Jeremiah 46

A Message About Egypt

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:

2 Concerning Egypt: This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

3 “Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle!

4 Harness the horses, mount the steeds! Take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears, put on your armor!

5 What do I see? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are defeated. They flee in haste without looking back, and there is terror on every side,” declares the LORD.

6 “The swift cannot flee nor the strong escape. In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.

7 “Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters?

8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters. She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their people.’

9 Charge, you horses! Drive furiously, you charioteers! March on, you warriors—men of Cush^[a] and Put who carry shields, men of Lydia who draw the bow.

10 But that day belongs to the Lord, the LORD Almighty— a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the LORD Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

11 “Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you.

12 The nations will hear of your shame; your cries will fill the earth. One warrior will stumble over another; both will fall down together.”

13 This is the message the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to attack Egypt:

14 “Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it also in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and get ready, for the sword devours those around you.’

15 Why will your warriors be laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD will push them down.

16 They will stumble repeatedly; they will fall over each other. They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back to our own people and our native lands, away from the sword of the oppressor.’

17 There they will exclaim, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.’

18 “As surely as I live,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty, “one will come who is like Tabor among the mountains, like Carmel by the sea.

19 Pack your belongings for exile, you who live in Egypt, for Memphis will be laid waste and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

20 “Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly is coming against her from the north.

21 The mercenaries in her ranks are like fattened calves. They too will turn and flee together, they will not stand their ground, for the day of disaster is coming upon them, the time for them to be punished.

22 Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent as the enemy advances in force; they will come against her with axes, like men who cut down trees.

23 They will chop down her forest,” declares the LORD, “dense though it be. They are more numerous than locusts, they cannot be counted.

24 Daughter Egypt will be put to shame, given into the hands of the people of the north.”

25 The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.

26 I will give them into the hands of those who want to kill them—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,” declares the LORD.

27 “Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

28 Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the LORD. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

PREVIOUS Jeremiah 45 NEXT Jeremiah 47

Jeremiah 46 Commentary

Chapter 46

The defeat of the Egyptians. (1-12) Their overthrow after the siege of Tyre. (13-26) A promise of comfort to the Jews. (27,28)

Verses 1-12 The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world.

Verses 13-28 Those who encroached on others, shall now be themselves encroached on. Egypt is now like a very fair heifer, not accustomed to the yoke of subjection; but destruction comes out of the north: the Chaldeans shall come. Comfort and peace are spoken to the Israel of God, designed to encourage them when the judgments of God were abroad among the nations. He will be with them, and only correct them in measure; and will not punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 70

1. S Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 25:15-38
2. S Exodus 1:8
3. S 2 Kings 23:29
4. S 2 Chronicles 35:20
5. S Genesis 2:14
6. Jeremiah 1:3; Jeremiah 25:1; Jeremiah 35:1; Jeremiah 36:1; Jeremiah 45:1; Daniel 1:1
7. S Isaiah 21:5; Jeremiah 51:11-12
8. Ezekiel 21:9-11
9. 1 Samuel 17:5,38; 2 Chronicles 26:14; Nehemiah 4:16
10. ver 21; Jeremiah 48:44
11. S Psalms 31:13; S Psalms 48:5; Jeremiah 49:29
12. Isaiah 30:16
13. Genesis 2:14; Genesis 15:18
14. ver 12,16; S Psalms 20:8; Daniel 11:19
15. Jeremiah 47:2
16. Ezekiel 29:3,9; Ezekiel 30:12; Amos 8:8
17. Daniel 11:10
18. Jeremiah 47:3; Ezekiel 26:10; Nahum 3:2
19. S Genesis 10:6
20. S Isaiah 66:19
21. Ezekiel 32:10; Joel 1:15; Obadiah 1:15
22. S Numbers 31:3; S Deuteronomy 32:41; 2 Kings 23:29-30
23. S Deuteronomy 32:42; S 2 Samuel 2:26; Zephaniah 2:12
24. S Deuteronomy 32:42
25. S Leviticus 3:9; Zephaniah 1:7
26. Genesis 2:14; Genesis 15:18
27. S Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 8:22
28. S 2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 47:1
29. S Jeremiah 30:13; S Micah 1:9
30. S ver 6; Isaiah 19:4; Nahum 3:8-10
31. ver 26; Ezekiel 32:11
32. Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 27:7
33. S Isaiah 19:13
34. S Jeremiah 43:8
35. S Deuteronomy 32:42; S 2 Samuel 2:26; S Jeremiah 24:8
36. S Joshua 23:5; Isaiah 66:15-16
37. S Leviticus 26:37
38. S ver 6
39. S Isaiah 13:14
40. S Jeremiah 25:38
41. 1 Kings 20:10-11
42. Isaiah 19:11-16
43. Jeremiah 48:15
44. S Joshua 19:22
45. 1 Kings 18:42
46. S Isaiah 20:4
47. S Isaiah 19:13
48. Ezekiel 29:10,12; Ezekiel 35:7
49. ver 24; S Isaiah 14:31; Jeremiah 47:2
50. S 2 Kings 7:6
51. Luke 15:27
52. S ver 5; S Job 20:24
53. Psalms 18:18; Psalms 37:13; Jeremiah 18:17
54. S Job 18:20
55. Psalms 74:5
56. S Deuteronomy 28:42; S Judges 7:12
57. S 2 Kings 24:7; Jeremiah 1:15
58. Ezekiel 30:14; Nahum 3:8
59. 2 Kings 24:7; Ezekiel 30:22
60. S Jeremiah 43:12
61. Isaiah 20:6
62. S Jeremiah 44:30
63. S ver 13; S Isaiah 19:4; Ezekiel 32:11
64. Ezekiel 29:11-16
65. Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 43:5; Jeremiah 51:46
66. Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 44:1; Malachi 1:2
67. S Isaiah 44:2
68. S Isaiah 11:11; S Jeremiah 29:14; Jeremiah 50:19
69. S Exodus 14:22; S Numbers 14:9; Isaiah 8:9-10
70. S Jeremiah 4:27

Footnotes 1

[a]. That is, the upper Nile region

Chapter Summary

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.