Ezekiel 38:17

Ezekiel 38:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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 International Version (NIV)“ ‘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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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?
• New King James Version (NKJV)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?

Context of Ezekiel 38:17

15and come from your place in the remotest parts of the north — you and many peoples with you, who are all riding horses — a huge assembly, a powerful army? 16You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the last days, Gog, that I will bring you against my land so that the nations may know me, when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight. “‘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? 18Now on that day, the day when Gog comes against the land of Israel — this is the declaration of the Lord God — my wrath will flare up. 19I swear in my zeal and fiery wrath: On that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 38:17 word by word

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה הַֽאַתָּה־ה֨וּא אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֜רְתִּי בְּיָמִ֣ים קַדְמוֹנִ֗ים בְּיַד֙ עֲבָדַי֙ נְבִיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛ים בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵ֖ם שָׁנִ֑ים לְהָבִ֥יא אֹתְךָ֖ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• thou he of whom I have spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• in oldקַדְמֹנִיqadmônîy qadmônîy · eastern: olderH6931
• timeיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• byיָדyâd · hand: byH3027
• my servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• the prophetsנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• which prophesiedנָבָאnâbâ' · to prophesyH5012
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• that I would bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935

Cross-references for Ezekiel 38:17

• Ezekiel 38:10“‘This is what the Lord God says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
• Psalms 110:5The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his anger.
• Isaiah 27:1On that day the Lord with his relentless, large, strong sword will bring judgment on Leviathan, the fleeing serpent — Leviathan, the twisting serpent. He will slay the monster that is in the sea.
• Isaiah 34:1You nations, come here and listen; you peoples, pay attention! Let the earth and all that fills it hear, the world and all that comes from it.
• Isaiah 63:1Who is this coming from Edom in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah — this one who is splendid in his apparel, striding in his formidable might? It is I, proclaiming vindication, powerful to save.
• Isaiah 66:15Look, the Lord will come with fire — his chariots are like the whirlwind — to execute his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire.
• 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 against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.
• Joel 3:9Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for holy war; rouse the warriors; let all the men of war advance and attack!
• Zechariah 12:2“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah.
• Zechariah 14:1Look, a day belonging to the Lord is coming when the plunder taken from you will be divided in your presence.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 38:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time - This prophecy concerning Antiochus and the Jews was delivered about four hundred years before the events took place. - Martin. Calmet maintains that Cambyses is spoken of, and refers to ancient prophecies, especially Isaiah 14, Isaiah 15:1-9, Isaiah 16:1-14, Isaiah 20:1-6, 21.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Gog - is not mentioned by name in any existing prophecy before Ezekiel‘s time. The reference here shows (1) that the conflict with Gog does not represent a particular event, but one of which the prophets in general had to speak; (2) that in the interpretation of Old Testament prophecy we are to look beyond special fulfillments. Events in the world‘s history come within a prophet‘s ken as parts of the divine administration whereby evil struggles against…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-23Verses 14-23 The enemy should make a formidable descent upon the land of Israel. When Israel dwell safely under the Divine protection, shalt not thou be made to know it by finding that endeavours to destroy them are made in vain? Promises of security are treasured up in the word of God, against the troubles and dangers the church may be brought into in the latter days. In the destruction of sinners, God makes it appear that he is a great and holy God. We…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Gog was not the foretold “army … from the land of the north” mentioned in Jeremiah 4–6. Those prophecies had already been fulfilled. They referred to the destruction that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon brought against Judah.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. thou he of whom I have spoken in old time--Gog, &c. are here identified with the enemies spoken of in other prophecies (Nu 24:17-24; Is 27:1; compare Is 26:20, 21; Jr 30:23, 24; Joe 3:1; Mi 5:5, 6; Is 14:12-14; 59:19). God is represented as addressing Gog at the time of his assault; therefore, the "old time" is the time long prior, when Ezekiel uttered these prophecies; so, he also, as well as Daniel (Da 11:1-45) and Zechariah (Zec 14:1-21) are…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• God
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ezekiel, Book of
• Gog
• Ezekiel

Commentaries on Ezekiel 38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings