Jeremiah 46:1-8

Judgment on Egypt

1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet 1concerning the nations.
2 About Egypt. 2Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in 3the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 4"Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!
4 5Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, 6polish your spears, put on your armor!
5 Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their 7warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; 8they look not back-- 9terror on every side! declares the LORD.
6 "The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; 10in the north by the river Euphrates 11they have stumbled and fallen.
7 "Who is this, 12rising like the Nile, like rivers 13whose waters surge?
8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers 14whose waters surge. He said, 'I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.'

Jeremiah 46:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 46

This chapter contains two prophecies relating to Egypt; one concerning the overthrow of Pharaohnecho, king of it, which was quickly accomplished; and the other concerning the destruction of the land, fulfilled many years after, and both by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and the chapter is concluded with a word of comfort to the people of Israel. It begins with a general title to prophecies in this and the five following chapters, Jer 46:1; then follows a particular prophecy of the route of Pharaoh's army; of the place where, and time when, Jer 46:2; the preparations of the Egyptians for the battle, with a variety of warlike instruments, Jer 46:3,4; the consternation, flight, and destruction of them, Jer 46:5,6; notwithstanding their confidence of getting the victory, Jer 46:7-9; the reason of it, because it was the day of the Lord's vengeance on them, and therefore their ruin was inevitable, Jer 46:10,11; the consequence of which was shame and confusion, Jer 46:12; next follows another prophecy of the destruction of the land itself by Nebuchadnezzar, Jer 46:13; the places that should be destroyed, Jer 46:14,19,25; the multitude that should be slain, Jer 46:15-17; a description of the calamity; the instrument, manner, and consequence of it, Jer 46:20-24; the certainty of it, Jer 46:18,25,26; and the whole is closed with a promise of the return of the Jews, and of their salvation; though they should not be without divine corrections, Jer 46:27,28.

Cross References 14

  • 1. [Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 25:13]; See Jeremiah 25:15-26
  • 2. 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:20
  • 3. Jeremiah 25:1; Jeremiah 36:1; Jeremiah 45:1
  • 4. [Jeremiah 51:11]
  • 5. [Nahum 3:2]
  • 6. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 7. [2 Samuel 1:19, 25]
  • 8. ver. 21; Jeremiah 47:3
  • 9. See Jeremiah 6:25
  • 10. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 11. [Daniel 11:19]
  • 12. [Jeremiah 47:2; Isaiah 8:7, 8; Daniel 11:22]
  • 13. [Ezekiel 32:2]
  • 14. [See ver. 7 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.