הֲמוֹן גּוֹג
the multitude of Gog; the fanciful name of an emblematic place in Palestine
Definition
Hămôwn Gôwg is a compound name meaning 'the multitude of Gog.' It refers to a symbolic burial place for the armies of Gog, a prophesied enemy of Israel. In Ezekiel's prophecy (Ezekiel 39:11, 15), it designates a valley east of the Dead Sea where the vast forces of Gog are defeated and interred, serving to cleanse the land. The name is emblematic, representing the ultimate defeat of God's enemies and the restoration of Israel's peace and holiness.
Biblical Usage
This term is used exclusively in the prophetic book of Ezekiel, specifically in the oracle against Gog of Magog (Ezekiel 38-39). It appears twice, both times naming the valley where the slain armies of Gog are buried (Ezekiel 39:11, 39:15). Its usage is entirely within this specific eschatological context of judgment and purification.
Etymology
The name is a combination of two Hebrew words: 'Hămôwn' (H1995), meaning 'multitude,' 'crowd,' or 'tumult,' and 'Gôwg' (H1463), the personal/regional name 'Gog.' The construction is a possessive phrase: 'the multitude of [belonging to] Gog.' It derives its meaning directly from its components, identifying the location with the defeated hordes of the enemy leader.
Semantic Range
This term is theologically significant as it points to God's final victory over the forces of chaos and evil that oppose His people and His kingdom. The burial at Hamon-Gog symbolizes complete and permanent removal of the enemy, cleansing the land (Ezekiel 39:12-16), and securing Israel's future peace. Understanding this Hebrew name enriches the reading of Ezekiel's prophecy by emphasizing the totality of God's judgment and the concrete reality of His promised restoration.
In the ancient Near East, the proper burial of the dead was crucial to prevent ritual defilement of the land. The massive, seven-month burial operation described (Ezekiel 39:12-14) underscores the scale of the divine victory and the thoroughness required to restore the land to a holy state. The name itself transforms a place of death into a perpetual monument to God's power.
גֵּיא (gê', H1516) — A general term for 'valley,' used for the location itself in Ezekiel 39:11. קֶבֶר (qeber, H6913) — Meaning 'grave' or 'burial place,' describing the function of the valley.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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