The traditional prophetic formula Thus says the Lord GOD opens a new section of God’s message to Gog (see Ezek 38.3).

On that day thoughts will come into your mind: On that day does not refer to a specific day, but looks forward to the time when Gog begins to attack Israel. Compare “When that time comes” (Good News Translation) and “At that time” (New International Reader’s Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, Revised English Bible). Thoughts will come into your mind (literally “words will go up on your heart”) means Gog will have some ideas. Most languages will have idiomatic ways of speaking about this; for example, English speakers may use “ideas will occur to you,” and other languages may say “suddenly you will start to think.” Translators will do well to choose what is most natural in their own language.

And you will devise an evil scheme: This clause is the next step after ideas first occur to Gog. He now begins planning to do something bad. An evil scheme is a plan that involves something illegal or bad. Although the Hebrew refers to a singular plan, it is acceptable to use the plural, if that is more natural; for example, New International Reader’s Version renders this clause as “You will make evil plans.”

Some translations do not distinguish between ideas coming into Gog’s mind and his beginning to make his wicked plans; for example, Good News Translation combines the last two clauses of this verse, saying “you will start thinking up an evil plan,” and so does Contemporary English Version with “you will have an evil plan.” This is acceptable.

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 .