Ezekiel 38:4

Translations

Modern

I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords.

Traditional

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

Literal

And I will turn you around, and I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will bring you out and all your army—horses and horsemen, all clothed in perfection, a great company, with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.

Latin

Et circumagam te, et ponam frenum in maxillis tuis: et educam te, et omnem exercitum tuum, equos et equites vestitos loricis universos, multitudinem magnam, hastam et clypeum arripientium et gladium.

Original

Hebrew

English

I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords.

Notes

Ezekiel 38:4

Gog’s rebellion would remain fully under God’s control.

Gog and his army would think they were acting freely and attacking on their own. In reality, God would control their actions. They would be like prisoners led away with hooks in their jaws (compare Ezekiel 29:4).

Ezekiel 38:1–6

Gog would lead a group of seven nations from all over the world. The numbers seven and four symbolize completeness, showing an unbeatable alliance from every direction. Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah were in the north, in Anatolia and beyond the Black Sea. Persia was to the east, Ethiopia to the south, and Libya to the west.

Ezekiel 38:1–39:29

In Ezekiel 37, the nation is reunited and lives in peace in its own land. In Ezekiel 38–39, this peaceful picture changes. A new danger appears. These chapters describe the attack, defeat, and removal of the final enemy, called Gog.
Many readers have tried to identify Gog. Some have connected him with Gyges, king of Lydia, who ruled about 680 to 644 BC. However, the Gog described in the Bible goes beyond any one historical ruler. The text focuses less on who Gog is and more on the worldwide threat from the nations.
Even this powerful enemy would not truly threaten God’s restored people. God was now living among them. Because of his presence, they were secure.
These chapters use strong symbols. They are similar to psalms that speak about Zion’s safety (see, for example, Psalms 2, 46). The message is clear. If even a terrible enemy like Gog cannot defeat God’s people, then nothing in all creation can separate them from God’s protection.
Ezekiel’s description of Gog also includes features of apocalyptic literature (a style of writing that uses symbols and dramatic images to describe God’s final victory over evil; see “Apocalyptic Literature” Theme Note).

Theme notes and profiles

Apocalyptic Literature

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Daniel 11:40
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.
Ezekiel 29:4
But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales.
Ezekiel 38:15
And you will come from your place out of the far north—you and many peoples with you, all riding horses—a mighty horde, a huge army.
2 Kings 19:28
Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’
Ezekiel 39:2
I will turn you around, drive you along, bring you up from the far north, and send you against the mountains of Israel.
2 Chronicles 25:5
Then Amaziah gathered the people of Judah and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin and found 300,000 chosen men able to serve in the army, bearing the spear and shield.
Jeremiah 46:9
Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots! Let the warriors come forth—Cush and Put carrying their shields, men of Lydia drawing the bow.
1 Chronicles 12:8
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:
Isaiah 37:29
Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’
Ezekiel 23:12
She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors dressed in splendor, horsemen riding on steeds, all desirable young men.

Glossary

Book of Revelation Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Gog Magog

Topics

Hooks: Figurative Shield: Different Kinds of, Designated As Buckler, Shield, Target

Ezekiel 38:4

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics