Bible Dictionaries

Holman Bible Dictionary

Gog and Magog

(gahg and may' gahg) 1. In Ezekiel 38-39 , Gog of the land of Magog is the leader of the forces of evil in an apocalyptic conflict against Yahweh. In Revelation 20:8 , Gog and Magog appear together in parallel construction as forces fighting for Satan after his 1,000 year bondage. The identity of Gog and Magog has been the subject of an extraordinary amount of speculation. In general, however, attempts to relate these figures to modern individuals or states have been unconvincing.

Ezekiel's prophecy is apparently built on Jeremiah's sermons against a foe from the north (Jeremiah 4-6 ). Ezekiel's historical reference may have been Gyges, king of Lydia, who asked Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, for help in 676 B.C. but then joined an Egyptian-led rebellion against Assyria about 665 B.C. His name became a symbol for the powerful, feared king of the north. Magog is apparently a Hebrew construction meaning, “place of Gog.” 2. A descendant of the tribe of Reuben (1 Chronicles 5:6 ).