Ezekiel 39 5

Ezekiel 39:5 kjv

Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:5 nkjv

You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:5 niv

You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39:5 esv

You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:5 nlt

You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39 verses

Ezekiel 39 5 Meaning

This verse describes a judgment poured out by God upon Gog and his forces on the mountains of Israel. It signifies complete destruction and a public display of God's power and holiness. The fallen carcasses will be exposed to birds of prey and wild animals for burial and consumption, a stark symbol of utter ruin and a public spectacle of God’s vengeance.

Ezekiel 39 5 Context

This prophecy in Ezekiel 39 is a continuation of God's judgment against Gog, the leader of a vast confederation of nations that will invade Israel in the end times. Ezekiel 38 describes the gathering of Gog and his allies for an unprovoked attack on God's people, who are depicted as dwelling securely in the land. Ezekiel 39 details the supernatural defeat of Gog and his armies by God Himself, demonstrating His sovereign power and commitment to protecting His chosen people. The specific placement of the defeat "on the mountains of Israel" highlights the territorial and symbolic significance of the event. This prophecy serves to vindicate God's name, confirm His faithfulness to Israel, and provide assurance of His ultimate triumph over all His enemies. It emphasizes that God's intervention will be direct, powerful, and absolute.

Ezekiel 39 5 Word Analysis

• וְנָתַתִּי (və·nā·tattî): "and I will give" - The vav (וְ) signifies connection, linking this action to the preceding prophecy of Gog's defeat. "Natati" is the first-person singular Hiphil perfect of the verb נָתַן (nātan), meaning "to give" or "to cause to be." The Hiphil causative stem here emphasizes God's active role in this judgment, making this offering of carcasses happen.
• אַשְׁפְּקָה (’aš·pə·qâ): "I will pour out" - The first-person singular Qal perfect of שָׁפַךְ (šāp̄aḵ), meaning "to pour out" or "to spill." This imagery of pouring out, typically used for liquids, underscores the sheer abundance and indiscriminate nature of the judgment that God is causing to happen upon Gog's forces. It suggests a widespread and overwhelming influx of destruction and defeat.
• עַל־הָרִים (‘al·hārîm): "upon the mountains" - "Al" (עַל) is a preposition meaning "upon," "on," or "against." "Ha'rim" (הָרִים) is the plural of הַר (har), meaning "mountain." This phrase indicates the location where the carcasses will be found, a significant geographical reference within the land of Israel.
• בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל (bə·yîś·rā·’êl): "of Israel" - The preposition בְּ (bə) here means "of" or "in" (in the context of the land belonging to Israel). It clearly specifies the location of the mountains as being within the territory of Israel, signifying that this judgment occurs within the land God has promised to His people.
• וְאָכַל (wə·’ā·ḵal): "and eat" - The vav (וְ) connects this action to the previous one. "V'akhal" is the Qal perfect, third-person masculine singular of אָכַל (’āḵal), meaning "to eat." This refers to the predatory birds and wild animals that will consume the remains.
• עַצְמוֹתַי (‘a·ṣmō·ṯay): "my bones" - While a literal translation would be "my bones," the Septuagint and other translations often interpret this in context as referring to Gog's bones or the bones of his army. The possessive pronoun implies a collective body of the defeated army. The imagery is graphic and emphasizes complete consumption, leaving nothing but the skeletal remains for the final act of disposal. This may refer metaphorically to the bones of the nation that is Gog.
• אָבִּית (’ā·bîṯ): "food" - This is the Niphal infinitive construct of בּוּשׁ (bûš), often translated as "food" or "sustenance" in this context, particularly as in a participle form or understood as that which is fed upon. The phrase "a-bhith" (אבית) literally translated refers to "food for" or "sustenance to".

Ezekiel 39 5 Bonus Section

The concept of bodies becoming food for birds of prey and wild animals is a recurring motif in the Bible used to signify severe divine judgment and the complete overthrow of an enemy (Deuteronomy 28:26; Jeremiah 7:33; Jeremiah 15:3). This imagery conveys the ultimate indignity and the complete lack of burial, a significant dishonor in ancient cultures. The meticulous destruction foretold here for Gog is a testament to God's active engagement in history to vindicate His people and His name among the nations, culminating in a display of His absolute power and sovereignty.

Ezekiel 39 5 Commentary

This verse provides a visceral and grim picture of the ultimate fate of Gog's invading army. God's intervention will be swift and total, leaving the enemy utterly decimated on the very soil they sought to conquer. The phrase "I will give you as food" directly links this verse to a pattern of divine judgment seen throughout Scripture where the defeated enemies become sustenance for scavengers, signifying total ruin and public shame. The specific mention of "the mountains of Israel" anchors this prophetic judgment to the Promised Land, underscoring God's protective care for His people and His sovereign control over historical events. The act of casting the bodies as food for birds and beasts emphasizes that God's judgment is not only thorough but also a public spectacle designed to reveal His power and holiness to all nations.