Ezekiel 38:22

I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD speaks as the prophetic narrative shifts from the internal conflict among Gog’s forces to direct divine intervention. This declaration occurs immediately before the stated purpose of magnifying and sanctifying God’s name before the nations.

The words — וְ/נִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֥י (ve./nish.pa.Ti) literally means "and I will enter into judgment," establishing the legal and punitive framework for the coming disaster. בְּ/דֶ֣בֶר (be./De.ver) translates as "by pestilence," specifying one of the instruments of that judgment.

The thread — The imagery of rain, hail, fire, and sulfur reappears in Psalms 11:6 and Revelation 16:21 to describe divine judgment on the wicked. Isaiah 66:16 similarly pairs fire and sword as the means by which the LORD executes judgment on all flesh.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that historical and cosmic conflicts are subject to direct divine intervention rather than human strategy. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s actions are intended to force universal acknowledgment of His identity.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֥יve./nish.pa.Tiand/ I will enter into judgment אִתּ֖וֹ'i.T/owith/ him בְּדֶ֣בֶרbe./De.verby/ pestilence וּבְדָ֑םu./ve./Damand/ by/ blood וְגֶ֣שֶׁםve./Ge.shemand/ rain שׁוֹטֵף֩sho.Tefoverflowing וְאַבְנֵ֨יve./'av.Neiand/ stones of אֶלְגָּבִ֜ישׁ'el.ga.Vishhail אֵ֣שׁ'eshfire וְגָפְרִ֗יתve./ga.fe.Ritand/ sulfur אַמְטִ֤יר'am.TirI will rain down עָלָיו֙'a.La/von/ him וְעַל־ve./'al-and/ on אֲגַפָּ֔יו'a.ga.Pa/vtroops/ his וְעַל־ve./'al-and/ on עַמִּ֥ים'a.Mimpeoples רַבִּ֖יםra.Bimmany אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich אִתּֽוֹ׃'i.T/o[are] with/ him

King James Version

And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

Cross-references

Psalms 11:6 On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
Isaiah 66:16 For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.
Revelation 16:21 And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.
Psalms 18:12 From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.
Isaiah 28:17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
Jeremiah 25:31 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.
Ezekiel 13:11 tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth.
Exodus 9:22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.
Joshua 10:11 As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.