Jeremiah 46:8-18

8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers 1whose waters surge. He said, 'I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.'
9 2Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and 3Put who handle the shield, 4men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.
10 5That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, 6a day of vengeance, 7to avenge himself on his foes. 8The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds 9a sacrifice 10in the north country 11by the river Euphrates.
11 12Go up to Gilead, and take 13balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; 14there is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; 15for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together."
13 The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of 16Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
14 "Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in 17Migdol; proclaim in 18Memphis and 19Tahpanhes; say, 20'Stand ready and be prepared, for 21the sword shall devour around you.'
15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand[a] because the LORD thrust them down.
16 He made many stumble, 22and they fell, and they said one to another, 'Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, 23because of the sword of the oppressor.'
17 Call the name of 24Pharaoh, king of Egypt, 'Noisy one who lets the hour go by.'
18 25"As I live, declares the King, 26whose name is the LORD of hosts, like 27Tabor among the mountains and like 28Carmel by the sea, shall one come.

Jeremiah 46:8-18 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 28

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew He does not stand
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.