Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
EZEKIEL 38:13KJVWhat does Ezekiel 38:13 mean?
Ezekiel 38:13 describes how certain distant nations—Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish with their "young lions"—will question the motives of a great invading force, asking if they have come to plunder wealth and goods. The verse shows outsiders observing and commenting on the invasion, focusing on the invaders’ desire for riches.
In this scene, Ezekiel records a prophecy where foreign nations speak to Gog, the leader of the invading army described earlier in the chapter. These nations are not directly involved in the conflict but are watching from afar, wondering aloud if the real purpose behind the invasion is to seize valuable resources like silver, gold, cattle, and goods. Their questions highlight the greed and intent for material gain behind the invasion.
The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 38:13
- "Spoil" (שָׁלָל, shalal): This word means loot or plunder. Its use underscores that the invaders are motivated by the desire to take valuable possessions, not just to conquer territory.
- "Prey" (טֶרֶף, teref): This word often refers to something hunted or seized by force. Here, it reinforces the image of the invaders as predators seeking to take what belongs to others.
- "Merchants" (סָחַר, sachar): This word refers to traders or those who deal in commerce. The mention of merchants of Tarshish suggests that these observers are people familiar with trade and wealth, making their focus on plunder especially fitting.
- "Young lions" (כְּפִיר, kephir): This phrase is often used for powerful, aggressive leaders or nations. The "young lions" of Tarshish likely refers to allied or related trading powers, emphasizing the strength and influence of these observers.
Why Ezekiel 38:13 matters
- Ezekiel 38:13 clarifies that not all nations are part of Gog’s invasion; some are bystanders who question the motives and ethics of the attack, highlighting the greed behind it.
- The verse connects the prophecy to real-world concerns about wealth, trade, and the motivations of powerful nations, making the prophecy more relatable to its original audience.
- By including the voices of Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish, Ezekiel shows that the coming conflict is significant enough to draw international attention, emphasizing the global impact of the events he describes.