Ezekiel 38:11 You will say, 'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates--

◄ Ezekiel 38:11 ►

New International Version
You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.

New Living Translation
You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence!

English Standard Version
and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’

Berean Standard Bible
You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates—

King James Bible
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

New King James Version
You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—

New American Standard Bible
and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, who live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates,

NASB 1995
and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates,

NASB 1977
and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls, and having no bars or gates,

Legacy Standard Bible
and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who dwell quietly, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates,

Amplified Bible
and you will say, ‘I will go up against an open country; I will come against those who are at rest and peaceful, who live securely, all of them living without walls and having neither bars nor gates,

Christian Standard Bible
You will say, “I will advance against a land of open villages; I will come against a tranquil people who are living securely, all of them living without walls and without bars or gates” —

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of open villages; I will come against a tranquil people who are living securely, all of them living without walls and without bars or gates—

American Standard Version
and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;

Contemporary English Version
to take advantage of Israel, that weak and peaceful country where people live safely inside towns that have no walls or gates or locks.

English Revised Version
and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at quiet, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You will say, "I'll attack a land with unwalled villages. I will attack peaceful people who live safely. All of them live without walls, locks, or gates.

Good News Translation
You will decide to invade a helpless country where the people live in peace and security in unwalled towns that have no defenses.

International Standard Version
and boasting, "I'm going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors.

Majority Standard Bible
You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates—

NET Bible
You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled towns; I will advance against those living quietly in security--all of them living without walls and barred gates--

New Heart English Bible
and you shall say, 'I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

World English Bible
You will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And you have said: I go up over a land of open places, "" I go to those at rest, dwelling confidently, "" All of them are dwelling without walls, "" And they have no bar and doors—

Young's Literal Translation
And thou hast said: I go up against a land of unwalled villages, I go in to those at rest, dwelling confidently, All of them are dwelling without walls, And bar and doors they have not.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou saidst, I will come up upon the land of the open country; I will go to those being at rest, dwelling confidently, all of them dwelling without a wall, and bar and doors not to them,

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt say: I will go up to the land which is without a wall, I will come to them that are at rest, and dwell securely: all these dwell without a wall, they have no bars nor gates :

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you will say: ‘I will ascend to the land without a wall. I will go to those who are resting and dwelling securely. All these live without a wall; they have no bars or gates.’

New American Bible
You will say, “I will invade a land of open villages and attack a peaceful people who live in security—all of them living without city walls, bars, or gates”—

New Revised Standard Version
You will say, “I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will fall upon the quiet people who live in safety, all of them living without walls, and having no bars or gates”;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And you shall say, I will go up against a prosperous land, I will go against those who dwell in tranquillity, without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall say: “I shall ascend against the wealthy land, and I shall go against those dwelling in quietness without walls, and they have no bars and no gates”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and thou shalt say: I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will come upon them that are at quiet, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the rejected land; I will come upon them that are at ease in tranquility, and dwelling in peace, all inhabiting a land in which there is no wall, nor bars, nor have they doors;

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Prophecy Against Gog
…10This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. 11You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates— 12in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder, to turn a hand against the desolate places now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and possessions and who live at the center of the land.’…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Revelation 20:8-9
and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. / And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

Zechariah 2:4-5
and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it. / For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”

Jeremiah 49:31
Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, one that dwells securely,” declares the LORD. “They have no gates or bars; they live alone.

Isaiah 2:4
Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.

Micah 4:3-4
Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war. / And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.

Revelation 19:19
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.

Isaiah 60:18
No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Isaiah 37:33-35
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD. / ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Zechariah 14:11
People will live there, and never again will there be an utter destruction. So Jerusalem will dwell securely.

Matthew 24:43
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Isaiah 32:18
Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Psalm 72:7
May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Treasury of Scripture

And you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

go up

Exodus 15:9
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Psalm 10:9
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

Proverbs 1:11-16
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: …

go to

Judges 18:7,27
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man…

Jeremiah 49:31,32
Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone…

Zechariah 2:4,5
And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: …

safely.

Ezekiel 38:8
After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

Proverbs 3:29,30
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee…

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Ezekiel 38

1. The army
8. and malice of Gog
14. God's judgment against him

Berean Study Bible

You will say
This phrase introduces the intentions of Gog, a leader from the land of Magog, as prophesied by Ezekiel. The Hebrew root for "say" is "אָמַר" (amar), which often implies a declaration or intention. In the context of prophecy, it signifies a predetermined plan or thought that is being revealed. This sets the stage for the unfolding events, highlighting the foreknowledge of God and His sovereignty over the nations.

I will go up
The phrase "go up" is derived from the Hebrew "עָלָה" (alah), which can mean to ascend or to rise. In biblical terms, it often implies moving towards a place of significance or engaging in an act of aggression. Here, it suggests a military campaign or invasion, indicating Gog's hostile intentions towards Israel. This movement is not just physical but also symbolic of a challenge against God's people.

against a land of unwalled villages
The description of "unwalled villages" paints a picture of vulnerability and peace. In ancient times, walls were crucial for protection against invaders. The Hebrew word for "unwalled" is "פְּרָזוֹת" (perazot), indicating open or unfortified settlements. This suggests a period of peace and security for Israel, possibly during the Messianic age or a time of divine protection, making the invasion seem both audacious and unwarranted.

I will come against a tranquil people
The term "tranquil" is translated from the Hebrew "שָׁקֵט" (shaket), meaning quiet or at rest. This emphasizes the peaceful and unsuspecting nature of the people living in the land. The tranquility of the people contrasts sharply with the aggressive intentions of Gog, underscoring the injustice and surprise of the impending attack. It also reflects a time when Israel is living in fulfillment of God's promises of peace.

who dwell securely
"Dwell securely" comes from the Hebrew "יֹשְׁבֵי לָבֶטַח" (yoshevei lavetach), indicating a state of safety and confidence. This security is not just physical but also spiritual, as it is rooted in trust in God's protection. The phrase suggests a fulfillment of prophetic promises where Israel is living in peace, free from fear of enemies, which is a recurring theme in eschatological prophecies.

all of them living without walls or bars or gates
This phrase reiterates the vulnerability and openness of the people. The absence of "walls," "bars," or "gates" (Hebrew: חוֹמָה, בְּרִיחַ, שַׁעַר) signifies a complete lack of defensive structures, highlighting their trust in divine protection rather than human fortifications. It reflects a prophetic vision of a future where God's people live in peace and security, relying on His promises rather than physical defenses. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of God's ultimate sovereignty and the peace that comes from trusting in Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) The land of unwalled villages.--Again, omit the definite article before land, as in Ezekiel 38:8. The description of a people living in prosperity and security looks quite beyond anything hitherto realised in the history of the Jews, and points to such a state of things as is described in Zechariah 2:4-5. The description of the attack of Gog and Magog in Revelation 20:9 corresponds to this.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 11, 12 give voice to the things that should come into Gog's mind and incite him to his enterprise against Israel. The spectacle of Israel dwelling safely, i.e. securely and confidently, in a land of un-walled villages - literally, a land of open places, as opposed to fortified cities - i.e. of towns without walls, and having neither bars nor gates (comp Zechariah 2:4, 5; Deuteronomy 3:5; 1 Samuel 6:18), because of being no more apprehensive of invasion, should excite within his bosom the thought that Israel would fall an easy prey to his assault; and this thought again should kindle in his bosom the lust of conquest which should finally impel him to the sinful project described, viz. to take a spoil and to take a prey; literally, to spoil the spoil (comp. Ezekiel 29:19; Isaiah 10:6) and to prey the prey (Isaiah 33:23). In execution of this he would fall upon the once desolate but then inhabited places, upon the once scattered but then collected population, upon the previously poor but then wealthy inhabitants, who should then have gotten cattle and goods (cattle and chattel best renders the Hebrew parouomasia, mikneh vekinyan), as the patriarchs of their nation had once done (Genesis 34:23; Genesis 36:6), and who should then be dwelling in the midst of the land; literally, in the height, or, navel (LXX., Vulgate), of the earth (comp. Judges 9:37), the Hebrews generally regarding Palestine as the Greeks did Delphi, both as the middle (Ezekiel v 5) and perhaps therefore if not as the highest (Gesenius), at least as the fairest and most fertile portion of the earth.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

You will say,
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I will go up
אֶֽעֱלֶה֙ (’e·‘ĕ·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a land
אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of unwalled villages;
פְּרָז֔וֹת (pə·rā·zō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6519: An open region, hamlet

I will come against
אָבוֹא֙ (’ā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

a tranquil people
הַשֹּׁ֣קְטִ֔ים (haš·šō·qə·ṭîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8252: To be quiet or undisturbed

who dwell
יֹשְׁבֵ֖י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

securely,
לָבֶ֑טַח (lā·ḇe·ṭaḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 983: A place of refuge, safety, safely

all
כֻּלָּ֗ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of them living
יֹֽשְׁבִים֙ (yō·šə·ḇîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

without
בְּאֵ֣ין (bə·’ên)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

walls
חוֹמָ֔ה (ḥō·w·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

[or]
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

bars
וּבְרִ֥יחַ (ū·ḇə·rî·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1280: A bolt

or gates—
וּדְלָתַ֖יִם (ū·ḏə·lā·ṯa·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - fd
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 38:11 And you shall say I will go (Ezek. Eze Ezk)