Ezekiel 39:9
New International Version
“’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.

New Living Translation
“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!

English Standard Version
“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,

Berean Standard Bible
Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
“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.

New American Standard Bible
“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.

NASB 1995
“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.

NASB 1977
“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out, and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears and for seven years they will make fires of them.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and large shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears; and for seven years they will make fires of them.

Amplified Bible
And [when you, Gog, no longer exist] those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both the [large] shields and the bucklers (small shields), the bows and the arrows, the war clubs and the spears; and for seven years they will burn them.

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘Then the inhabitants of Israel’s cities will go out, kindle fires, and burn the weapons—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them to make fires.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the inhabitants of Israel’s cities will go out, kindle fires, and burn the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them to make fires.

American Standard Version
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;

Contemporary English Version
When that day comes, the people in the towns of Israel will collect the weapons of their dead enemies. They will use these shields, bows and arrows, spears, and clubs as firewood, and there will be enough to last for seven years.

English Revised Version
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those living in the cities of Israel will go out. They will set fire to weapons and burn them. They will burn small and large shields, bows and arrows, and war clubs and spears. They will burn them for seven years.

Good News Translation
The people who live in the cities of Israel will go out and collect the abandoned weapons for firewood. They will build fires with the shields, bows, arrows, spears, and clubs, and have enough to last for seven years.

International Standard Version
"After all this happens, the people who live in the cities of Israel will be kindling fires for seven years, using small shields, large shields, bows, arrows, clubs, personal weapons, and spears to do so.

Majority Standard Bible
Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.

NET Bible
"'Then those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and use the weapons for kindling--the shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears--they will burn them for seven years.

New Heart English Bible
"'Those who dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;

Webster's Bible Translation
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 handstaffs, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

World English Bible
“‘“Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and will make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs and the spears, and they will make fires with them for seven years;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And those dwelling [in the] cities of Israel have gone out, "" And they have burned and kindled [a fire], "" With armor, and shield, and buckler, "" With bow, and with arrows, "" And with hand weapon, and with javelin, "" And they have caused a fire to burn seven years with them,

Young's Literal Translation
And gone out have the inhabitants of cities of Israel, And they have burned and kindled a fire, With armour, and shield, and buckler, With bow, and with arrows, And with hand-staves, and with javelins, And they have caused a fire to burn with them seven years,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they dwelling in the cities of Israel went forth and kindled and set on fire with the weapons and the shield and the buckler, with the bow and with the arrows, and with the rods of the hand and with the spear, and they burnt a fire with them seven years:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the inhabitants shall go forth of the cities of Israel, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, the shields, and the spears, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves and the pikes: and they shall burn them with fire seven years.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the inhabitants from the cities of Israel will go forth, and they will kindle and burn the weapons, the shields and the spears, the bows and the arrows, and the staff and the lance. And they will kindle fires with them for seven years.

New American Bible
Everyone living in the cities of Israel shall go out and set fire to the weapons, buckler and shield, bows and arrows, clubs and spears; for seven years they shall make fires with them.

New Revised Standard Version
Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them—bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, handpikes and spears—and they will make fires of them for seven years.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the inhabitants of the villages of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the spears, the bows and the arrows and the hand-staves and the lances, and they shall burn them as fuel for seven years;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall come out, and they shall set fire to the armor and to the shields and to the spears and to the bows and to the arrows and to the clubs of the hands and to the lances and they shall burn some of them in fire seven years
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and use them as fuel, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the hand-staves, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they that inhabit the cities of Israel shall come forth, and make a fire with the arms, the shields and the spears, and bows and arrows, and hand-staves, and lances, and they shall keep fire burning with them for seven years:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Slaughter of Gog's Armies
8Yes, it is coming, and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken. 9Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons— the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. 10They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it from the forests, for they will use the weapons for fuel. They will loot those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.…

Cross References
Isaiah 2:4
Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.

Micah 4:3
Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.

Joel 3:10
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’

Isaiah 9:5
For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

Psalm 46:9
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.

Isaiah 54:16-17
Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc. / No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 51:20-23
“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. / With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. / With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. ...

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

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 20:8-9
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. / 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 19:20-21
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. / And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” / “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” / The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ...

Hebrews 2:14
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,


Treasury of Scripture

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 hand staves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

shall go

Psalm 111:2,3
The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein…

Isaiah 66:24
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Malachi 1:5
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

and shall

Ezekiel 39:10
So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.

Joshua 11:6
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

Psalm 46:9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

hand staves.

burn them with fire.

Jump to Previous
Arrows Bows Bucklers Burn Cities Clubs Dwell Fire Fires Forth Fuel Inhabit Israel Seven Shields Spears Use War Weapons
Jump to Next
Arrows Bows Bucklers Burn Cities Clubs Dwell Fire Fires Forth Fuel Inhabit Israel Seven Shields Spears Use War Weapons
Ezekiel 39
1. God's judgment upon Gog
8. Israel's victory
11. Gog's burial in Hamon-gog
17. The feast of the fowls
21. Israel having been plagued for their sins
25. shall be gathered again with eternal favor














Then the inhabitants of the cities of Israel
This phrase sets the stage for a future event involving the people of Israel. The Hebrew word for "inhabitants" (יֹשְׁבֵי, yoshev) implies those who dwell or reside, indicating a settled community. Historically, this reflects the post-exilic return of the Israelites to their homeland, a time of restoration and rebuilding. The "cities of Israel" signifies not just physical locations but the collective identity and unity of God's chosen people.

will go out
The action of going out suggests a proactive movement from a place of safety or rest to engage in an activity. In the context of ancient Israel, this implies a transition from a defensive posture to one of reclaiming and utilizing resources. Spiritually, it symbolizes the church's call to engage with the world, transforming what was meant for harm into something beneficial.

kindle fires
The act of kindling fires is both practical and symbolic. In Hebrew, the word for "kindle" (בָּעַר, ba'ar) can mean to burn or consume. This reflects the transformative power of God, who turns instruments of war into sources of warmth and energy. Historically, fire was a means of purification and renewal, echoing the divine promise of restoration and peace.

and burn the weapons
Burning weapons signifies the end of conflict and the beginning of peace. The Hebrew term for "weapons" (כְּלֵי, keli) encompasses tools or instruments, indicating a complete disarmament. This prophetic imagery aligns with Isaiah's vision of swords beaten into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4), symbolizing the ultimate triumph of God's peace over human warfare.

the small and large shields
The mention of both small and large shields highlights the comprehensive nature of the disarmament. Shields, in Hebrew (מָגֵן, magen), were defensive tools, representing protection and security. Their destruction signifies a new era where divine protection supersedes human defenses, pointing to a future where God Himself is the shield of His people.

the bows and arrows
Bows and arrows, traditional symbols of offense in warfare, are rendered obsolete. The Hebrew word for "bow" (קֶשֶׁת, qeshet) and "arrows" (חֵץ, chets) emphasize the cessation of hostilities. This transformation reflects the prophetic hope found in Psalm 46:9, where God makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.

the war clubs and spears
These instruments of close combat, "war clubs" (מַקֵּלוֹת, maqqelot) and "spears" (רֹמַח, romach), represent the personal and direct nature of ancient warfare. Their burning signifies the end of personal enmity and strife, a foretaste of the peace that Christ brings, as He reconciles all things to Himself (Colossians 1:20).

For seven years they will use them to make fires
The number seven in Hebrew culture symbolizes completeness and divine perfection. The extended period of using these weapons as fuel underscores the totality of God's victory and the sufficiency of His provision. This prophetic image assures believers of God's enduring peace and the complete transformation of what was once destructive into something life-sustaining.

(9) Shall burn them with fire seven years.--The representation of this and the following verse, that the weapons of the army of Gog shall furnish the whole nation of Israel with fuel for seven years, cannot, of course, be understood literally, and seems to have been inserted by the prophet to show that we are to look for the meaning of his prophecy beyond any literal event of earthly warfare.

Ezekiel 39:11-16 again present the magnitude of the attack upon the Church by describing the burial of the host after it is slain. The language, if it could be supposed it was meant to be literally understood, would be even more extravagant than that of Ezekiel 39:9-10. The whole nation of Israel is represented as engaged for seven months in burying the bodies (Ezekiel 39:12-13); after this an indefinite time is to be occupied by one corps of men appointed to search the land for still remaining bones, and by another who are to bury them.

Verses 9, 10 set forth as the first proof of the greatness of Gog's overthrow the immense booty in the shape of weapons of war which should be obtained by the inhabitants of the cities of Israel. So huge should be the quantity of weapons left behind by the slain, that the Israelites should burn them with fire seven years. This burning of the weapons has been explained by Havernick, on the ground that weapons of war, as incompatible with Messianic times, should be no more required (cf. Isaiah 2:4); by Ewald, as in accordance with the custom of the Hebrews (Isaiah 9:5) and other ancient peoples (Livy, 38:23; Virgil, 'AEneid,' 8:562); by Hitzig and Smend, as prompted by the consideration that Israel, for whom Jehovah had fought, should have no further need of weapons; by Schroder, as indicating that for Israel these warlike instruments should then so completely lose their power to terrify that they might be looked upon simply as so much firewood; and by Keil, as designed to annihilate the enemy and remove every trace of him. Kliefoth appears nearest the mark, in suggesting that the emphasis lies upon the length of time the burning should continue; and that this was intended, by conveying an idea of the vastness of the spoil, to represent the thoroughness of Gog's destruction and of Israel's deliverance. That the whole delineation is symbolical appears from the number of years the weapons are said to serve for fuel, viz. seven, and from the character of the weapons themselves, which, if not entirely wooden, were at least all combustible. Of the "armor" generally (נֶשֶׁק, "something joined," from a root signifying "to join") the pieces mentioned - the shields and the bucklers (see Ezekiel 38:4), the bows and arrows (see ver. 3), the hand-staves, or, javelins (margin), perhaps, as Hitzig and Smend suggest, the staff with which a horseman strikes his beast (see Numbers 22:27), and the spears - were mostly composed of timber. When all should have been given to the flames, it would then appear that on their late owners the lex talionis had worked out its literal avengement, that they who had intended to despoil Israel were themselves spoiled; and they who hoped to plunder Israel were themselves plundered (comp. Isaiah 17:14).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then those who dwell
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י ׀ (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the cities
עָרֵ֣י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

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

will go out,
וְֽיָצְא֞וּ (wə·yā·ṣə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

kindle fires,
וּבִעֲר֡וּ (ū·ḇi·‘ă·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

and burn
וְ֠הִשִּׂיקוּ (wə·hiś·śî·qū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5400: To catch fire

the weapons—
בְּנֶ֨שֶׁק (bə·ne·šeq)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5402: Military equipment, arms, an arsenal

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

and shields,
וְצִנָּה֙ (wə·ṣin·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6793: A hook, a, shield, cold

the bows
בְּקֶ֣שֶׁת (bə·qe·šeṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

and arrows,
וּבְחִצִּ֔ים (ū·ḇə·ḥiṣ·ṣîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2671: A piercer, an arrow, a wound, thunderbolt, the shaft of a, spear

the clubs
וּבְמַקֵּ֥ל (ū·ḇə·maq·qêl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4731: A shoot, stick

and spears.
וּבְרֹ֑מַח (ū·ḇə·rō·maḥ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7420: A lance, the iron point

For seven
שֶׁ֥בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

years
שָׁנִֽים׃ (šā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

they will use them for fuel.
וּבִעֲר֥וּ (ū·ḇi·‘ă·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish


Links
Ezekiel 39:9 NIV
Ezekiel 39:9 NLT
Ezekiel 39:9 ESV
Ezekiel 39:9 NASB
Ezekiel 39:9 KJV

Ezekiel 39:9 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 39:9 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 39:9 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 39:9 French Bible
Ezekiel 39:9 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 39:9 Those who dwell in the cities (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 39:8
Top of Page
Top of Page