Jeremiah 46:1-9

Defeat of Pharaoh Foretold

1 That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet 1concerning the nations.
2 To 2Egypt, concerning the army of 3Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates River at 4Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the 5fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 "6Line up the shield and buckler, And draw near for the battle!
4 "Harness the horses, And mount the steeds, And take your stand with helmets on! 7Polish the spears, Put on the 8scale-armor!
5 "Why have I seen it? They are terrified, They are 9drawing back, And their 10mighty men are defeated And have taken refuge in flight, Without facing back; 11Terror is on every side!" Declares the LORD.
6 Let not the 12swift man flee, Nor the mighty man escape; In the north beside * the river Euphrates They have 13stumbled and fallen.
7 Who is this that 14rises like the Nile, Like the rivers whose waters surge about?
8 Egypt rises like the Nile, Even like the rivers whose waters surge about; And He has said, "I will 15rise and cover that land; I will surely 16destroy the city and its inhabitants."
9 Go up, you horses, and 17drive madly, you chariots, That the mighty men may march forward: Ethiopia and 18Put, that handle the shield, And the 19Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

Jeremiah 46:1-9 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 19

  • 1. Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 25:15-38
  • 2. Jeremiah 46:14; Ezekiel 29-32
  • 3. 2 Kings 18:21; 2 Kings 23:29, 33-35; Jeremiah 25:19
  • 4. 2 Chronicles 35:20; Isaiah 10:9
  • 5. Jeremiah 45:1
  • 6. Isaiah 21:5; Jeremiah 51:11; Joel 3:9; Nahum 2:1; Nahum 3:14
  • 7. Ezekiel 21:9-11
  • 8. 1 Samuel 17:5, 38; 2 Chronicles 26:14; Nehemiah 4:16; Jeremiah 51:3
  • 9. Isaiah 42:17; Jeremiah 46:21
  • 10. Isaiah 5:25; Ezekiel 39:18
  • 11. Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3; Jeremiah 49:29
  • 12. Isaiah 30:16
  • 13. Jeremiah 46:12, 16; Daniel 11:19
  • 14. Jeremiah 47:2
  • 15. Isaiah 37:24
  • 16. Isaiah 10:13
  • 17. Jeremiah 47:3; Nahum 2:4
  • 18. Nahum 3:9
  • 19. Isaiah 66:19

Footnotes 7

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.