Is Gog of Magog Russian? | Ezekiel 38-39 Part V

#ezekiel #prophecy #endtimes

The remote parts of the north is the Hebrew phrase “yareka Zaphon”. In this study we will deep dive this phrase because this phrase has caused all kinds of confusion when read in modern English translations. People see this Hebrew phrase translated into English as “the remote north” and then look at a map and draw a line north of Israel and find Russia. So therefore Ezekiel is saying the Russians will attack Israel. But this phrase yareka Zaphon indicates a mythic place, a cosmic place. We will look at the use of this phrase in Psalm 48 and Isaiah 14 and show that it does not, and cannot, refer to Russia.

We will also discuss the term “rosh,” which occurs multiple times in Ezekiel 38-39.

Ezekiel 39:1 And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

Some of translations will say “prince of Rosh”, and this is another place the Russia confusion comes in. I will quote from multiple respected Old Testament scholars who demonstrate this Hebrew word is not a place name and does not reference Russia.

Join us as we continue our study of the famous Gog and Magog prophecy!

Select sources:

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990

Cook, Stephen L.  Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.  Anchor Yale Bible 22B.  Yale, 2018

Eichrodt, Walter. Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970

Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf

Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript.

Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022

Kaiser, Otto. Isaiah 1-39. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983, 1974

van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. 2nd ed, 1998

Zimmerli, Walther. Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983

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