Jeremiah 47:1-6

A Message About the Philistines

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:

2 This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising in the north; they will become an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and everything in it, the towns and those who live in them. The people will cry out; all who dwell in the land will wail

3 at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds, at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp.

4 For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to remove all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. The LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.^[a]

5 Gaza will shave her head in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. You remnant on the plain, how long will you cut yourselves?

6 “ ‘Alas, sword of the LORD, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease 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. S Genesis 10:14; S Judges 3:31
• 2. S Genesis 10:19; Amos 1:6; Zechariah 9:5-7
• 3. S Isaiah 8:7; Isaiah 14:31
• 4. S Isaiah 15:3
• 5. S Jeremiah 46:9; S Ezekiel 23:24
• 6. Isaiah 13:7; Jeremiah 50:43; Ezekiel 7:17; Ezekiel 21:7
• 7. S Isaiah 23:1; Amos 1:9-10; Zechariah 9:2-4
• 8. S Genesis 10:15; S Jeremiah 25:22
• 9. S Genesis 10:14; Joel 3:4
• 10. S Deuteronomy 2:23
• 11. S Jeremiah 41:5; Micah 1:16
• 12. S Jeremiah 25:20
• 13. S Leviticus 19:28
• 14. S Isaiah 34:5; Jeremiah 12:12; Jeremiah 48:10; Jeremiah 50:35
• 15. Ezekiel 21:30

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, Crete