Jeremiah 46:7

7 “Who is this, rising like the Nile at floodtime, overflowing all the land?

Jeremiah 46:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 46:7

Who [is] this [that] cometh up as a flood
These are either the words of the prophet, who having a vision in prophecy of the march of the Egyptian army from the south to the north, which he compares to a flood; in allusion to the river Nile, which used to overflow its banks, and spread itself over the land; because of the vast numbers of which it consisted; because of the noise it made, and, because of its rapidity and force, threatening to bear all down before it; as wondering, asks, who it was, whose army it was, and to whom it belonged? or they are the words of God, who puts this question, in order to, give an answer to it, and thereby upbraid the Egyptians with their arrogance, pride, and vanity; which would all come to nothing: whose waters are moved as the rivers?
whose numerous armies came with a great noise and force, like the openings of the Nile, the seven gates of it; which were very boisterous, especially in hard gales of wind: it is no unusual thing for large armies to be compared to floods and rivers, which move forcibly and swiftly, and make a large spread; see ( Isaiah 8:7 Isaiah 8:8 ) ( Ezekiel 26:3 Ezekiel 26:19 ) . The Targum is,

``who is this that comes up with his army as a cloud, and covers the earth, and as a fountain of water, whose waters are moved?''

Jeremiah 46:7 In-Context

5 But what do I see? The Egyptian army flees in terror. The bravest of its fighting men run without a backward glance. They are terrorized at every turn,” says the LORD .

6 “The swiftest runners cannot flee; the mightiest warriors cannot escape. By the Euphrates River to the north, they stumble and fall.

7 “Who is this, rising like the Nile at floodtime, overflowing all the land?

8 It is the Egyptian army, overflowing all the land, boasting that it will cover the earth like a flood, destroying cities and their people.

9 Charge, you horses and chariots; attack, you mighty warriors of Egypt! Come, all you allies from Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia who are skilled with the shield and bow!