Ezekiel 38:17-23 Meaning: When God Makes Himself Known
17“‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for years that I would bring you against them?
18It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that my wrath will come up into my nostrils.
19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I have spoken. Surely in that day there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel,
20so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth will shake at my presence. Then the mountains will be thrown down, the steep places will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground.
21I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
22I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood. I will rain on him, on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, torrential rains with great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.
23I will magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”’
17Thus 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?
18And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face.
19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22And 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.
23Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
17Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring thee against them?
18And it shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils.
19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20so that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21And I will call for a sword against him unto all my mountains, saith the Lord Jehovah: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.
17Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in former days, By the hand of My servants, prophets of Israel, Who are prophesying in those days--years, To bring thee in against them?
18And it hath come to pass, in that day, In the day of the coming in of Gog against the land of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Come up doth My fury in My face,
19And in My zeal, in the fire of My wrath, I have spoken: Is there not in that day a great rushing on the land of Israel?
20And rushed from My presence have fishes of the sea, And the fowl of the heavens, And the beast of the field, And every creeping thing that is creeping on the ground, And all men who are on the face of the ground, And thrown down have been the mountains, And fallen have the ascents, And every wall to the earth falleth.
21And I have called against him, to all My mountains a sword, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, The sword of each is against his brother.
22And I have been judged with him, With pestilence and with blood, And an overflowing rain and hailstones, Fire and brimstone I rain on him, and on his bands, And on many peoples who are with him.
23And I have magnified Myself, and sanctified Myself, And I have been known before the eyes of many nations, And they have known that I am Jehovah!
17Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou not he of whom I have spoken in old time through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days, for [many] years, that I would bring thee against them?
18And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, [that] my fury shall come up in my face;
19for in my jealousy, in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20so that the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things which creep upon the earth, and all mankind that are upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence; and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord Jehovah: every man's sword shall be against his brother.
22And I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many peoples that are with him, overflowing rain and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.
23And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] Jehovah.
Meaning in one sentence
God's judgment on Gog reveals His holiness and sovereignty. All nations will see that He alone is the Lord.
Context
Ezekiel spoke to exiles in Babylon who wondered if God had abandoned them. In chapters 38, 39, God announces a future attack on His restored people by a figure called Gog, a symbolic enemy from the north. But the attack is not the main point. God says He will bring Gog against Israel so that when He strikes Gog down, every nation will see His power and holiness. The passage shows that behind history’s chaos stands a God who acts to make His name known, not just to punish, but to reveal who He truly is.
Key Words
Three phrases carry the weight of this passage. First, God’s anger is described with a vivid, human picture: His wrath comes up into His nostrils. The image is of someone breathing hard with fierce emotion. It is not petty rage but the settled opposition of a holy God to evil that threatens His people. Second, God acts out of jealousy, not petty envy, but a passionate concern for His own honor and His people’s safety. Third, the passage ends with God declaring He will magnify Himself and sanctify Himself: He will make His greatness visible and prove He is set apart from every false god. The goal is not destruction but revelation. God wants to be known.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have understood Gog differently across traditions. Some, like Adam Clarke, pointed to historical figures such as Antiochus Epiphanes or Cambyses, seeing the prophecy fulfilled in ancient battles. Others, like Barnes’ Notes, see a broader pattern: every evil empire that fights God’s people is a preview of the final struggle. In this view, the prophecy points ultimately to the end of history, when God will judge all rebellion (Revelation 20:8-10). Both readings agree on the core truth: God will act decisively to defend His name and His people. The exact timing remains a mystery, but the outcome is certain.
A common misunderstanding
Some read these verses and think God’s wrath is random or vengeful, as if He simply loses His temper. In fact, the passage ties God’s anger directly to the threat against His people and His own holiness. He acts not out of temper but out of covenant faithfulness. The judgment is measured, public, and aimed at making Himself known. God’s wrath is not a burst of rage but a controlled response to evil, designed to restore justice and reveal His true character to the nations.
Living This Out
This week, you may face a threat that feels overwhelming, a difficult situation, a person who opposes you, or a fear that seems too big. The passage asks you to remember that God is not distant. He sees what is happening, and He is the one who will act in the end. You don’t have to take revenge or carry the weight of fixing everything. Instead, you can place the outcome in God’s hands, trusting that He will make His justice known in His own time. Your job is to keep walking with Him, knowing the final victory belongs to Him.
Main takeaway: God’s final judgment against evil serves one purpose: that all nations may know He alone is the Lord.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God is the strongest of all. He is stronger than any enemy. He will always take care of His people, and everyone will see that He is God.
For ages 9, 12
God allowed a powerful enemy to attack Israel, but He stopped them with earthquakes, hailstones, and fire. God did this so everyone would see His power and know He is the one true God. When bad things seem too big, remember God is in control and will make everything right in the end.
Questions People Ask
Who is Gog in Ezekiel 38?
Gog appears to be a symbolic name for a powerful enemy that will attack God’s people in the future. The name may represent a leader or a nation opposed to God. Commentators suggest Gog is not a specific historical figure but a title for any evil power that rises against God's kingdom.
What earlier prophecies is God referring to in verse 17?
God says He spoke of Gog in old time by His servants the prophets. Several Old Testament passages describe a future attack on God's people and God's intervention, like Isaiah 27:1, Jeremiah 30:23-24, Joel 3, and Micah 5:5-6. Gog is not named in those prophecies, but the pattern of an enemy gathering and God defeating them is consistent. Ezekiel shows that these prophecies all point to one final conflict led by Gog.
Is this passage about a literal future battle?
Many Christians believe Ezekiel 38-39 describes a literal end-times battle before Christ’s final victory. Others see it as a symbolic picture of God’s ultimate judgment on all evil, not a single event. Both views agree that God will one day decisively defeat all forces opposed to Him and His people.
Why does God’s judgment seem so violent?
The violent imagery, earthquakes, hailstones, fire, and blood, shows how seriously God takes evil. It is not cruelty; it is a strong warning that rebellion against God leads to destruction. The goal is not to scare us but to show that God will stop at nothing to protect His people and make His holiness known. Ultimately, the judgment clears the way for peace under God’s rule.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study