Yehezkiel 38:15-16

38:15 and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army. 38:16 You will advance ¹  against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself ²  through you, O Gog.

Zefanya 3:8

3:8 Therefore you must wait patiently ³  for me,” says the Lord,

“for the day when I attack and take plunder. ⁴ 

I have decided ⁵  to gather nations together

and assemble kingdoms,

so I can pour out my fury on them –

all my raging anger.

For ⁶  the whole earth will be consumed

by my fiery anger.

[38:16]  ¹ tn Heb “come up.”

[38:16]  ² tn Or “reveal my holiness.”

[3:8]  ³ tn The second person verb form (“you must wait patiently”) is masculine plural, indicating that a group is being addressed. Perhaps the humble individuals addressed earlier (see 2:3) are in view. Because of Jerusalem’s sin, they must patiently wait for judgment to pass before their vindication arrives.

[3:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “when I arise for plunder.” The present translation takes עַד (’ad) as “plunder.” Some, following the LXX, repoint the term עֵד (’ed) and translate, “as a witness” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV). In this case the Lord uses a legal metaphor to picture himself as testifying against his enemies. Adele Berlin takes לְעַד (lÿ’ad) in a temporal sense (“forever”) and translates “once and for all” (Zephaniah [AB 25A], 133).

[3:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “for my decision is.”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Or “certainly.”