Ezekiel 38:18-19
But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read this and think it's just about God getting angry when Israel is attacked. But the phrase "my fury shall come up in my face" is a powerful, ancient idiom that suggests God's anger isn't just a feeling, but a visible, fiery breath escaping Him, ready to consume the enemy. This isn't a distant, detached God; it's a God whose protective love for His people ignites a furious response to injustice.
This passage describes God's direct response to a massive invasion led by a figure named Gog, who is described as attacking the land of Israel. Ezekiel has just prophesied that Gog will lead a vast army, aiming to plunder and conquer. In response to this hostile advance, God declares that His own intense anger will be unleashed.
When we read about God's anger, it's easy to picture a human being losing their temper. But divine anger is something else entirely.
The phrase 'my fury shall come up in my face' (or 'in my nose' in some translations) uses what's called anthropopathy – describing God in human terms to help us understand.
A Fiery Breath
Think of it less like a flushed face and more like a powerful, controlled exhalation of intense displeasure. The original language captures the idea of a strong breath drawn through the nose, a physical sign of deep emotion in humans. For God, it signifies a potent and overwhelming opposition to evil.
Righteous Indignation
This isn't a petty or uncontrolled rage. It's a holy, righteous response to an arrogant, wicked invasion aimed at God's people and land. It's God's zeal for His own name and His people's well-being erupting.
Why does God's anger flare up at this specific moment? The timing is crucial.
The verse states, 'But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel... my wrath will be roused.' This isn't random anger; it's a direct, immediate response to a specific act of aggression.
Israel's Safety, Gog's Downfall
Commentators note that this invasion happens when Israel is dwelling safely. This 'safety' is a testament to God's protection, making Gog's attack a direct assault not just on a nation, but on God's faithfulness and power.
God Takes the Field
When Gog 'comes against the land,' God declares He is stepping onto the scene. His fury isn't just a feeling; it's an active intervention that will confront Gog and his forces. The battle is ultimately against God Himself, not just Israel.
Understand the original words
qin'ah · Hebrew Noun
A divine attribute describing God’s intense, protective, and exclusive love for His people. It expresses His demand for total loyalty and His fierce opposition to anything that threatens the sanctity of His relationship with His covenant people.
chemah · Hebrew Noun
The divine response to sin and rebellion, manifesting as the righteous indignation of a holy God. It is not an uncontrolled outburst but a settled, holy opposition to evil that must be dealt with to preserve the order of God’s creation.
This prophecy was given during the Babylonian exile, a period when the Jewish people were displaced and vulnerable. The mention of 'Gog' likely referred to a powerful, symbolic enemy figure, possibly evoking historical adversaries like the Scythians or other northern hordes, representing a future threat against a restored Israel.
c. 593-571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Ministry in Exile
The prophet Ezekiel delivers his oracles to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, offering messages of judgment and future hope.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and destroy the First Temple, marking a devastating turning point for the Jewish people and intensifying their exile.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great begins his conquests, eventually leading to the fall of the Babylonian Empire and the decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple, though many remain in Babylon.
This passage describes God's powerful and overwhelming presence, using imagery of smoke rising from His nostrils, which parallels Ezekiel's description of God's fury manifesting physically.
Deuteronomy 32:22This text speaks of God's anger as a fire that burns, connecting to the idea of divine wrath being intensely expressed and consuming, much like the fury mentioned in Ezekiel.
Jeremiah 4:23-26This passage depicts a catastrophic upheaval of creation in response to judgment, similar to the 'shaking' of the land and the reactions of nature described when God's fury is unleashed against invaders.
Zechariah 14:3-4This prophecy describes the Lord going forth to battle and His feet standing on the Mount of Olives, leading to a great earthquake, illustrating God's direct intervention and the dramatic natural phenomena that accompany His wrath.
This verse speaks of God pouring out His indignation and judgment upon Israel, comparing it to fire, which resonates with the intense and consuming nature of God's fury described against Gog.
jfbEzekiel 38:18: "And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face."
- fury shall come up in my face—literally, "nose"; in Hebrew, the idiomatic expression for anger, as men in anger breathe strongly through the nostrils. Anthropopathy: God stooping to human modes of thought (Ps 18:8).
bensonEzekiel 38:18: "And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face."
Ezekiel 38:18-20 . My fury shall come up in my face — An expression taken from human passions, which cause the blood to fly up into the face. So Isaiah describes Almighty God as burning with anger, his lips being full of indignation, and his tongue as a consuming fire, Ezekiel 22:31-31 , where see the note. For in my jealousy — My…
It's easy to read this and think it's just about God getting angry when Israel is attacked. But the phrase "my fury shall come up in my face" is a powerful, ancient idiom that suggests God's anger isn't just a feeling, but a visible, fiery breath escaping Him, ready to consume the enemy. This isn't a distant, detached God; it's a God whose protective love for His people ignites a furious response to injustice.
This passage describes God's direct response to a massive invasion led by a figure named Gog, who is described as attacking the land of Israel. Ezekiel has just prophesied that Gog will lead a vast army, aiming to plunder and conquer. In response to this hostile advance, God declares that His own intense anger will be unleashed.
This passage describes God's direct response to a massive invasion led by a figure named Gog, who is described as attacking the land of Israel. Ezekiel has just prophesied that Gog will lead a vast army, aiming to plunder and conquer. In response to this hostile advance, God declares that His own intense anger will be unleashed.
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"But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the…" — It's easy to read this and think it's just about God getting angry when Israel is attacked. But the phrase "my fury shall come up in my face" is a powerful, ancient idiom that suggests God's anger is…
