Ezekiel 39:2 kjv
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
Ezekiel 39:2 nkjv
and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel 39:2 niv
I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel 39:2 esv
And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel.
Ezekiel 39:2 nlt
I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north.
Ezekiel 39 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 39:2 | "and I will turn you about and drive you on, from the regions of the north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel." | Divine Manipulation and Judgment (overall theme) |
| Ps 110:1 | "The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”" | God establishing dominion over enemies |
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, and the scepter of my rage! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I give him charge, to seize the spoil and plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets." | God using nations as instruments of judgment |
| Jer 25:9 | "behold, I will summon all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these nations around." | God calling foreign armies for judgment |
| Eze 38:4 | "and I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificent horses and foot soldiers, all of them armed." | Specific imagery of God controlling Gog |
| Eze 38:15 | "you will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them mounted on horses, a great host, a mighty army." | Gog's origin from the north |
| Rev 19:17 | "Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come together for the great supper of God,”" | Gathering of nations for divine judgment |
| Rev 20:8-9 | "and will come out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them for battle; and their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them." | Gog and Magog as final adversaries |
| 2 Chron 20:24 | "When Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were struck down on the ground; there were no survivors." | Divine intervention in battle |
| Isa 14:24-27 | "The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have purposed, so shall it be, and as I have planned, so shall it stand..." | God's sovereign plan execution |
| Hab 1:6 | "I am again raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and Hasty tribe, who march across the breadth of the earth, to seize dwelling places that are not theirs." | God using harsh nations for discipline |
| Joel 3:1-2 | "For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat..." | Gathering of nations for judgment |
| Luke 10:19 | "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." | Believers' authority over spiritual enemies |
| Acts 4:27-28 | "for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." | Fulfillment of God's plan through enemies |
| Rom 8:28 | "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." | God's overarching purpose |
| Ps 2:1-4 | "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed..." | Nations conspiring against God |
| Ezek 38:4 | "and I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificent horses and foot soldiers, all of them armed." | Similar divine manipulation described earlier |
| Isa 29:6 | "from the LORD of hosts you will be visited with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire." | Divine judgment involving storms |
| Eze 6:3 | "and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.’" | God's judgment against the land itself |
| Ezek 36:1 | "“And you, O mountain of Mount Seir, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you..." | God's opposition to certain geographical locations/entities |
Ezekiel 39 verses
Ezekiel 39 2 Meaning
Ezekiel 39:2 describes God manipulating and drawing individuals (Gog and his forces) into a situation for His purposes. It signifies divine intervention and sovereignty over nations and events, specifically leading to their destruction and subsequent judgment in the land of Israel.
Ezekiel 39 2 Context
Ezekiel chapter 39 follows chapter 38, which details a massive invasion of Israel by a confederation of nations led by Gog from the land of Magog. This invasion is portrayed as a final, massive onslaught against God's people, happening in the latter days after Israel has been regathered in their land. Chapter 39 describes the decisive divine intervention that defeats Gog and his armies, resulting in a great display of God's power and holiness. Verse 2 specifically highlights God's active role in orchestrating this attack, drawing Gog and his vast forces from the north to their ultimate doom upon the mountains of Israel. This event serves to sanctify God's name among the nations and confirm His covenant with Israel.
Ezekiel 39 2 Word Analysis
- "And I":
- Hebrew: וַאֲנִי (wa-'ă-nî).
- Significance: Emphasizes God's personal agency in these events. God is not a passive observer but an active participant.
- "will turn you about":
- Hebrew: שָׁבֹתִּי (shā-bō-tî) from שׁוּב (shûv), meaning to turn, return, bring back.
- Word Level: Here, it’s used in a causative sense, "I will cause you to turn" or "I will turn you."
- Significance: Illustrates God's complete control over Gog's movements and direction, despite Gog’s own intentions. It’s not Gog’s decision to advance, but God’s directive.
- "and drive you on":
- Hebrew: וְהִמְשַׁכְתִּי (wə-hîm-shak-tî) from מָשַׁךְ (mā-shach), meaning to draw, pull, drag, stretch out.
- Word Level: Conveys a forceful and irresistible compulsion. It suggests Gog is being pulled or dragged into this conflict, like a wild animal on a leash.
- Significance: Reinforces God's sovereign power over human will and nations. Even as Gog gathers his vast forces, it is God who ultimately compels their movement towards destruction. This action contrasts with willing obedience, portraying Gog as an unwitting pawn.
- "from the regions of the north":
- Hebrew: מִפְּאַת צָפוֹן (mip-pə-'āth tsā-pō-n).
- Word Level: Literally "from the side of north."
- Significance: The north is consistently depicted in the Old Testament as the source of invading armies that threatened Israel (Jer 1:14; 6:22). This specifies the geographical origin of Gog's confederacy.
- "and will bring you":
- Hebrew: וַהֲבֵאתִי (wə-hā-ḇē-'ṯî) from בּוֹא (bō-'a), to come, bring.
- Word Level: Another verb emphasizing divine causation – "I will cause you to come."
- Significance: Shows God's purposeful orchestration of events to bring the enemy into a specific place for judgment.
- "against the mountains of Israel":
- Hebrew: עַל־הָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (‘al-hā-rê yîś-rā-'êl).
- Word Level: Directly points to the geographical location of the conflict.
- Significance: This is a critical detail. God brings Gog into the land of Israel, specifically to its mountainous terrain. This proximity to the promised land underscores the direct challenge to God's covenant and presence. The mountains are significant landmarks associated with God's dwelling and covenant faithfulness. This placement ensures their destruction will be a public display for all nations.
Group by Words Analysis
- Divine Sovereignty & Control: The phrase "I will turn you about and drive you on" (שָׁבֹתִּי and הִמְשַׁכְתִּי) encapsulates God's absolute control. It's not a suggestion or opportunity; it's a divine imperative that cannot be resisted. This theme echoes throughout Scripture, where God orchestrates even the actions of His enemies to fulfill His purposes (e.g., Acts 4:27-28; Isaiah 10:5-7).
- Purposeful Direction: The combination of turning and driving from the north towards the mountains of Israel highlights a specific, intended destination. God isn't just driving Gog generally but directing him to a precise location where judgment will be most impactful and evident. This highlights the planned nature of divine action, not random chance.
- Setting for Judgment: The specific mention of "the mountains of Israel" situates the impending divine action. This is where God's presence is symbolically and historically felt, making the defeat of His enemies on this terrain a powerful statement of His dominion and protective power over His people and land.
Ezekiel 39 2 Bonus Section
The phrase "regions of the north" is often associated with powers hostile to God's people throughout biblical history. In the context of Ezekiel, this invasion from the north is understood as a future, albeit ultimate, manifestation of such opposition. Some interpret Gog and Magog allegorically as representing any or all powers and ideologies that stand against God and His people, especially in the final days. The imagery of being drawn or hooked, as seen in Ezekiel 38:4 as well, implies that these forces act not by their own ultimate volition, but are brought to their end by divine decree. The destruction will be so complete that it will take seven months for Israel to bury the dead, and the weapons of war will be repurposed as fuel for seven years (Eze 39:9-13). This thoroughness underscores the finality of God’s judgment and the totality of His vindication.
Ezekiel 39 2 Commentary
This verse reveals God’s active and decisive role in bringing about the downfall of Gog and his vast invading army. Despite Gog's intentions to conquer and plunder, God asserts His sovereign power, not only to allow the invasion but to orchestrate it. He will manipulate the attackers, forcefully turning them from their northern strongholds and compelling them onto the stage of the mountains of Israel. This act of divine propulsion is for the purpose of ultimate destruction and judgment, serving to vindicate God’s power and holiness. The imagery of being "turned about" and "driven on" emphasizes that the invaders are ultimately puppets in God’s hand, being led directly into the trap set for them. This event will be a spectacular demonstration of God's faithfulness to Israel, confirming His protection and might to all observers.