Ezekiel 38:17
New International Version
“’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.

New Living Translation
“This is what the Sovereign LORD asks: Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people?

English Standard Version
“Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?

King James Bible
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

New King James Version
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?

New American Standard Bible
‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?

NASB 1995
Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?

NASB 1977
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by the hand of My slaves the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?

Amplified Bible
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you (Gog) against them?

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them?

American Standard Version
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring thee against them?

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to Gog: Long ago, I ordered my prophets to warn the people of Israel that someday I would send an enemy to attack them. You, Gog, are that enemy, and that day is coming.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the Lord GOD: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring thee against them?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: You are the one I spoke about long ago through my servants the prophets of Israel. They prophesied in those days that I would bring you to attack them.

Good News Translation
You are the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through my servants, the prophets of Israel, that in days to come I would bring someone to attack Israel." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.

International Standard Version
"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Surely you're the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings of my servants, Israel's prophets, aren't you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didn't they?

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?

NET Bible
"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them?

New Heart English Bible
"'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days many years, that I would bring thee against them?

World English Bible
“‘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?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said Lord YHWH: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days, "" By the hand of My servants, prophets of Israel, "" Who were prophesying [for] years in those days, "" To bring you in against them?

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in former days, By the hand of My servants, prophets of Israel, Who are prophesying in those days -- years, To bring thee in against them?

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in days of old by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, prophesying in those days years to bring thee against them?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord God: Thou then art he, of whom I have spoken in the days of old, by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in the days of those times that I would bring thee upon them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord God: Therefore, you are the one, about whom I spoke in the days of antiquity, by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in the days of those times that I would lead you over them.

New American Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD: About you I spoke in earlier times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied at that time that I would let you invade them.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD God: You are he of whom I have spoken in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days and in those years that I would bring you against them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: “You are he of whom I said: in former days by the hand of my Servants the Prophets of Israel, who were prophesying in these days and in these years, that I would bring you against them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the Lord GOD: Art thou he of whom I spoke in old time by My servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for many years, that I would bring thee against them?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord God, to Gog; Thou art he concerning whom I spoke in former times, by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, in those days and years, that I would bring thee up against them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against Gog
16You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes. 17This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18Now on that day when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, My wrath will flare up.…

Cross References
Revelation 20:8
and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.

Revelation 19:19
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.

Revelation 16:14
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

Revelation 11:18
The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Revelation 20:9
And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

Daniel 11:40-45
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. / He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites. / He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. ...

Zechariah 14:2-3
For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. / Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.

Joel 3:9-14
Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! / Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’ / Come quickly, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves. Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD. ...

Isaiah 34:1-2
Come near, O nations, to listen; pay attention, O peoples. Let the earth hear, and all that fills it, the world and all that springs from it. / The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter.

Jeremiah 25:31-33
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD. / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” / Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground.

Micah 4:11-13
But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.” / But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD or understand His plan, for He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. / Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Zephaniah 3:8
Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

Isaiah 66:15-16
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. / For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.

Psalm 2:1-6
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” ...

Isaiah 41:21-29
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob. / “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming. / Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the Lord GOD; Are you he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring you against them?

whom

Ezekiel 38:10,11,16
Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: …

Psalm 110:5,6
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath…

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

by [heb] the hands of

Jump to Previous
Earlier Former Israel Prophesied Prophets Servants Sovereign Time Word
Jump to Next
Earlier Former Israel Prophesied Prophets Servants Sovereign Time Word
Ezekiel 38
1. The army
8. and malice of Gog
14. God's judgment against him














This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew term for "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," which underscores God's supreme authority and covenantal relationship with Israel. This introduction sets the stage for a message of significant importance, reminding the reader of God's ultimate control over history and nations.

Are you the one
This rhetorical question is directed towards Gog, a figure representing a coalition of nations. The question implies a challenge and a fulfillment of prophecy. It suggests that the events unfolding are not random but are part of a divine plan previously revealed. The use of "you" personalizes the message, indicating a specific and foreordained role in God's prophetic timeline.

of whom I have spoken in former days
This phrase refers to the continuity and consistency of God's prophetic word. The "former days" alludes to the longstanding nature of God's revelations, possibly referring to earlier prophetic writings or oral traditions. It highlights the reliability and unchanging nature of God's word, which has been communicated through His prophets over time.

through My servants the prophets of Israel
The prophets are described as "My servants," indicating their role as faithful messengers of God's word. This phrase underscores the divine origin of their messages and their dedication to conveying God's will. The prophets of Israel were instrumental in warning, guiding, and preparing the nation for future events, including the eschatological battles described in Ezekiel.

who in those days prophesied for years
This emphasizes the duration and persistence of the prophetic message. The prophets consistently warned of future events, demonstrating their commitment to God's mission despite opposition or disbelief. The phrase "for years" suggests a long-term, sustained effort to communicate God's plans, reinforcing the seriousness and inevitability of the prophesied events.

that I would bring you against them?
This part of the verse reveals God's active role in orchestrating the events described. The phrase "I would bring you" indicates divine sovereignty and purpose, suggesting that even adversarial forces are under God's control and serve His ultimate plan. The "against them" refers to Israel, highlighting the tension and conflict that will arise but also implying that these events are part of a larger redemptive narrative. This serves as a reminder of God's protective and restorative intentions for His people, even amidst trials.

(17) Of whom I have spoken in old time.--This is put in that interrogative form which is often used for emphatic assurance. The word many before "years" is not in the original, but is correctly inserted to mark the accusative of duration. The statement is then an emphatic one, that God had of old and for a long time foretold by His prophets this attack of Gog. But the name of Gog is not mentioned in any earlier prophecy now extant, nor is it likely that any such, far less that any long series of such prophecies, have been lost. This concurs with many other indications in the prophecy to show that it does not relate to any particular event, but that Gog and his allies represent the enemies of the Church in general, and that the prophet is here depicting the same great and prolonged struggle between evil and good, between the powers of the world and the kingdom of God, which has formed the burden of so much of both earlier and later prophecy.

Verse 17. - Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time? As no existing prophecy, prior to Ezekiel's time, mentions Cog by name, it must be concluded either

(1) that Ezekiel refers to prophecies known in his day, though no longer extant; or

(2) that his words simply mean that earlier prophets had predicted such an invasion of Israel in the last times as that which he announces under the leadership of Gog. The former opinion, though countenanced by Ewald, Kuenen, and Smend, is less probable than the latter, which expositors both ancient and modern favor. Schroder considers the hypothesis that earlier prophets had spoken of Gog by name as excluded by the interrogatory form of the sentence, since, had Cog been thus explicitly pointed out, there would, he thinks, have been no need to ask, "Art thou he?" But it is doubtful if the interrogatory form of the words had any other intention than to lend emphasis to the assertion that Gog was he to whom the earlier prophets had unconsciously referred. As to which earlier prophets he alluded opinions vary. Ewald cites Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 17:4; Smend adding Micah 5:11; Zephaniah 3:8; Keil, Isaiah 25:5, 10; Jeremiah 30:23, 25; Joel 4:2, 11, etc.; Hengstenberg, Deuteronomy 32; Isaiah 24-27; Isaiah 34; and Fairbairn, Numbers 24:17-24; Isaiah 14:28-32; Isaiah 18; Joel 3; Daniel 2:44, 45; though Schroder is probably correct in holding that all should be included which represent the hostility of the heathen world as culminating in the latter days in a grand concentrated attack upon Israel. Smend sees in the unusual phenomenon that Ezekiel reflects upon earlier prophecies an indication of the declining spirit of prophetism; it should, however, rather be regarded as a sign of superior spiritual insight on the part of Ezekiel, who could discern that from the first the prophets had been guided in their utterances by One who was intimately acquainted with the whole world-program, and knew the end from the beginning, so that however dark and enigmatical their predictions might be when taken separately, when viewed in connection they were recognized as forming parts of a harmonious whole.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַ֞ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Are you
הַֽאַתָּה־ (ha·’at·tāh-)
Article | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

the one
ה֨וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

of whom
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I have spoken
דִּבַּ֜רְתִּי (dib·bar·tî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

in former
קַדְמוֹנִ֗ים (qaḏ·mō·w·nîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6931: Anterior, oriental

days
בְּיָמִ֣ים (bə·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

through
בְּיַד֙ (bə·yaḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

My servants,
עֲבָדַי֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

the prophets
נְבִיאֵ֣י (nə·ḇî·’ê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

who for years
שָׁנִ֑ים (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

prophesied
הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛ים (han·nib·bə·’îm)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

in those
הָהֵ֖ם (hā·hêm)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

times
בַּיָּמִ֥ים (bay·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

that I would bring
לְהָבִ֥יא (lə·hā·ḇî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

you
אֹתְךָ֖ (’ō·ṯə·ḵā)
Direct object marker | second person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

against them?
עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


Links
Ezekiel 38:17 NIV
Ezekiel 38:17 NLT
Ezekiel 38:17 ESV
Ezekiel 38:17 NASB
Ezekiel 38:17 KJV

Ezekiel 38:17 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 38:17 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 38:17 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 38:17 French Bible
Ezekiel 38:17 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 38:17 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Are you (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 38:16
Top of Page
Top of Page