Magog (Bible)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
For other uses, see Magog.
Illustration of Magog as the first king of Sweden, from Johannes Magnus' Historia de omnibus gothorum sueonumque regibus, 1554 ed.
Magog (/ˈmeɪɡɔːɡ/; Hebrew: מגוג [maˈɡoɡ]; Greek: Μαγώγ) is the second of the seven sons of Japheth mentioned in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10.
While the origin of the term is unclear, it may have referred to Lydia, in what is now Turkey. Its use in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 38 has led to it being associated with apocalyptic traditions. Various ancient and medieval traditions have built on the biblical references and added details to it.
Contents
1 Etymology
2 In the Bible
3 Ancient and medieval views
4 In Islam
5 In popular culture
6 Notes and references
7 Bibliography
Etymology
The origin of the name Magog is unclear. It may come from the Akkadian mat Gugi, "land of Gog", that is, the land of Gyges: Lydia.[1]
In the Bible
Magog is often associated with apocalyptic traditions, mainly in connection with Ezekiel 38 and 39 which mentions "Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" (Ezek 38:2 NIV); on the basis of this mention, "Gog and Magog" over time became associated with each other as a pair. In the New Testament, this pairing is found in the Book of Revelation 20:8, in which instance they may merely be metaphors for archetypal enemies of God.