Ezekiel 38

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against…” Naming Gog and Magog keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:” Naming Gog keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include armour, army, back. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:” Naming Ethiopia and Libya keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.” Naming Gomer and Togarmah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard…” The line’s distinctive content terms include assembled, company, guard. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bars, dwell, dwelling. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cattle, desolate, dwell. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; In that day when my people of Israel…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon…” The line’s distinctive content terms include army, company, horses. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD , that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For 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…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD : every man’s sword shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon…” The line’s distinctive content terms include rain, bands, blood. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.