God Himself will bring confusion upon His enemies and secure victory for His people.
The prophet Ezekiel, who ministered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon from around 593 BC to 571 BC, describes God’s judgment against the vast coalition led by Gog. In this verse, the Lord declares that “I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother” (v.21). The setting of “all My mountains” likely refers to the mountainous region of Israel, which spans the central highlands running throughout the land. The image portrays a dramatic scene of God’s intervention, in which the invaders turn on one another, indicating that the Lord Himself orchestrates the confusion and ensures their downfall.
By saying that “Every man’s sword will be against his brother” (v.21), the verse underscores how God uses internal strife to bring about the defeat of evil forces. Historically, this speaks to a repeated biblical theme where the enemies of His people end up destroyed by their own divisions and violent discord (as in Judges 7:22). Ezekiel, exiled along with other Judeans in Babylon (after their capture by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC), delivers this prophetic message to comfort the exiles and remind them that the Lord remains sovereign. The depiction of infighting among the enemies serves as a testament to God’s power and justice.
This act of judgment also foreshadows God’s ultimate triumph over those who oppose Him, a concept echoed in apocalyptic passages related to the end times (Revelation 20:7-10). In the broader narrative of Scripture, it points toward the day when the Messiah’s victory will put an end to all such violence and oppression. Although the immediate context focuses on Israel’s victory over her enemies, the New Testament extends the promise of divine rescue to all who trust in Jesus Christ, who embodies God’s salvation and final judgment over evil (John 5:22-24).
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Ezekiel 38:21 meaning
The prophet Ezekiel, who ministered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon from around 593 BC to 571 BC, describes God’s judgment against the vast coalition led by Gog. In this verse, the Lord declares that “I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother” (v.21). The setting of “all My mountains” likely refers to the mountainous region of Israel, which spans the central highlands running throughout the land. The image portrays a dramatic scene of God’s intervention, in which the invaders turn on one another, indicating that the Lord Himself orchestrates the confusion and ensures their downfall.
By saying that “Every man’s sword will be against his brother” (v.21), the verse underscores how God uses internal strife to bring about the defeat of evil forces. Historically, this speaks to a repeated biblical theme where the enemies of His people end up destroyed by their own divisions and violent discord (as in Judges 7:22). Ezekiel, exiled along with other Judeans in Babylon (after their capture by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC), delivers this prophetic message to comfort the exiles and remind them that the Lord remains sovereign. The depiction of infighting among the enemies serves as a testament to God’s power and justice.
This act of judgment also foreshadows God’s ultimate triumph over those who oppose Him, a concept echoed in apocalyptic passages related to the end times (Revelation 20:7-10). In the broader narrative of Scripture, it points toward the day when the Messiah’s victory will put an end to all such violence and oppression. Although the immediate context focuses on Israel’s victory over her enemies, the New Testament extends the promise of divine rescue to all who trust in Jesus Christ, who embodies God’s salvation and final judgment over evil (John 5:22-24).