Ezekiel 39 9

Ezekiel 39:9 kjv

And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

Ezekiel 39:9 nkjv

"Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.

Ezekiel 39:9 niv

"?'Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up?the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.

Ezekiel 39:9 esv

"Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years,

Ezekiel 39:9 nlt

"Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years!

Ezekiel 39 verses

Ezekiel 39 9 meaning

This verse prophesies that after God's complete destruction of Gog's massive army, the inhabitants of Israel's cities will gather the enemy's abandoned weapons and use them as fuel for fires. This act symbolizes a comprehensive victory, the lasting peace provided by God, and the immense quantity of enemy armaments, which will be sufficient for heating and cooking for a period of seven years. It signifies total security and divine provision for Israel.

Ezekiel 39 9 Context

Ezekiel 39:9 is situated within the "Gog and Magog" prophecy in chapters 38-39, a significant section detailing a future invasion of Israel and its supernatural defeat by God. Chapter 38 describes Gog, a powerful leader from the land of Magog, assembling a vast confederacy of nations to attack a peacefully dwelling Israel. God intervenes with cataclysmic judgment—earthquakes, pestilence, hailstones, fire, and brimstone—annihilating the invading forces. Chapter 39 continues to describe the utter destruction and its aftermath. Verse 9 specifically highlights one practical consequence of this overwhelming victory: the extensive remnants of enemy weaponry, instead of being mere discarded waste, become a massive, usable resource for the inhabitants of Israel. This detail emphasizes not only the sheer scale of the defeat but also God's complete provision and the unprecedented era of security and peace that will follow for His restored people. This passage historically assured a post-exilic audience of God's future restoration and unassailable protection.

Ezekiel 39 9 Word analysis

• Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel (וְיָצְאוּ יֹשְׁבֵי עָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - V'yatze'u yoshvey 'arey Yisrael):
  • יֹשְׁבֵי (`yoshvey` - dwell): Implies settled existence, security, and peace, directly contrasting the state of insecurity typically preceding or during military invasion. It signifies a secure and thriving community.
  • עָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (`'arey Yisrael` - cities of Israel): Highlights that this benefit will extend across the entire nation, not just a localized area. It underscores national recovery and divine blessing for the whole people.
  • יָצְאוּ (`yatze'u` - will go out): Denotes an active, unthreatened venturing forth, not hiding in fear. This is an act of harvesting, not warfare, symbolizing peace.
• will go out and make fires of the weapons (וּבִעֲרוּ וּבִעֲרוּ בָּהֶם אֵשׁ מֵהַנֵּשֶׁק - u'vi'aru bahem esh mehanesheq):
  • בִּעֲרוּ אֵשׁ (`bi'aru esh` - make fires/burn): The verb "to burn" (`bi'er`) suggests both consumption and destruction. Here, it is purposeful burning for utility (fuel), turning tools of war into sources of warmth and cooking, signifying an ironic reversal of function and divine providence.
  • הַנֵּשֶׁק (`hanesheq` - the weapons): This general term refers to all instruments of war, setting up the subsequent detailed list. It emphasizes the entirety of the enemy's military might being rendered useless.
• and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, javelins and spears (מָגֵן וְצִנָּה, קֶשֶׁת וְחִצִּים, מַקַּל יָד וְרֹמַח - magen v'tsinnah, qeshet v'chittzim, maqqal yad v'romach):
  • מָגֵן (`magen` - shield) וְצִנָּה (`v'tsinnah` - buckler/large shield): Represents defensive armaments. Magen is typically a smaller, rounder shield; tsinnah is a larger, rectangular shield, covering more of the body. Their inclusion highlights that even the enemy's means of protection are destroyed and repurposed, signifying absolute vulnerability.
  • קֶשֶׁת (`qeshet` - bow) וְחִצִּים (`v'chittzim` - arrows): Ranged offensive weapons. These were primary tools for initiating ancient battles. Their burning represents the complete cessation of long-distance threats.
  • מַקַּל יָד (`maqqal yad` - hand-staff/javelin) וְרֹמַח (`v'romach` - spear): Close-combat weapons. Maqqal yad can refer to a staff or short javelin; romach is a long spear used for thrusting or throwing. Listing various weapon types (defensive, ranged, close-combat) emphasizes the total disarming and neutralization of the enemy, and the vast scale of what's left behind.
• and they will make fires of them for seven years (וּבִעֲרוּ בָהֶם אֵשׁ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים - u'vi'aru bahem esh sheva shanim):
  • שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים (`sheva shanim` - seven years):
    • Duration & Completeness: The number "seven" in biblical thought frequently signifies completeness, perfection, or a divinely appointed period. This is not necessarily a literal, exact seven-year timeline, but underscores the overwhelming quantity of fuel available, sufficient for a substantial and prolonged period.
    • Symbol of Abundance: It demonstrates the massive scale of God's victory and the incredible abundance of resources derived from the enemy's defeat. The amount of abandoned weaponry is unimaginable.
    • Symbol of Enduring Peace: The need for weapons for fuel for such a long duration illustrates a prolonged period of national security, peace, and domestic comfort, uninterrupted by new threats or the need to acquire fuel through other means.

Ezekiel 39 9 Bonus section

This act of burning weapons for fuel transforms the relics of war into a practical benefit for peace, highlighting an "eco-theological" aspect where waste from destruction becomes sustenance. It underscores the ultimate futility of human aggression against God's chosen people when He is their protector. The duration of "seven years" evokes themes of agricultural cycles and periods of Jubilee, implying a kind of restorative abundance and rest that comes after the final cleansing of the land from the invading threat. This also serves as a strong polemic against reliance on military strength, common among ancient nations; Israel's true security and resource come directly from Yahweh, not from any human arsenal.

Ezekiel 39 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 39:9 presents a vivid post-victory scene demonstrating the profound impact of God's judgment on Gog. It underscores the divine intervention resulting in absolute destruction of the enemy, so vast that their instruments of war—shields, bows, spears—become a monumental source of fuel for the people of Israel. This reversal of function transforms death-dealing armaments into means of sustenance and comfort (for heating and cooking). The "seven years" is crucial, symbolically conveying not just a complete duration but emphasizing the immense quantity of spoils and, by extension, the sustained period of security and divine provision that will follow this victory. It signals a new era where instruments of terror are eradicated, peace reigns, and God alone is Israel's sustainer, affirming that His victory is both comprehensive and enduring.