Ezekiel 38:4-39:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-13

The critical expositors have enough to do here to enquire out Gog and Magog. We cannot pretend either to add to their observations or to determine their controversies. Gog seems to be the king and Magog the kingdom; so that Gog and Magog are like Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Some think they find them afar off, in Scythia, Tartary, and Russia. Others think they find them nearer the land of Israel, in Syria, and Asia the Less. Ezekiel is appointed to prophesy against Gog, and to tell him that God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 38:4

And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws ,.... Or, I will put hooks in thy jaws, and with them turn thee back; or rather, "turn thee about" F6 שובבתיך "circumducam te", Piscator; "circumagam te", Grotius. ; and lead thee where and as I please; for this is not to be understood of God's putting hooks into his jaws, and leading him back from his enterprise of invading the land of Judea; as he put a hook in the nose and a bridle in the lips of the king of Assyria, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 38:4

I will turn thee back - Thy enterprise shall fail. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-4

Gog and Magog. If we take these names as representing the Scythians and their king, we have a description of God's judgment of the most wild and remote heathen tribes and of their relation to Israel. I. THE BIBLE IS FOR ALL NATIONS . It contains a message even for Gog and Magog—it is intended to reach the Scythians. It has to do with all people in the world. The Hebrew prophet was not permitted to narrow his thoughts to the parochial mind; His vision was world-wide. A Jew... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-13

The announcement of Cog's expedition against Israel. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-13

The invasion of those who dwell secure. The occurrence in this place of this and the following chapters is somewhat perplexing. The events here prophetically described take place after the restoration of the Israelites from their Eastern captivity. Yet they are altogether too stupendous to be applicable to anything which happened in the time or soon after the time of Ezekiel. Thus many interpreters of prophecy refer them to a period still in the future, when a final struggle may take place... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-13

The stability of God's kingdom. The lengthened subjection of the Hebrews had sapped their courage and their hope. The promises of a return to Canaan fell upon hearts full of apathy and self-diffidence. A latent fear was growing up that, even should they regain their old possession, they would soon be exposed to fresh invasion from some grasping monarch. They felt their lack of organization, their lack of military prowess, and men devoid of energy felt that it was better to remain in exile... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:1-23

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:4

I will turn thee back . שׁוֹבַבְתִּיךָ (pilel of שׁוּב , and signifying "to cause to return") has by Hitzig, Havernick, Ewald, and Keil, been interpreted in the sense of "enticing," "misleading," decoying to a dangerous enterprise, as in Isaiah 47:10 ; but the ordinary meaning seems sufficient, that Jehovah would turn him back from his own self-devised career, or turn him about like a wild beast, putting hooks into his jaws (comp. Ezekiel 29:4 ; 2 Kings 19:28 ; Isaiah 37:29 ),... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 38:4

Divine control. The picture of Israel's foes is indeed one fitted to strike dismay into any heart depending upon human aid, defense, or deliverance. Gog and his armies, the hostile nations in league with him, are described with all the pomp and circumstance of war. Yet, when Jehovah declares, "I will turn thee about, and will put hooks into thy jaws," this declaration outweighs all the professions, all the threats, all the designs of the enemy. We are reminded—and the whole Church in every... read more

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