BibleWord.ai› Bible› Ezekiel› Chapter 38› Verse 12

Ezekiel 38:12

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 38:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places that are [now] inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places that are [now] inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth.
Ezekiel 38:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 38

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And thou shalt ascend, thou shalt come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy hordes, and many peoples with thee.
10Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into thy mind, and thou shalt devise an evil device:
11and 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;
12to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places that are [now] inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth.
13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take the spoil? hast thou assembled thy company to take the prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil?
14Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In that day when my people Israel dwelleth securely, shalt thou not know it?
15And thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army;
← Ezekiel 38:11Ezekiel 38:13 →
← Full Chapter 38 Ezekiel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“To take a spoil, and to take a prey, &c.] These are the words of Gog continued; suggesting that he should have no occasion to fight; should have nothing else to do but to seize upon the goods and plunder the substance of these people: to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited: such as were before desolate, and had lain long so, but now peopled and cultivated; these he would attack and demolish, and make a spoil and prey of: and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations; a description of the Jews, as before; (<263808>Ezekiel 38:8) which have gotten cattle and goods; so that it should seem that Gog or the Turks will not immediately attack the Jews upon their…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“midst of the land--literally, "the navel" of the land (Jdg 9:37, Margin). So, in Eze 5:5, Israel is said to be set "in the midst of the nations"; not physically, but morally, a central position for being a blessing to the world: so (as the favored or "beloved city," Rev 20:9) an object of envy. GROTIUS translates, "In the height of the land" (so Eze 38:8), "the mountains of Israel," Israel being morally elevated above the rest of the world.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“take a spoil, and to take a prey: Heb. spoil the spoil, and to prey the prey, Eze 29:19 \*marg. Isa 10:6; Jer 30:16 turn: Isa 1:24, Isa 1:25; Amo 1:8; Zac 13:7 the desolate: Eze 36:33-35; Jer 32:43, Jer 32:44, Jer 33:12, Jer 33:13; Zac 1:12, Zac 1:17 and upon: Eze 38:8; Zac 10:8-10 midst: Heb. navel, Jdg 9:37 \*marg. Ezekiel 38:13”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 38 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification