Magog מָגוֹג
Son of Japheth; progenitor of a people group
Who is Magog in the Bible?
Magog was a son of Japheth and grandson of Noah, listed among the nations in Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5. In biblical genealogy, Magog is considered the ancestor of a people group that bore his name, though their exact geographical location remains uncertain. The name gains significant prophetic importance in Ezekiel 38-39, where Magog is depicted as a land whose ruler, Gog, will lead a coalition of nations in a final assault against Israel. Some ancient scholars, including Josephus, associated the Magogites with the Scythians, a nomadic people inhabiting regions north of the Black Sea. In Revelation 20:8, Gog and Magog represent all heathen opponents of the Messiah, underscoring Magog's role in biblical eschatology as a symbol of end-times opposition to God's people.
Biography
Magog is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Gen.10) and the genealogy of Chronicles (1Ch.1) as one of the sons of Japheth, the son of Noah. He is considered the ancestor of a people group that bore his name. In the Bible, the name Magog appears in the prophetic context of Ezekiel 38-39, where Magog is described as a land ruled by Gog, a powerful leader who will lead a coalition of nations against Israel in the end times. The exact identity of the Magog people and their geographical location is uncertain, but some scholars suggest that they may have been associated with the Scythians, a nomadic people who inhabited the region north of the Black Sea. The inclusion of Magog in the Table of Nations and the genealogy of Chronicles emphasizes the biblical understanding of the origins and relationships of the various nations and people groups in the ancient world. As a descendant of Japheth, Magog is part of the lineage that spread out and populated the coastlands and islands, as described in Genesis 10.5.
Family
Siblings
- Gomer Early PatriarchSon of JaphethSon of Japheth; father of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.View full profile →
- Madai Early PatriarchSon of JaphethSon of Japheth; progenitor of the MedesView full profile →
- Javan Early PatriarchSon of JaphethSon of Japheth; ancestor of Greek peopleView full profile →
- Tubal Early PatriarchSon of JaphethSon of Japheth, grandson of NoahView full profile →
- Meshech Early PatriarchSon of JaphethSon of Japheth and grandson of Noah.View full profile →
- Tiras Early PatriarchSon of JaphethSon of Japheth, grandson of NoahView full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 10:2
"The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 1:5
"The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מָגוֹג |
Magog
ible:Ezek.38.2">Eze 38:2; 39:6). Josephus identifies the Magogites with the Scythians (Ant., I, vi, 1). From a resemblance between the names Gog and Gyges (Gugu), king of Lydia, some have suggested that Magog is Lydia; others, however, urge that Magog is probably only a variant of Gog (Sayce in HDB). In the Apocalypse of John, Gog and Magog represent all the heathen opponents of Messiah (Re 20:8), and in this sense these names frequently recur in Jewish apocalyptic literature.
John A. Lees
ma'-gor-mis'-a-bib (maghor miccabhibh, "terror on every side"): A name given by Jeremiah to Pashhur ben Immer, the governor of the temple, who had caused the prophet to be beaten and set in the stocks (<ref osi