Ezekiel 39 3

Ezekiel 39:3 kjv

And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Ezekiel 39:3 nkjv

Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.

Ezekiel 39:3 niv

Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand.

Ezekiel 39:3 esv

Then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand.

Ezekiel 39:3 nlt

I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows from your right hand, and I will leave you helpless.

Ezekiel 39 verses

Ezekiel 39 3 Meaning

This verse describes God's direct action of striking Gog, the adversary, and his forces, causing them to scatter and to fall upon the mountains of Israel, leaving their carcasses exposed for birds of prey and wild animals to consume.

Ezekiel 39 3 Context

Ezekiel 39 is the conclusion of a prophecy that began in chapter 38. Chapters 38 and 39 describe a future massive invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by Gog from the land of Magog. This invasion is portrayed as an attempt to plunder and seize the people of Israel. However, God declares that He will supernaturally intervene to defeat Gog and his vast army. This judgment serves multiple purposes: to demonstrate God's power and sovereignty to all nations, to sanctify God's name among His people Israel, and to secure Israel's safety and peace in the land for a long period. Verse 3 is part of the description of the direct divine action and the immediate consequences for the invading forces.

Ezekiel 39 3 Word Analysis

• וְהִכֵּיתִ֣י (ve-hik-kiti): "And I will strike." The Hiphil causative form of the verb nakah (to strike, smite), indicating God is the direct agent of this action. This emphasizes God's active participation in the defeat of the enemy.
• אֶת־גּוֹג (et-Gog): "Gog." Refers to the leader of the invading forces. The prefix et is the direct object marker.
• בְּקֶ֣שֶׁת (be-keshet): "With bow" or "upon bow." While a literal bow is possible, in a broader prophetic sense, it can signify God's instruments of judgment or His attacking power. The preposition be can mean "with" or "in/upon."
• וּבְחַדְרַ֞י (u-ve-khad-rai): "And in shafts" or "and with arrows." Likely referring to arrows from a bow. Some interpret "shafts" to indicate specific divine projectiles.
• לֹ֠א (lo): "Not." A strong negation.
• תַּשְׁחִית: "you shall destroy" or "you shall lay waste." From the verb shachat (to destroy, ruin, spoil).
• נְתַתִּ֣י (netatti): "I have given." The perfect form of nathan (to give), indicating a completed action in God's plan, even as it is declared.
• בְּשִׁלְחִי: "in my sending" or "when I send forth." The noun shalach relates to sending or deployment.
• הֲרִיסוֹת: "ruins" or "ruined things." This likely refers to the enemy's utter devastation, leaving behind only ruins.
• אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל: "Israel." The object of God's protection and the target of the enemy's aggression.
• וְנָפְלוּ֙: "and they shall fall." The Hiphil form of naphal (to fall), indicating they will be made to fall.
• הַרְרֵ֥י (hararei): "mountains of." The construct state of har (mountain).
• יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל: "Israel." Specifically referring to the mountains within the land of Israel.
• אִישׁ֙: "one" or "each." Emphasizes individual downfall.
• לְאָנָ֛ה: "whither" or "to where." Implies scattering without direction or destination.
• נִטְמֵ֑יא: "shall be made impure" or "shall be defiled." Niphal passive form of tame' (to be unclean, defiled). Their deaths will defile the land.
• מִיָּדִ֔י: "from my hand." Indicates their destruction is from God's direct action and power, they are handed over to His judgment.
• גָּם־אָנֹ֖כִי: "also I." A strong affirmation of God's personal involvement.
• לֹא־בָֽאתִי: "did not come." This seems misplaced as it's from a different construction. However, in the context of divine action and the result, it emphasizes that God Himself (not a human agency) orchestrated the downfall. It might be better translated in context of surrounding verses or manuscript variants. A corrected interpretation would be that God did not need to intervene personally in battle, but His hand did the work, "I did not have to bring Myself" to fight directly as my power will accomplish it.

Ezekiel 39 3 Bonus Section

The imagery of the enemy falling and their carcasses left unburied on the mountains of Israel is a stark depiction of God's complete victory. It serves as a sign to all nations that the Lord is God and that His people are under His divine protection. The purification of the land after this event, as detailed in the subsequent verses of Ezekiel 39, emphasizes God's restorative work and the establishment of lasting peace for Israel. This prophecy is understood by many to have a dual fulfillment, referring to both a literal future event and potentially to a spiritual victory over evil forces throughout history.

Ezekiel 39 3 Commentary

This verse encapsulates the essence of God's supernatural intervention against Gog and his allies. God declares He will directly strike the enemy with His divinely appointed means, which may include advanced weaponry or simply the power of His word. The focus is not on Israel's military might but on God’s decisive action. The scattering and falling of the enemy throughout the mountains of Israel signifies their complete and utter defeat, leaving their carcasses unburied and defiled. This defilement by death is significant, as proper burial was crucial in ancient cultures for land purity. God’s statement, "I did not need to intervene directly; My own hand brought this about," underlines the overwhelming nature of His power. This event is pivotal in showing God's unwavering commitment to protect and sanctify His people and His land.