Ezekiel 38:11

9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

13 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?

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates—
KJV
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
WEB
You will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
ASV
and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;
DARBY
and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will come to them that are in quiet, that dwell in safety, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
BLB
And you will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages, I will go in to those living quietly, dwelling in security—all of them dwelling with no walls, and bars and gates not unto them—
ÅB
og si: Jeg vil dra opp imot et land med åpne byer, jeg vil komme over fredelige folk, som bor trygt, som alle sammen bor uten murer og hverken har bom eller porter -
OTB
Du skal si: «Jeg vil dra opp mot et land med åpne landsbyer; jeg vil komme over et folk som lever i fred og ro—alle bor uten murer, bommer eller porter.
B1930
og si: Jeg vil dra op imot et land med åpne byer, jeg vil komme over fredelige folk, som bor trygt, som alle sammen bor uten murer og hverken har bom eller porter -

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Zechariah 2:4–5

    And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

    Read in context
  • Exodus 15:9

    The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 1:11–16

    If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 37:24–25

    By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

    Read in context
  • Judges 18:27

    And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 49:31–32

    Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 38:8

    After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

    Read in context
  • Romans 3:15

    Their feet are swift to shed blood:

    Read in context