Jeremiah 47:1-6

1 The word of the Lord, that was made to Jeremy, the prophet, against Palestines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. (The word of the Lord, that was made to the prophet Jeremiah, about the Philistines, before that Pharaoh struck Gaza.)
2 The Lord saith these things, Lo! waters shall ascend from the north, and they shall be as a strand (over)flowing, and they shall cover the land, and the fullness thereof, the city, and the dwellers thereof. Men shall cry, and all the dwellers of the land shall yell, (The Lord saith these things, Lo! the waters shall rise up from the north, and they shall be like an overflowing river, and they shall cover the land, and its fullness, and the city, and its inhabitants. People shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall yell,)
3 for the noise of boast of armed men, and of warriors of him, and for moving of his carts, and multitude of his wheels. Fathers beheld not sons with aclumsid hands, (for the sound of the boast of his armed men, and of his warriors, and for the moving of his chariots, and the multitude of his wheels. Fathers, with their hands benumbed, shall not take care of their children,)
4 for the coming of the day in which all Philistines shall be destroyed; and Tyrus shall be destroyed, and Sidon with all their other helps. For the Lord hath destroyed Palestines, the remnants of the isle of Cappadocia. (for the coming of the day in which all the Philistines shall be destroyed; and Tyre and Sidon shall be destroyed, and all their helpers. Yea, the Lord shall destroy the Philistines, who be the remnant from the island of Caphtor.)
5 Baldness came on Gaza; Ashkelon was still, and the remnants of the valley of them. How long shalt thou fall down, (Baldness came upon Gaza, Ashkelon was silent, along with the remnants of their valley; how long shalt thou fall down?)
6 O! sword of the Lord, how long shalt thou not rest? (O! sword of the Lord, how long until thou shalt rest?) Enter thou into thy sheath, be thou refreshed, 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.