Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord GOD: In response to Gog’s greedy plans, God commands Ezekiel to speak another message to Gog. He uses the traditional prophetic terminology (see the comments on verses 2-3).
On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely: On that day looks forward, not to a specific day, but to sometime in the future when Gog attacks Israel (see verse 10). When my people Israel are dwelling securely reflects the evil thoughts of Gog in verse 11 (see the comments on Ezek 38.8), although God calls the Israelites my people Israel.
You will bestir yourself may be rendered “you will rouse yourself” (New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation) or “you will set out” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible). This verse pictures Gog not doing anything for many years until, suddenly, when the Israelites least expect it, he will spring into action and invade Israel, as he had planned. This reading follows the Septuagint, which apparently read the Hebrew word teʿor (“you will rouse yourself”) instead of tedaʿ (“you will know”), which is in Masoretic Text. The two words are very similar in Hebrew and they could easily have been confused. The Hebrew word in Masoretic Text means “you will know about it” (New Century Version; similarly King James Version / New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version). This verse in Masoretic Text has the picture that Gog will “see” (Contemporary English Version, New International Reader’s Version; similarly New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) when the Israelites are living in peace and security, and he will then take his chance to attack them unawares. Both readings are possible. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the one in the Septuagint, but we recommend that translators retain the Hebrew text. Translators should also be aware that the last clause of this verse in Hebrew is a rhetorical question; for example, New International Version says “will you not take notice of it?” Many other translations have a rhetorical question here (so King James Version / New King James Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Moffatt). This question carries the strong implication that Gog will notice that the Israelites are living in safety, so some translations turn it into a statement (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). Many languages will find it necessary to do this, but either approach is acceptable.
A model for God’s words to Gog here is:
• Sometime in the future, when my people the Israelites are living in safety, you will take notice of it.
Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .