Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You are the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel. At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. New Living Translation “This is what the Sovereign LORD asks: Are you the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through Israel’s prophets that in the future I would bring you against my people? English Standard Version “Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? Berean Standard Bible This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? Berean Literal Bible Thus says the Lord YHWH: Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants, the prophets of Israel, those having prophesied in those days, for years, of My bringing you against them? King James Bible Thus 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? New King James Version Thus says the Lord GOD: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them? New American Standard Bible ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? NASB 1995 Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? NASB 1977 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? Legacy Standard Bible ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by the hand of My slaves the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? Amplified Bible ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you (Gog) against them? Berean Annotated Bible This is what the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel (he wrestles with God), who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? Christian Standard Bible “ ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them? Holman Christian Standard Bible This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them? American Standard Version Thus 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? Contemporary English Version The LORD said to Gog: Long ago, I ordered my prophets to warn the people of Israel that someday I would send an enemy to attack them. You, Gog, are that enemy, and that day is coming. English Revised Version Thus saith the Lord GOD: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring thee against them? GOD'S WORD® Translation " 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: You are the one I spoke about long ago through my servants the prophets of Israel. They prophesied in those days that I would bring you to attack them. Good News Translation You are the one I was talking about long ago, when I announced through my servants, the prophets of Israel, that in days to come I would bring someone to attack Israel." The Sovereign LORD has spoken. International Standard Version "This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Surely you're the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings of my servants, Israel's prophets, aren't you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didn't they? NET Bible "'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them? New Heart English Bible "'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?" Webster's Bible Translation Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days many years, that I would bring thee against them? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThis is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? World English Bible “‘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? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThus said Lord YHWH: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days, "" By the hand of My servants, prophets of Israel, "" Who were prophesying [for] years in those days, "" To bring you in against them? Berean Literal Bible Thus says the Lord YHWH: Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants, the prophets of Israel, those having prophesied in those days, for years, of My bringing you against them? Young's Literal Translation Thus 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? Smith's Literal Translation Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in days of old by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, prophesying in those days years to bring thee against them? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThus saith the Lord God: Thou then art he, of whom I have spoken in the days of old, by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in the days of those times that I would bring thee upon them. Catholic Public Domain Version Thus says the Lord God: Therefore, you are the one, about whom I spoke in the days of antiquity, by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in the days of those times that I would lead you over them. New American Bible Thus says the Lord GOD: About you I spoke in earlier times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied at that time that I would let you invade them. New Revised Standard Version Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThus says the LORD God: You are he of whom I have spoken in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days and in those years that I would bring you against them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: “You are he of whom I said: in former days by the hand of my Servants the Prophets of Israel, who were prophesying in these days and in these years, that I would bring you against them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thus saith the Lord GOD: Art thou he of whom I spoke 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? Brenton Septuagint Translation Thus saith the Lord God, to Gog; Thou art he concerning whom I spoke in former times, by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, in those days and years, that I would bring thee up against them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Prophecy Against Gog…16You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes. 17This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? 18Now on that day when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, My wrath will flare up.… Cross References This is what the Lord GOD says: Ezekiel 14:6 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations. Isaiah 7:7 But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen. Jeremiah 2:2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days Isaiah 48:3-5 I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. / For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze. / Therefore I declared it to you long ago; I announced it before it came to pass, so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this; my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’ Isaiah 45:21 Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me. Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. / I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ through My servants, the prophets of Israel, 2 Kings 17:13 Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” Jeremiah 29:19 I will do this because they have not listened to My words, declares the LORD, which I sent to them again and again through My servants the prophets. And neither have you exiles listened, declares the LORD.” Zechariah 1:6 But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? They repented and said, ‘Just as the LORD of Hosts purposed to do to us according to our ways and deeds, so He has done to us.’” who in those times prophesied for years Jeremiah 25:3 “From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. Nehemiah 9:30 You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit admonished them through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy. that I would bring you against them? Jeremiah 25:9 behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. Jeremiah 1:15 For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah. Isaiah 10:5-6 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. Revelation 20:8 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. Treasury of Scripture Thus said the Lord GOD; Are you 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 you against them? whom Ezekiel 38:10,11,16 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: … Psalm 110:5,6 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath… Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. by [heb] the hands of Jump to Previous Earlier Former Israel Prophesied Prophets Servants Sovereign Time WordJump to Next Earlier Former Israel Prophesied Prophets Servants Sovereign Time WordEzekiel 38 1. The army8. and malice of Gog 14. God's judgment against him This is what the Lord GOD says: This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. It is a common prophetic formula used throughout the Old Testament to signify that the following message is not from the prophet himself but from God. This underscores the importance and seriousness of the message. Are you the one of whom I have spoken in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who in those times prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? Persons / Places / Events 1. The Lord GODThe sovereign ruler and divine authority who speaks through the prophets. 2. Gog A leader or entity that is prophesied to come against Israel. The identity of Gog is debated, but he represents forces opposed to God's people. 3. Prophets of Israel God's messengers who delivered His words and warnings to the people of Israel. 4. Israel The nation chosen by God, often facing threats from surrounding nations. 5. Former Times Refers to the past prophecies given by God through His prophets concerning future events. Teaching Points God's SovereigntyGod is in control of history and uses even the plans of His enemies to fulfill His purposes. Prophetic Fulfillment The prophecies given by God through His prophets are reliable and will come to pass, affirming the trustworthiness of Scripture. Spiritual Vigilance Believers should remain vigilant and prepared for spiritual battles, knowing that God has already declared the victory. Role of Prophets The prophets serve as a reminder of God's communication with His people and the importance of heeding His warnings. Hope in God's Deliverance Despite the threats and challenges faced, God's people can have hope in His ultimate deliverance and victory. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 38:17?2. How does Ezekiel 38:17 connect to God's prophetic messages through other prophets? 3. What role does Gog play in God's plan according to Ezekiel 38:17? 4. How can understanding Ezekiel 38:17 strengthen our faith in God's sovereignty? 5. How should believers prepare for prophetic events described in Ezekiel 38:17? 6. How does Ezekiel 38:17 encourage us to trust in God's ultimate victory? 7. Who is Gog in Ezekiel 38:17, and what does he represent in biblical prophecy? 8. How does Ezekiel 38:17 relate to the concept of divine judgment? 9. What historical events might Ezekiel 38:17 be referencing or predicting? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 38? 11. What is the order of the Bible's books? 12. What does the Bible say about fire and brimstone? 13. In Ezekiel 17:3-4, how can the imagery of a great eagle plucking off the top of a cedar be reconciled with actual historical events or natural realities? 14. Why does the Book of Revelation reflect Roman politics more than actual future events? What Does Ezekiel 38:17 Mean This is what the Lord GOD says• The verse opens by stressing that the message comes straight from the sovereign LORD, not Ezekiel’s personal opinion (cf. “the word of the LORD came to me,” Ezekiel 38:1). • Scripture often introduces divine declarations this way—underscoring absolute authority (Isaiah 1:18; Jeremiah 1:9). • Because it is God speaking, every promise and warning that follows is certain (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11). Are you the one • The question is pointed at Gog, leader of the northern coalition (Ezekiel 38:2). • It functions as a divine spotlight: “Gog, you have stepped onto a stage I prepared long ago.” • Similar rhetorical challenges appear when God confronts proud rulers (2 Kings 19:22; Isaiah 10:15). of whom I have spoken in former days • God reminds Gog—and Israel—that this confrontation is no surprise; He foretold it. • Prophecy proves God’s foreknowledge and control (Isaiah 46:9-10: “I declare the end from the beginning”). • Past warnings show His consistency; He never alters His redemptive plan (Malachi 3:6). through My servants, the prophets of Israel • The “former days” messages came through faithful spokesmen like Isaiah, Joel, and Zechariah, who all pictured a final assault on Israel (Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2). • God’s pattern is to reveal His intentions through prophets before acting (Amos 3:7). • Calling them “My servants” highlights their role and His ownership. who in those times prophesied for years • The long span of prophetic warning underscores God’s patience (Jeremiah 25:3 records 23 years of preaching before judgment). • Repetition means the message is critical; the Spirit kept bringing it up through multiple voices (2 Peter 1:19-21). • Israel could never claim ignorance; the record was extensive and public. that I would bring you against them • God Himself “hooks” Gog (Ezekiel 38:4), steering hostile intent toward His redemptive ends. • Even evil plots serve His larger purpose of glorifying His name among the nations (Exodus 9:16; Ezekiel 38:23). • This aligns with future prophecy when nations gather against Jerusalem and God intervenes (Zechariah 12:2-9; Revelation 20:7-9). summary Ezekiel 38:17 is God’s reminder that the coming invasion by Gog is neither random nor new. The sovereign LORD—who spoke of this very foe long ago through a chorus of faithful prophets—now confronts Gog with the fact that every step he takes was foreseen and folded into God’s plan. The verse reassures Israel (and today’s reader) that history unfolds under divine supervision: the same God who foretold the conflict will also secure the victory and display His glory to the world. (17) Of whom I have spoken in old time.--This is put in that interrogative form which is often used for emphatic assurance. The word many before "years" is not in the original, but is correctly inserted to mark the accusative of duration. The statement is then an emphatic one, that God had of old and for a long time foretold by His prophets this attack of Gog. But the name of Gog is not mentioned in any earlier prophecy now extant, nor is it likely that any such, far less that any long series of such prophecies, have been lost. This concurs with many other indications in the prophecy to show that it does not relate to any particular event, but that Gog and his allies represent the enemies of the Church in general, and that the prophet is here depicting the same great and prolonged struggle between evil and good, between the powers of the world and the kingdom of God, which has formed the burden of so much of both earlier and later prophecy.Verse 17. - Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time? As no existing prophecy, prior to Ezekiel's time, mentions Cog by name, it must be concluded either(1) that Ezekiel refers to prophecies known in his day, though no longer extant; or (2) that his words simply mean that earlier prophets had predicted such an invasion of Israel in the last times as that which he announces under the leadership of Gog. The former opinion, though countenanced by Ewald, Kuenen, and Smend, is less probable than the latter, which expositors both ancient and modern favor. Schroder considers the hypothesis that earlier prophets had spoken of Gog by name as excluded by the interrogatory form of the sentence, since, had Cog been thus explicitly pointed out, there would, he thinks, have been no need to ask, "Art thou he?" But it is doubtful if the interrogatory form of the words had any other intention than to lend emphasis to the assertion that Gog was he to whom the earlier prophets had unconsciously referred. As to which earlier prophets he alluded opinions vary. Ewald cites Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 17:4; Smend adding Micah 5:11; Zephaniah 3:8; Keil, Isaiah 25:5, 10; Jeremiah 30:23, 25; Joel 4:2, 11, etc.; Hengstenberg, Deuteronomy 32; Isaiah 24-27; Isaiah 34; and Fairbairn, Numbers 24:17-24; Isaiah 14:28-32; Isaiah 18; Joel 3; Daniel 2:44, 45; though Schroder is probably correct in holding that all should be included which represent the hostility of the heathen world as culminating in the latter days in a grand concentrated attack upon Israel. Smend sees in the unusual phenomenon that Ezekiel reflects upon earlier prophecies an indication of the declining spirit of prophetism; it should, however, rather be regarded as a sign of superior spiritual insight on the part of Ezekiel, who could discern that from the first the prophets had been guided in their utterances by One who was intimately acquainted with the whole world-program, and knew the end from the beginning, so that however dark and enigmatical their predictions might be when taken separately, when viewed in connection they were recognized as forming parts of a harmonious whole. Hebrew This is whatכֹּֽה־ (kōh-) Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now the Lord אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 136: The Lord GOD יְהוִ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH says: אָמַ֞ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘Are you הַֽאַתָּה־ (ha·’at·tāh-) Article | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you the one ה֨וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are of whom אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that I have spoken דִּבַּ֜רְתִּי (dib·bar·tî) Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue in former קַדְמוֹנִ֗ים (qaḏ·mō·w·nîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 6931: Anterior, oriental days בְּיָמִ֣ים (bə·yā·mîm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day through בְּיַד֙ (bə·yaḏ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand My servants, עֲבָדַי֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏay) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant the prophets נְבִיאֵ֣י (nə·ḇî·’ê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet of Israel, יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc who for years שָׁנִ֑ים (šā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8141: A year prophesied הַֽנִּבְּאִ֛ים (han·nib·bə·’îm) Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration in those הָהֵ֖ם (hā·hêm) Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They times בַּיָּמִ֥ים (bay·yā·mîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day that I would bring לְהָבִ֥יא (lə·hā·ḇî) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go you אֹתְךָ֖ (’ō·ṯə·ḵā) Direct object marker | second person masculine singular Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case against them? עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (‘ă·lê·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Links Ezekiel 38:17 NIVEzekiel 38:17 NLT Ezekiel 38:17 ESV Ezekiel 38:17 NASB Ezekiel 38:17 KJV Ezekiel 38:17 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 38:17 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 38:17 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 38:17 French Bible Ezekiel 38:17 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 38:17 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Are you (Ezek. 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