Rosh (ראש) in Ezekiel 38-39

Tim LaHaye writes that one way we know that Ezekiel 38 and 39 “can only mean modern-day Russia” is because of “etymology,” that is, by studying the origin of words. The Hebrew word rosh [ראש] that is found in Ezekiel 38:2 is said to be a people-group that refers to modern-day Russia. Part of the argument rests on the belief that rosh sounds like Russia. Those who hold this view translate Ezekiel 38:2 this way: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.” The key phrase is “prince of Rosh,” which they would have us to understand as the “leader of Russia.”

Ezekiel 38:1-3Jewish Publication Society 1917 Translation

1. And the word of HaShem [the name] came unto me, saying:

2. “Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3. “and say: ‘Thus saith the L-rd GOD: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal’”;

A Literal Translation

“Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the prince, {pause} chief of Meshech and Tubal.”

The Meaning of Rosh (ראש)

1. The Hebrew word rosh (ראש) appears 600 times in the Bible.

2. Rosh (ראש) is never used as a proper name.

3. Rosh (ראש) means “ruler,” “head,” or “chief.”

4. If rosh (ראש) is used as a proper name in Ezekiel 38:2-3 and 39:1, these would be the only three instances out of 600 occurrences where a proper name is identified.

5. The burden of proof is on those who claim rosh (ראש) is a proper name and has some identification with modern-day Russia.

Rosh HashanahHebrew: השנה ראש

Literally: “Head of the Year”Jewish New Year

Errusia (Basque), Krievija (Latvian), Oroszország (Hungarian), Raseya - Расея (Belarusian), Roos (Hindi), Rosía - Ρωσία (Greek), Rosiya - Росія (Ukrainian), Rosja (Polish), Rossiya - Россия (Russian), an Rúis (Irish), an Ruis (Scots Gaelic), Ruošša (Sami), Rus (Albanian), Rus' - Pуcь (Russian poetic variant), Rusastan (Armenian), Rusia (Bahasa Indonesia, Romanian, Spanish), Rusija (Lithuanian, Serbian), Rusiya - Русия (Bulgarian), Rusiyah -רוסיה (Hebrew), Ruska or Rusojska (Lower Sorbian), Rusko (Czech, Slovak), Rusland (Danish, Dutch), Rusland -רוסלַאנד (Yiddish), Rússia (Catalan, Portuguese), Russia (Italian, Latin), Russie (French), Russja (Maltese), Rüssland (Alsatian), Rússland (Icelandic), Russland (German), Rusya (Turkish), Rwsia (Welsh), Ryssland (Swedish), Venäjä (Finnish), Venemaa (Estonian)

The Spelling of Russia in Various Languages

רּוסיהRusiyah

אשרrosh

רּוסיהRusiyah

אשרrosh

Misrad Rosh Hamemshala Office of the Prime (Head) Minister

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