Ezekiel 39:1

“As for you, O son of man, prophesy against Gog and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD addresses Ezekiel as "son of man" to deliver a prophetic oracle against Gog, identified as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. This declaration follows the initial summons to face Gog and precedes the detailed description of his mobilization from the far north.

The words — The command הִנָּבֵ֣א (hi.na.Ve') literally means "prophesy," directing Ezekiel to vocalize a divine oracle rather than merely predict. The term כֹּ֥ה (koh) translates to "thus," framing the following statement as a direct, authoritative utterance from the Lord.

The thread — The formula "Behold, I am against you" recurs in Ezekiel 35:3 against Mount Seir and Nahum 2:13 against Nineveh, establishing a consistent prophetic pattern for announcing divine judgment. Ezekiel 38:2 repeats the identical summons to prophesy against Gog, confirming this verse as the formal declaration of that earlier command.

Why it lands — The text demands the reader acknowledge that divine opposition is directed at specific, named adversaries without ambiguity. It requires obedience to proclaim hard truths regardless of the target's power or the prophet's circumstances.

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

וְאַתָּ֤הve./'a.Tahand/ you בֶן־ven-O son of אָדָם֙'a.Damhumankind הִנָּבֵ֣אhi.na.Ve'prophesy עַל־'al-on גּ֔וֹגGogGog וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve./'A.mar.taand/ you will say כֹּ֥הkohthus אָמַ֖ר'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִ֑הYah.wehYahweh הִנְנִ֤יhi./Nihere/ I אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙'e.Lei./kha[am] against/ you גּ֔וֹגGogO Gog נְשִׂ֕יאne.Si'[the] prince of רֹ֖אשׁrosh[the] head of מֶ֥שֶׁךְMe.shekhMeshech וְתֻבָֽל׃ve./tu.Valand/ Tubal

King James Version

Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Cross-references

Ezekiel 38:2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him
Ezekiel 35:3 and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste.
Nahum 2:13 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will reduce your chariots to cinders, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”
Nahum 3:5 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show your nakedness to the nations and your shame to the kingdoms.