King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 39:18 Mean?

Ezekiel 39:18 in the King James Version says “Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 39 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. goats: Heb. great goats”

Ezekiel 39:18 · KJV

Context

16

And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land. Hamonah: that is, The multitude

17

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. unto: Heb. to the fowl of every wing my sacrifice: or, my slaughter

18

Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. goats: Heb. great goats

19

And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.

20

Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.

Read Ezekiel 39 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—The Hebrew gibborim (גִּבֹּרִים, "mighty men") typically designates elite warriors, while nesiey ha-aretz (נְשִׂיאֵי הָאָרֶץ, "princes of the earth") indicates rulers and nobility. This comprehensive list—from military elite to political leadership—shows no human power escapes divine judgment.

The livestock metaphors—rams, lambs, goats, bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan—compare Gog's warriors to prime sacrificial animals. Bashan (בָּשָׁן), the fertile region east of Galilee, was renowned for superior livestock (Deuteronomy 32:14, Amos 4:1). By comparing warriors to Bashan's choicest animals, Ezekiel emphasizes that earth's mightiest leaders are merely fattened livestock before God's sovereignty. This brutally deflates human pretension to autonomous power.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In ancient Near Eastern culture, Bashan's pastures produced the finest cattle, making "fatlings of Bashan" proverbial for excellence and abundance. Psalm 22:12 uses "strong bulls of Bashan" to symbolize powerful enemies surrounding the Messiah. Amos 4:1 sarcastically calls Samaria's oppressive elite "cows of Bashan."

For exilic Israel, this prophecy reversed their experience: instead of being devoured by superior enemies, their oppressors would become carrion. The sacrificial imagery (rams, lambs, goats, bullocks) indicates these deaths fulfill divine purpose—not random violence but orchestrated judgment. This influenced later apocalyptic literature, particularly Revelation's depiction of final judgment where human pretensions to power are definitively exposed and destroyed.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does comparing mighty warriors to livestock expose the futility of human power apart from submission to God?
  2. What modern "fatlings of Bashan" (symbols of strength and self-sufficiency) does this passage challenge us to see through God's perspective?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
בְּשַׂ֤ר1 of 14

“the flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

גִּבּוֹרִים֙2 of 14

“of the mighty”

H1368

powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant

תֹּאכֵ֔לוּ3 of 14

“Ye shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וְדַם4 of 14

“the blood”

H1818

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

נְשִׂיאֵ֥י5 of 14

“of the princes”

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

הָאָ֖רֶץ6 of 14

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

תִּשְׁתּ֑וּ7 of 14

“and drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

אֵילִ֨ים8 of 14

“of rams”

H352

properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically an oak or other strong tree

כָּרִ֤ים9 of 14

“of lambs”

H3733

a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a battering-ram (as butting)

וְעַתּוּדִים֙10 of 14

“and of goats”

H6260

prepared, i.e., full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders of the people

פָּרִ֔ים11 of 14

“of bullocks”

H6499

a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)

מְרִיאֵ֥י12 of 14

“all of them fatlings”

H4806

stall-fed; often (as noun) a beeve

בָשָׁ֖ן13 of 14

“of Bashan”

H1316

bashan (often with the article), a region east of the jordan

כֻּלָּֽם׃14 of 14
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 39:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 39:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 22:12Jeremiah 51:40Revelation 19:17-18Amos 4:1Ezekiel 29:5Jeremiah 50:27

Places in This Verse

BashanRegion · Modern: Saham al Jawlan · 32.78°N, 35.93°E53 verses across 15 books
View all places in Ezekiel 39 →

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