Isa 63:3 | I have trodden the winepress alone… for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments… | Divine fury and trampling of enemies, akin to this slaughter. |
| Jer 12:9 | My heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. | Similar imagery of animals summoned for devastation. |
| Job 39:30 | Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. | Vulture's nature linked to the gruesome scene. |
| Gen 9:4 | But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. | Prohibition on humans consuming blood, highlighting the horror of this judgment on the enemy. |
| Lev 17:11 | For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. | Blood's sanctity for atonement contrasts its consumption in judgment. |
| Dt 12:23-25 | Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life… | Reiteration of the sacredness and prohibition of blood for humans. |
| Psa 78:31 | The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them… | "Fattest" connected to those slain by divine wrath. |
| Ez 38:22-23 | I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood… Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself… and they shall know that I am the LORD. | God's demonstration of power through blood and judgment, revealing Himself. |
| Ez 39:21-22 | And I will set my glory among the heathen… So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. | The purpose of this judgment: for all to know the LORD. |
| Psa 9:16 | The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. | God's character revealed through His judgments. |
| Ex 14:4 | And I will harden Pharaoh's heart… that I may be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. | Pattern of God showing His glory through judgment on enemies. |
| Nah 1:2-3 | The LORD is a jealous God and avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious… The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm… | Divine vengeance and power expressed in overwhelming force. |
| Rom 12:19 | Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. | New Testament affirmation of God's sole right to vengeance. |
| Isa 25:6 | And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow… | Contrasting "feast": this is for humanity (spiritual sustenance), not carrion-eaters (judgment). |
| Ez 32:4 | And I will lay thee upon the land… and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee. | Similar imagery of a defeated entity becoming food for beasts/birds. |
Ezekiel 39 verses
Ezekiel 39 19 Meaning
Ezekiel 39:19 portrays a gruesome, yet divinely orchestrated feast for scavenging animals and birds, specifically mentioned in previous verses (Ez 39:17). It describes them consuming the immense remains of the defeated armies of Gog to absolute saturation, highlighting the totality of God's judgment. This is described as "My sacrifice," indicating God as the executor of this immense slaughter and that it serves His divine purpose, ultimately for the benefit and vindication of His people. The verse emphasizes the absolute scale of destruction upon God's enemies.
Ezekiel 39 19 Context
Ezekiel chapter 39 is the climax of the prophecy against Gog and the invading armies from Magog (Ezekiel 38-39). This specific verse falls after God's complete destruction of Gog's forces on the mountains of Israel, a victory divinely orchestrated to reveal God's holiness and power to the nations. The immense slaughter is detailed in preceding verses, leading to an extraordinary scenario where God invites birds of prey and beasts of the field to a "great sacrificial feast" upon the bodies of the fallen enemies. This imagery signifies total annihilation and serves as a prelude to the purification of the land and the ultimate restoration and indwelling of God's Spirit among Israel, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
Ezekiel 39 19 Word analysis
And ye shall eat fat: The pronoun "ye" (וַאֲכַלְתֶּם - va'akaltem) refers to the multitude of birds and beasts of the field summoned by God in Ez 39:17. "Fat" (חֵלֶב - chelev) often refers to the richest, choicest part of an animal. In traditional Israelite sacrifices, chelev was usually burned to the LORD as His exclusive portion, symbolizing the best offered to God (Lev 3:16-17, Lev 7:23-25). Here, the enemies, instead of being consecrated offerings to God, become the "fat" devoured by scavengers, representing the complete desecration and rejection of these foreign invaders. It emphasizes the abundance and rich pickings for the predators.
till ye be full: (לָשׂבְעָה - la-sove'ah). This indicates absolute satiety, an excessive and complete consumption. The magnitude of the slain is so vast that the animals are not merely fed but are entirely satiated, symbolizing the thoroughness of God's judgment and the countless bodies.
and drink blood: (וְשָׁתִיתֶם דָּם - v'shatitem dam). "Blood" (דָּם - dam) represents life (Lev 17:11) and was strictly forbidden for human consumption in Israelite law (Gen 9:4, Lev 7:26, Dt 12:23). Its presence in the imagery for animal consumption here underscores the horror, devastation, and the absolute finality of the judgment upon the enemies. The scene reverses the natural order and legal norms, portraying a gruesome yet divinely sanctioned slaughter where the sacred element of life (blood) is consumed by scavengers.
till ye be drunken: (לְשִׁכָּרוֹן - l'shikkaron). This intensifies the imagery of "being full." It suggests an overwhelming abundance of blood, so vast that the animals drink to the point of intoxication. It highlights the staggering amount of carnage and the unreserved, total consumption of the slain. It further conveys the complete victory and the lack of any escape for the enemy.
of my sacrifice: (זִבְחִי - zivchi). This is a crucial theological point. "Sacrifice" (זֶבַח - zevach) usually implies an offering to God. Here, God calls this immense slaughter His own "sacrifice." It's not a peace offering or a sin offering, but a unique "sacrifice of judgment" (also seen in Isa 34:6-7 and Jer 46:10), where the "offerings" are the slain enemies. This signifies God's absolute sovereignty and control over the event; He orchestrates it, not humans or pagan deities. It serves His purpose to manifest His justice and holiness.
which I have sacrificed for you: (אֲשֶׁר זָבַחְתִּי לָכֶם - asher zavachti lachem). God emphasizes His direct action ("I have sacrificed"), leaving no doubt that this devastating judgment is entirely His work. The phrase "for you" (לָכֶם - lachem) reveals the ultimate beneficiaries of this horrific judgment: the house of Israel. This immense act of divine judgment against their formidable enemies is for Israel's protection, deliverance, and restoration. It assures God's people of His active role as their defender and provider.
Ezekiel 39 19 Bonus section
This prophecy against Gog and the nations serves as a powerful eschatological archetype, depicting a final, climactic confrontation between evil world powers and God's people before the establishment of God's perfect kingdom. While the immediate historical fulfillment might have varied interpretations, its primary purpose is often understood as portraying a future ultimate battle where God's sovereignty is undeniably displayed. The imagery here of "fat" and "blood" is an intentional reversal of established cultic practice; instead of atonement (Leviticus) or communal blessing, the "sacrifice" signifies judgment and desecration. This further solidifies the polemic against any pagan notion that human armies or gods could contend with Yahweh. The scene highlights that divine wrath is an irresistible, comprehensive force.
Ezekiel 39 19 Commentary
Ezekiel 39:19 is a vivid and stark prophetic image illustrating the depth and completeness of God's judgment against those who oppose His people. It transforms the horrific scene of battlefield carnage into a divine "sacrifice" and "feast." By referring to it as "My sacrifice," God declares full ownership and control over this act of unparalleled destruction. The description of animals feasting on the fat and blood until "full" and "drunken" emphasizes the sheer scale of the slaughter—millions of Gog's forces lying dead. The "fat" symbolizes the choicest parts, indicative of the great multitude and richness of the bodies, while the "blood," normally sacred and forbidden, represents life forfeited and completely given over to judgment. This feast, orchestrating nature to consume the remains, underscores the utter humiliation and desecration of the once-proud enemies. Fundamentally, this divine judgment serves the purpose of revealing God's holiness and power to both Israel and the nations, establishing Him as the supreme defender of His covenant people. It is a powerful reminder that divine justice, though fearsome, ultimately works for the protection and salvation of the faithful.