And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.

EZEKIEL 39:17KJV
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Ezekiel 39:17 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 39:17 mean?

Ezekiel 39:17 describes God commanding Ezekiel to call out to all the birds and wild animals, inviting them to gather and feast on a great sacrifice that God is preparing on the mountains of Israel, where they will eat flesh and drink blood. This verse uses the image of a sacrificial feast for animals to show the aftermath of a great defeat of Israel’s enemies.

In this scene, God is speaking to Ezekiel, who is called "son of man," and instructs him to address the birds and beasts. The context is a prophecy about the defeat of Gog and his armies, where the fallen enemies become food for scavenging animals. The language of sacrifice and feasting emphasizes the totality of the victory and the judgment on those who opposed Israel.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 39:17

  • "Sacrifice" (זֶבַח, zevach): This word means an offering or slaughter, often used for ritual sacrifices. Here, it is used to describe the fallen enemies as a kind of offering, highlighting the seriousness of the judgment.
  • "Feathered" (כָּנָף, kanaf) and "fowl" (עוֹף, ‘oph): These words refer to winged birds, emphasizing that all types of birds are being summoned, not just a specific kind.
  • "Gather" (אָסַף, asaph): This verb means to collect or assemble, showing that the animals are being called together from all directions, underlining the scale of the event.

Why Ezekiel 39:17 matters

  • Ezekiel 39:17 clarifies that the defeat of Israel’s enemies is so complete that their bodies become a feast for animals, not just a symbolic victory.
  • The use of sacrificial language connects this judgment to Israel’s worship practices, but with a shocking twist: the sacrifice is not for God’s people, but for the animals.
  • This verse sets up the dramatic imagery that continues through the chapter, helping readers understand the seriousness of God’s judgment against those who attack Israel.

Where else these words appear

“fowl” Hebrew H6833 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 7:14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
  • Deuteronomy 4:17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
  • Proverbs 6:5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

“feathered” Hebrew H3671 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • Job 37:3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
  • Ezekiel 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

“Assemble” Hebrew H6908 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
  • Jeremiah 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

“sacrifice” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.