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Ezekiel 38:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 38:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And 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.
Ezekiel 38:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 38

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
← Ezekiel 38:20Ezekiel 38:22 →
← 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
“And I will call for a sword against him, &c.] That is, against Gog; or, as I would choose to render the words, “for I will call for a sword”, so the particle is rendered, (<263819>Ezekiel 38:19) and which Noldiusf664 agrees to; and this gives a reason why there should be such a commotion in the land of Israel; because the Lord, who has the swords of princes at his command, will call for the Christian kings to come to the assistance of the Jews, and fight against the Turk: who will pursue him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God; throughout the land of Israel, which is mountainous; and is called the Lord’s, because he hath chosen it for his people, given it to them, and now dwelt…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“every man's sword . . . against his brother--I will destroy them partly by My people's sword, partly by their swords being turned against one another (compare Ch2 20:23).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Sword - Israel. Throughout - From all parts of the land, which was full of mountains. Every man's sword - As it was in Jehoshaphat's time; and these swords may be meant by the sword God will call for through all, for they ranged all over his mountains. Ezekiel 38:23”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“38:21-23 The sword . . . disease and bloodshed . . . torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! Israel had experienced similar punishments before (see 13:13); now they were executed on Israel’s enemies. The Divine Warrior was once again defending his people.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I will: Eze 14:17; Psa 105:16 every: Jdg 7:22; Sa1 14:20; Ch2 20:23; Hag 2:22 Ezekiel 38:22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification