Ezekiel 38:4 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.

◄ Ezekiel 38:4 ►

New International Version
I will turn you around, put hooks 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.

New Living Translation
I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armor and a great horde armed with shields and swords.

English Standard Version
And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.

New American Standard Bible
So I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great contingent with shield and buckler, all of them wielding swords;

NASB 1995
“I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords;

NASB 1977
“And I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords;

Legacy Standard Bible
I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your military force, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great assembly with large shield and shield, all of them wielding swords;

Amplified Bible
I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently clothed in full armor, a great horde with buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, all of them wielding swords;

Christian Standard Bible
I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, including horses and riders, who are all splendidly dressed, a huge assembly armed with large and small shields, all of them brandishing swords.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, including horses and riders, who are all splendidly dressed, a huge company armed with shields and bucklers, all of them brandishing swords.

American Standard Version
and I will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;

Contemporary English Version
and I will make you powerless! I will put a hook in your jaw and drag away both you and your large army. You command cavalry troops that wear heavy armor and carry shields and swords.

English Revised Version
and I will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armour, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws. I will lead you out with all your military forces, with horses and riders. Your soldiers will be fully armed. They will carry large and small shields and be able to use swords.

Good News Translation
I will turn him around, put hooks in his jaws, and drag him and all his troops away. His army, with its horses and uniformed riders, is enormous, and every soldier carries a shield and is armed with a sword.

International Standard Version
I'm going to turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out—you and your whole army—along with your horses and cavalry riders, all of them richly attired, a magnificent company replete with buckler and shield, and all of them wielding battle swords.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
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, all of them armed with swords.

New Heart English Bible
and I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, 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;

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

World English Bible
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;

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And I have turned you back, "" And I have put hooks in your jaws, "" And have brought you out, and all your force, "" Horses and horsemen, "" All of them clothed in perfection, "" A numerous assembly, [with] buckler and shield, "" All of them handling swords.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have turned thee back, And I have put hooks in thy jaws, And have brought thee out, and all thy force, Horses and horsemen, Clothed in perfection all of them, A numerous assembly, with buckler and shield, Handling swords -- all of them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I turned thee back, and I gave hooks in thy jaw bones, and I brought thee forth and all thine army of horses and horsemen, clothed in perfection, all of them a great convocation with buckler and shield, holding swords all of them:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will turn thee about, and I will put a bit in thy jaws: and I will bring thee forth, and ail thy army, horses and horsemen all clothed with coats of mail, a great multitude, armed with spears and shields and swords.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will turn you around, and I will place a bit in your jaws. And I will lead you away, with all your army, the horses and the horsemen all clothed in armor, a great multitude, equipped with spears and light shields and swords,

New American Bible
I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with all your army, horses and riders, all well armed, a great company, all of them with bucklers and shields, carrying swords:

New Revised Standard Version
I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will lead you out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company, all of them with shield and buckler, wielding swords.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
I will gather your people together and put a bridle in your jaws, and I will bring you forth out of your country, both you and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in armor, a great host with spears and shields, all of them handling swords:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall gather you and I shall cast a bridle in your mouth, and I shall bring you out from your place, you and all your army, horses and horsemen who wear armor, all of them a great multitude with spears and with shields and handling swords

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and I will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed most gorgeously, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and I will gather thee, and all thine host, horses and horsemen, all wearing breast-plates, with a great multitude, shields and helmets and swords:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Prophecy Against Gog
…3and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4I 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. 5Persia, Cush, and Put will accompany them, all with shields and helmets,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

Revelation 19:17-18
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, / so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”

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.

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 16:16
And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 11:7
When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.

Jeremiah 50:9
For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.

Jeremiah 51:27
“Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.

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.’

Isaiah 43:17
who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

Isaiah 5:26-30
He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come! / None of them grows weary or stumbles; no one slumbers or sleeps. No belt is loose and no sandal strap is broken. / Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. ...

Treasury of Scripture

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

I will turn

Ezekiel 29:4
But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

Ezekiel 39:2
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

2 Kings 19:28
Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

horses

Ezekiel 38:15
And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

Daniel 11:40
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

all of them

Ezekiel 23:12
She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

handling

1 Chronicles 12:8
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

2 Chronicles 25:5
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

Jeremiah 46:9
Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

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Ezekiel 38

1. The army
8. and malice of Gog
14. God's judgment against him

Berean Study Bible

And I will turn you around
This phrase signifies God's sovereign control over the nations. The Hebrew root for "turn" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which often implies a change of direction or repentance. Here, it indicates God's active intervention in the affairs of Gog, the leader of the coalition against Israel. Historically, this reflects God's ability to redirect the plans of nations to fulfill His divine purposes, emphasizing His ultimate authority over human history.

put hooks in your jaws
The imagery of "hooks in your jaws" is vivid and forceful, suggesting compulsion and control. In ancient Near Eastern culture, this metaphor was used to describe the capture and subjugation of enemies. The Hebrew word "חָח" (chach) for "hook" conveys the idea of being led against one's will. This demonstrates God's power to draw Gog into a situation that fulfills His prophetic plan, underscoring the theme of divine sovereignty.

and bring you out
The phrase "bring you out" indicates God's orchestration of events. The Hebrew verb "יָצָא" (yatsa) means to go out or come forth. This action is not of Gog's own volition but is orchestrated by God. It highlights the concept that God can use even the intentions of adversaries to accomplish His purposes, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of God's providential guidance.

with your whole army
The term "whole army" emphasizes the completeness and might of the forces involved. The Hebrew word "חֵיל" (cheil) refers to strength or military force. This suggests a formidable and organized military presence, reflecting the historical context of ancient warfare where large armies were a symbol of power. It serves as a reminder of the formidable opposition that Israel faces, yet it is ultimately under God's control.

your horses, your horsemen in full armor
The mention of "horses" and "horsemen in full armor" evokes the image of a well-equipped and prepared military force. Horses were a significant part of ancient warfare, symbolizing speed and strength. The Hebrew word for "horse" is "סוּס" (sus), and "horsemen" is "פָּרָשׁ" (parash). This description underscores the seriousness of the threat, yet it also sets the stage for God's deliverance, as He is greater than any earthly power.

and a great company with bucklers and shields
The "great company" with "bucklers and shields" indicates a large and well-defended force. The Hebrew word "קָהָל" (qahal) for "company" suggests a gathering or assembly, while "מָגֵן" (magen) for "shield" and "צִנָּה" (tsinnah) for "buckler" denote defensive equipment. This imagery reinforces the idea of a formidable enemy, yet it also highlights the futility of opposing God's will, as no amount of human strength can thwart His plans.

all brandishing their swords
The phrase "all brandishing their swords" conveys readiness for battle. The Hebrew word "שָׁלַף" (shalaph) means to draw or brandish, and "חֶרֶב" (cherev) is the word for "sword." This depicts a scene of imminent conflict, yet it also serves as a reminder of the spiritual battle that believers face. In the broader biblical context, it encourages reliance on God's strength and protection, as He is the ultimate victor over all adversaries.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) I will turn thee back.--This is the more common meaning of the word; but if this meaning be retained here, it is not to be taken in the sense of turning back from the holy land, but rather, in connection with the figure of the next clause, of turning away the wild beast from his natural inclination to the fulfilment of God's purpose. It is better, however, to take it in the sense in which it is used in Isaiah 47:10 (perverted) and Jeremiah 8:5 (slidden back; comp. Ezekiel 1:6), "I will lead thee astray." In Revelation 20:8, this leading astray of the nations is ascribed to Satan, just as in 2Samuel 24:1, God, and in 1Chronicles 21:1, Satan, are said to move David to number the people; in either case God is said to do that which He allows to be done by Satan. For the same Divine gathering of the nations against God's people see Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2-3. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - I will turn thee back. שׁובַבְתִּיך (pilel of שׁוּב, and signifying "to cause to return") has by Hitzig, Havernick, Ewald, and Keil, been interpreted in the sense of "enticing," "misleading," decoying to a dangerous enterprise, as in Isaiah 47:10; but the ordinary meaning seems sufficient, that Jehovah would turn him back from his own self-devised career, or turn him about like a wild beast, putting hooks into his jaws (comp. Ezekiel 29:4; 2 Kings 19:28; Isaiah 37:29), and so compelling him to follow the lead of a power superior to himself. It is as evident that a turning back from the Holy Land cannot be intended, as it is that a turning back to the Holy Land is unsuitable, unless, with Hengstenberg and Ewald, one regards Gog as the Chaldeans, or, with Hitzig, and Schroder, as the Scythiaus, though these latter never were in Palestine, having left it unvisited in their campaign in B.C. 626, and had not as yet formed the design of invading Israel. Smend is not wide of the mark in suggesting that the thought expressed in the verb is simply that of the superior might of Jehovah. I will bring thee forth. That the power which stirs up Gog is here represented as that of Jehovah, while in Revelation 20:8 it is affirmed to be that of Satan, need occasion no more difficulty than the similar statements, in 1 Samuel 24:1, about God and in 1 Chronicles 21:1 about Satan, stirring up David to number Israel. The enumeration of horses and horsemen in Gog's army points to the Scythians, who, according to Herodotus (4:46, 136), were mostly equestrian tribes, although the Scythian remains discovered at Kerteh do not give an example of a Scythian horse-archer (see Rawlinson's 'Herodotus,' vol. 3. p. 34, note 6). All of them clothed with all sorts of armor, better, clothed with perfection, i.e. splendidly attired, all of them. A characteristic of the Assyrian army (comp. Ezekiel 23:12; Nahum 2:3). The arms of the warlike host - a great company, as in Ezekiel 17:17 (comp. Revelation 20:8, "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea") - are described as consisting of bucklers, or shields large enough to cover the whole of the soldier, and not so suitable for cavalry as for infantry (comp. Ezekiel 23:24); shields, i.e. bucklers of smaller size than the proceeding, such as Assyrian warriors were accustomed to carry (Sayce, 'Assyria, its Princes, Priests, and People,' p. 126); and swords, or weapons for laying waste. The Assyrian soldiery employed "the short dagger, or dirk, and the sword, which was of two kinds. The ordinary kind was long and straight, the less usual kind being curved, like a scimitar" ('Assyria, its Princes,' etc.). In connection with the allied nations in ver. 5, only the small "shield" and "helmet" are mentioned.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

I will turn you around,
וְשׁ֣וֹבַבְתִּ֔יךָ (wə·šō·w·ḇaḇ·tî·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

put
וְנָתַתִּ֥י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

hooks
חַחִ֖ים (ḥa·ḥîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2397: A ring for, the nose

in your jaws,
בִּלְחָיֶ֑יךָ (bil·ḥā·ye·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3895: The cheek, the jaw-bone

and bring you out
וְהוֹצֵאתִי֩ (wə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

with all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your army—
חֵילֶ֜ךָ (ḥê·le·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

your horses,
סוּסִ֣ים (sū·sîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

your horsemen
וּפָרָשִׁ֗ים (ū·p̄ā·rā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6571: A steed, a driver, cavalry

in full
כֻּלָּ֔ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

armor,
לְבֻשֵׁ֤י (lə·ḇu·šê)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

a huge
רָב֙ (rāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

company
קָהָ֥ל (qā·hāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6951: Assembly, convocation, congregation

armed with shields
צִנָּ֣ה (ṣin·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6793: A hook, a, shield, cold

and bucklers,
וּמָגֵ֔ן (ū·mā·ḡên)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

all
כֻּלָּֽם׃ (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

brandishing
תֹּפְשֵׂ֥י (tō·p̄ə·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably

their swords.
חֲרָב֖וֹת (ḥă·rā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn you about (Ezek. Eze Ezk)