Jeremiah 46:6

6 "The swiftest runners won't get away, the strongest soldiers won't escape. In the north country, along the River Euphrates, they'll stagger, stumble, and fall.

Jeremiah 46:6 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 46:6

Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty men escape
Those that were swift of foot, like Asahel, or carried but light armour, let not such trust to their swiftness or light carriage; nor let the mighty man think to escape by reason of his great strength, to make his way through the enemy, and get out of his hands. Or this may be rendered as future, "the swift shall not flee away" F20 so the Targum; neither the one nor the other shall escape by the nimbleness of their heels, or the stoutness of their hearts: they shall stumble and fall toward the north, by the river Euphrates;
which lay north of Judea, where the prophet was, to whom this word came; and also was to the north of Egypt, whose destruction is here threatened: the place where this route and slaughter would be made was Carchemish, which was situated by that river; on the north side of which city, according to Abarbinel, the battle was; and which sense is mentioned by Kimchi, which the other follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (owny la) "non fugiet", Pagninus, Montanus; "non effugiet", Munster, Tigurine version.

Jeremiah 46:6 In-Context

4 Harness the horses! Up in the saddles! Battle formation! Helmets on, spears sharpened, armor in place!'
5 But what's this I see? They're scared out of their wits! They break ranks and run for cover. Their soldiers panic. They run this way and that, stampeding blindly. It's total chaos, total confusion, danger everywhere!" God's Decree.
6 "The swiftest runners won't get away, the strongest soldiers won't escape. In the north country, along the River Euphrates, they'll stagger, stumble, and fall.
7 "Who is this like the Nile in flood? like its streams torrential?
8 Why, it's Egypt like the Nile in flood, like its streams torrential, Saying, 'I'll take over the world. I'll wipe out cities and peoples.'
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.