Jeremiah 46:7

7 Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn?

Jeremiah 46:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 46:7

Who [is] this [that] cometh up as a flood
These are either the words of the prophet, who having a vision in prophecy of the march of the Egyptian army from the south to the north, which he compares to a flood; in allusion to the river Nile, which used to overflow its banks, and spread itself over the land; because of the vast numbers of which it consisted; because of the noise it made, and, because of its rapidity and force, threatening to bear all down before it; as wondering, asks, who it was, whose army it was, and to whom it belonged? or they are the words of God, who puts this question, in order to, give an answer to it, and thereby upbraid the Egyptians with their arrogance, pride, and vanity; which would all come to nothing: whose waters are moved as the rivers?
whose numerous armies came with a great noise and force, like the openings of the Nile, the seven gates of it; which were very boisterous, especially in hard gales of wind: it is no unusual thing for large armies to be compared to floods and rivers, which move forcibly and swiftly, and make a large spread; see ( Isaiah 8:7 Isaiah 8:8 ) ( Ezekiel 26:3 Ezekiel 26:19 ) . The Targum is,

``who is this that comes up with his army as a cloud, and covers the earth, and as a fountain of water, whose waters are moved?''

Jeremiah 46:7 In-Context

5 Why have I seen [this]? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are crushed, they flee headlong, they never look back, terror is on every side! [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

6 The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the bank of the Euphrates River, they stumble and fall.

7 Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn?

8 Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers. He boasts: I will go up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities with their residents.

9 Rise up, you cavalry! Race furiously, you chariots! Let the warriors go forth- Cush and Put, who are able to handle shields, and the Ludim, who are able to handle and string the bow.