Jeremiah 47:1-6

Judgment on the Philistines

1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet ¹concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down ²Gaza.

2 "Thus says the LORD: ³Behold, waters are rising ⁴out of the north, ⁵and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow ⁶the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, ⁷at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers ⁸look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands,

4 because of the day that is coming to destroy all ⁹the Philistines, to cut off from ¹⁰Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the LORD is destroying the Philistines, ¹¹the remnant of the coastland of ¹²Caphtor.

5 ¹³Baldness has come upon Gaza; ¹⁴Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, ¹⁵how long will you gash yourselves?

6 ¹⁶Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still!

Jeremiah 47:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 47

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of the Philistines chiefly; and also of the Tyrians and Zidonians. The title of the prophecy, Jer 47:1; the instruments of this destruction, who are compared to overflowing waters; which would cause great lamentation in the inhabitants of the places where they should come, Jer 47:2; the noise of their horses and chariots would be so terrible, as to make parents flee and leave their own children, Jer 47:3; at the same time Tyre and Zidon would fall into the hands of the enemy, and have no helper, Jer 47:4; particular places in Palestine are mentioned, that should be destroyed, Jer 47:5; and all this owing to a commission the Lord gave to the sword, and which therefore would continue to ravage, Jer 47:6,7.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 25:20; Ezekiel 25:15, 16; Zephaniah 2:5
• 2. Amos 1:6, 7; Zephaniah 2:4
• 3. [Jeremiah 46:7, 8; Isaiah 8:7]
• 4. See Jeremiah 1:13
• 5. [Jeremiah 46:7, 8; Isaiah 8:7]
• 6. [Jeremiah 8:16]
• 7. Nahum 3:2
• 8. Jeremiah 46:5
• 9. [See ver. 1 above]
• 10. Isaiah 23:1, 2; Joel 3:4; See Jeremiah 25:22
• 11. Amos 1:8
• 12. Genesis 10:14; Amos 9:7
• 13. [Jeremiah 48:37; Isaiah 3:24]
• 14. Jeremiah 25:20; [Judges 1:18]
• 15. [Jeremiah 48:37]
• 16. Deuteronomy 32:41; See Ezekiel 21:3-5