Magog

MAGOG ma'-gog (maghogh; Magog):

Named among the sons of Japheth (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5). Ezekiel uses the word as equivalent to "land of Gog" (Ezekiel 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 (Revelation 20:8), and in this sense these names frequently recur in Jewish apocalyptic literature.

John A. Lees

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Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MAGOG'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.