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This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
Ezekiel 38:10 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device:
  • KJV 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:
  • NKJV ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:
  • NASB ‘This is what the Lord God says: “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan,
  • NLT “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God foretells that evil schemes will arise in Gog's mind. The enemy's wicked plan originates in his own heart.

Overview

God reveals that Gog will devise an evil plot against the peaceful land. The enemy is morally responsible for his greed and malice, even as God sovereignly oversees events. This holds together human accountability and divine sovereignty, a tension Scripture maintains and which finds its deepest expression at the cross.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 15

  • Ps 36:4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
  • Mic 2:1Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.
  • Prov 6:14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
  • Prov 12:2The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.
  • Isa 10:7But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
  • Mark 7:21For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
  • Acts 5:9“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
  • Acts 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
  • Acts 8:22Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
  • 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
  • Ps 139:2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
  • Ps 83:3–4With cunning they scheme against Your people and conspire against those You cherish,
  • Prov 6:18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
  • John 13:2The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
  • Prov 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 38:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 38:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.