Ezekiel 38
New English Translation
A Prophecy Against Gog
38 The Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn toward[a] Gog,[b] of the land of Magog,[c] the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.[d] Prophesy against him 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you,[e] Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them fully armed, a great company with shields of different types,[f] all of them armed with swords. 5 Persia,[g] Ethiopia, and Put[h] are with them, all of them with shields and helmets. 6 They are joined by[i] Gomer with all its troops, and by Beth Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples are with you.[j]
7 “‘Be ready and stay ready, you and all your companies assembled around you, and be a guard for them.[k] 8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come to a land restored from the ravages of war,[l] from many peoples gathered on the mountains of Israel that had long been in ruins. Its people[m] were brought out from the peoples, and all of them will be living securely. 9 You will advance;[n] you will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the earth, you, all your troops, and the many other peoples with you.
10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind,[o] and you will devise an evil plan. 11 You will say, “I will invade[p] a land of unwalled towns; I will advance against[q] those living quietly in security—all of them living without walls and barred gates— 12 to loot and plunder, to attack[r] the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center[s] of the earth.” 13 Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its young warriors[t] will say to you, “Have you come to loot? Have you assembled your armies to plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to haul away a great amount of spoils?”’
14 “Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice[u] 15 and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army. 16 You will advance[v] against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In future days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself[w] through you, O Gog.
17 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants[x] the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days[y] that I would bring you against them? 18 On that day, when Gog invades[z] the land of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, my rage will mount up in my anger. 19 In my zeal, in the fire of my fury,[aa] I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake[ab] in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts, all the things that creep on the ground, and all people who live on the face of the earth will shake[ac] at my presence. The mountains will topple, the cliffs[ad] will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a sword to attack[ae] Gog[af] on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord; every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 I will judge him with plague and bloodshed. I will rain down on him, his troops, and the many peoples who are with him a torrential downpour, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 38:2 tn Heb “set your face against.”
- Ezekiel 38:2 sn This may refer to a Lydian king in western Asia Minor in the seventh century b.c. Apart from Ezek 38-39, the only other biblical reference to this king/nation is in Rev 20:8. For a study of the names appearing in this verse, see E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27.
- Ezekiel 38:2 sn One of the sons of Japheth according to Gen 10:2 and 1 Chr 1:5.
- Ezekiel 38:2 tn Heb “the prince, the chief of Meshech and Tubal.” Some translate “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,” but it is more likely that the Hebrew noun in question is a common noun in apposition to “prince,” rather than a proper name. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:434-35. As Block demonstrates, attempts by some popular writers to identify these proper names with later geographical sites in Russia are anachronistic. See as well E. Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier, 19-27. sn Meshech and Tubal were two nations in Cappadocia of Asia Minor. They were also sons of Japheth (Gen 10:2; 1 Chr 1:5).
- Ezekiel 38:3 tn Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201-2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘hinnenî ’êlékâ’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8.
- Ezekiel 38:4 sn The Hebrew text mentions two different types of shields here.
- Ezekiel 38:5 tn D. I. Block prefers to see the Hebrew word as referring here to a western ally of Egypt or as an alternative spelling for Pathros, that is, Upper Egypt. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:439-40.
- Ezekiel 38:5 sn That is, Lybia.
- Ezekiel 38:6 tn The words “they are joined by” are added in the translation for purposes of English style.
- Ezekiel 38:6 sn The seven-nation coalition represents the north (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Beth Togarmah), the south/west (Ethiopia, Put) and the east (Persia). The use of the sevenfold list suggests completeness. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:441.
- Ezekiel 38:7 tn The second person singular verbal and pronominal forms in the Hebrew text indicate that Gog is addressed here.
- Ezekiel 38:8 tn Heb “from the sword.”
- Ezekiel 38:8 tn Heb “it.”
- Ezekiel 38:9 tn Heb “go up.”
- Ezekiel 38:10 tn Heb “words will go up upon your heart.”
- Ezekiel 38:11 tn Heb “go up against.”
- Ezekiel 38:11 tn Heb “come (to).”
- Ezekiel 38:12 tn Heb “to turn your hand against.”
- Ezekiel 38:12 tn The Hebrew term occurs elsewhere only in Judg 9:37. Perhaps it means “high point, top.”
- Ezekiel 38:13 tn Heb “young lions.”
- Ezekiel 38:14 tn The Hebrew text is framed as a rhetorical question: “will you not take notice?”
- Ezekiel 38:16 tn Heb “come up.”
- Ezekiel 38:16 tn Or “reveal my holiness.”
- Ezekiel 38:17 tn Heb “by the hand of my servants.”
- Ezekiel 38:17 tn The Hebrew text adds “years” here, but this is probably a scribal gloss on the preceding phrase. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:201.
- Ezekiel 38:18 tn Heb “goes up against.”
- Ezekiel 38:19 sn The phrase “in the fire of my fury” occurs in Ezek 21:31 and 22:21, 31.
- Ezekiel 38:19 tn Or “shaking.”
- Ezekiel 38:20 tn Or “tremble.”
- Ezekiel 38:20 tn The term occurs only here and in Song of Songs 2:14.
- Ezekiel 38:21 tn Heb “against.”
- Ezekiel 38:21 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Gog, cf. v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
以西結書 38
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
對歌革的預言
38 耶和華對我說: 2 「人子啊,你要面向瑪各地區的歌革,就是米設和土巴的首領,說預言斥責他, 3 告訴他,主耶和華這樣說,『米設和土巴的首領歌革啊,我要與你為敵。 4 我要把你調轉過來,用鉤子鉤住你的腮,把你和你那些全副武裝、拿著大小盾牌、揮動刀劍的軍隊、馬匹和騎兵都拖出來。 5 你的軍隊中有拿著盾牌、戴著頭盔的波斯人、古實人和弗人, 6 還有歌篾的軍隊和從遙遠的北方來的陀迦瑪軍隊。許多國家的軍隊都與你在一起。
7 「『你和你的聯軍都要預備好,你要做他們的統帥。 8 再過多日,你必被徵召出戰。在以後的歲月,你將去攻打一片從戰爭中恢復的土地,以色列久已荒涼的山上有從各國招聚來的百姓。他們從列國中被領回來,如今都在那裡安然居住。 9 你和你的軍隊以及各國的聯軍一起上來,如暴風來臨,又如密雲覆蓋大地。』
10 「『主耶和華說,「那時你必心起歹念,籌畫惡謀。 11 你必說,我要攻打那沒有圍牆和城門保護的鄉村,毀滅那毫無戒備、安然居住的百姓。 12 我要搶掠他們的財物,下手攻擊那曾是廢墟的城邑和從各國歸來的百姓。他們住在世界的中心,牲畜貨物甚多。 13 示巴人、底但人以及他施的客商和首領都必問,你是來搶掠嗎?你聚集軍隊是來搶奪金銀財寶,擄掠牲畜和貨物嗎?」』
14 「人子啊,你要發預言告訴歌革,主耶和華這樣說,『到那天,當我的以色列子民安然居住的時候,難道你會不知道嗎? 15 你召集各國聯軍,組成龐大的軍隊,騎著馬從遙遠的北方來。 16 歌革啊,你必如密雲一樣遮天蔽日,前來攻擊我的以色列子民。將來,我要領你來攻擊我的土地,我要在列國面前藉著你彰顯我的聖潔,使他們認識我。』
17 「主耶和華說,『歌革啊,我從前藉我的僕人——以色列的先知所預言的那位就是你,那時他們預言我要領你上來攻擊以色列。 18 當歌革上來攻擊以色列的時候,我必發烈怒。這是主耶和華說的。 19 我要在義憤和烈怒中宣告,那天在以色列必有大地震。 20 海裡的魚,空中的鳥,田野的走獸,地上的一切動物和人類都要在我面前戰慄。山嶺必倒塌,懸崖必崩裂,牆垣必坍塌。 21 我要在我的山嶺上叫刀劍攻擊歌革人,使他們自相殘殺。這是主耶和華說的。 22 我要用瘟疫、殺戮、暴雨、冰雹、烈火和硫磺懲罰他們和他們的聯軍。 23 我要彰顯我的權能和聖潔,使各國的人都認識我。這樣他們就知道我是耶和華。』
Ezekiel 38
New International Version
The Lord’s Great Victory Over the Nations
38 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog,(A) of the land of Magog,(B) the chief prince of[a] Meshek and Tubal;(C) prophesy against him 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of[b] Meshek and Tubal.(D) 4 I will turn you around, put hooks(E) in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.(F) 5 Persia, Cush[c](G) and Put(H) will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer(I) with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah(J) from the far north(K) with all its troops—the many nations with you.
7 “‘Get ready; be prepared,(L) you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. 8 After many days(M) you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations(N) to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.(O) 9 You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm;(P) you will be like a cloud(Q) covering the land.(R)
10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind(S) and you will devise an evil scheme.(T) 11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people(U)—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.(V) 12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.[d]” 13 Sheba(W) and Dedan(X) and the merchants of Tarshish(Y) and all her villages[e] will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?(Z)”’
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety,(AA) will you not take notice of it? 15 You will come from your place in the far north,(AB) you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.(AC) 16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud(AD) that covers the land.(AE) In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy(AF) through you before their eyes.(AG)
17 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You are the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel. At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. 18 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. 19 In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake(AH) in the land of Israel.(AI) 20 The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble(AJ) at my presence. The mountains will be overturned,(AK) the cliffs will crumble(AL) and every wall will fall to the ground.(AM) 21 I will summon a sword(AN) against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.(AO) 22 I will execute judgment(AP) on him with plague and bloodshed;(AQ) I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones(AR) and burning sulfur(AS) on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.(AT) 23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(AU)’
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 38:2 Or the prince of Rosh,
- Ezekiel 38:3 Or Gog, prince of Rosh,
- Ezekiel 38:5 That is, the upper Nile region
- Ezekiel 38:12 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
- Ezekiel 38:13 Or her strong lions
Ezekiel 38
New King James Version
Gog and Allies Attack Israel
38 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 (A)“Son of man, (B)set your face against (C)Gog, of the land of (D)Magog, [a]the prince of Rosh, (E)Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 (F)I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and (G)lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, (H)all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, [b]Ethiopia, and [c]Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 (I)Gomer and all its troops; the house of (J)Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.
7 (K)“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 (L)After many days (M)you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword (N)and gathered from many people on (O)the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them (P)dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming (Q)like a storm, covering the (R)land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of (S)unwalled villages; I will (T)go to a peaceful people, (U)who dwell [d]safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, (V)and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 (W)Sheba, (X)Dedan, the merchants (Y)of Tarshish, and all (Z)their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: (AA)“On that day when My people Israel (AB)dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 (AC)Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may (AD)know Me, when I am (AE)hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” 17 Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?
Judgment on Gog
18 “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face. 19 For (AF)in My jealousy (AG)and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: (AH)‘Surely in that day there shall be a great [e]earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 so that (AI)the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. (AJ)The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ 21 I will (AK)call for (AL)a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. (AM)“Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 And I will (AN)bring him to judgment with (AO)pestilence and bloodshed; (AP)I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, (AQ)great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus I will magnify Myself and (AR)sanctify Myself, (AS)and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 38:2 Tg., Vg., Aquila the chief prince of Meshech, also v. 3
- Ezekiel 38:5 Heb. Cush
- Ezekiel 38:5 Heb. Put
- Ezekiel 38:11 securely
- Ezekiel 38:19 Lit. shaking
Ezekiel 38
World English Bible
38 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords; 5 Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes—even many peoples with you.
7 “‘“Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them. 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought out of the peoples and they will dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will ascend. You will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.”
10 “‘The Lord Yahweh says: “It will happen in that day that things will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. 11 You will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12 to take the plunder and to take prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten livestock and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth.’ 13 Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder? Have you assembled your company to take the prey, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”’
14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel as a cloud to cover the land. It will happen in the latter days that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me when I am sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.”
17 “‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for years that I would bring you against them? 18 It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that my wrath will come up into my nostrils. 19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I have spoken. Surely in that day there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel, 20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth will shake at my presence. Then the mountains will be thrown down, the steep places will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood. I will rain on him, on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, torrential rains with great hailstones, fire, and sulfur. 23 I will magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”’
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