Jeremiah 46

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 46

1¶ The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

2Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

3Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

4Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with [your] helmets; furbish the spears, [and] put on the brigandines.

5Wherefore have I seen them dismayed [and] turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: [for] fear [was] round about, saith the LORD.

6Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

7Who [is] this [that] cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?

8Egypt riseth up like a flood, and [his] waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, [and] will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

9Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow.

10For this [is] the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; [for] thou shalt not be cured.

12¶ The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, [and] they are fallen both together.

13The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come [and] smite the land of Egypt.

14Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

15Why are thy valiant [men] swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

16He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

17They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt [is but] a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

18[As] I live, saith the King, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor [is] among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, [so] shall he come.

19O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

20Egypt [is like] a very fair heifer, [but] destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

21Also her hired men [are] in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, [and] are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, [and] the time of their visitation.

22The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

23They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and [are] innumerable.

24The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

25The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and [all] them that trust in him:

26And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

27But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make [him] afraid.

28Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah 46 contains prophecies against Egypt, primarily detailing its defeat by Nebuchadrezzar at Carchemish and a subsequent invasion. The Lord describes Egypt's military might being overwhelmed and its hired soldiers fleeing, declaring a day of vengeance upon Pharaoh and the nation. Despite this judgment, a concluding promise assures Israel that they will be saved from captivity and corrected in measure, not utterly destroyed.

Medium Summary

Jeremiah 46 opens with a prophecy against Egypt, specifically concerning the defeat of Pharaohnecho's army by Nebuchadrezzar at Carchemish. The Lord ironically calls for Egypt to prepare for battle, then immediately describes their dismay, flight, and utter defeat by the Euphrates. Egypt, though rising like a flood, is destined for judgment, as the Lord declares a day of vengeance against its adversaries. The chapter then foretells Nebuchadrezzar's future invasion of Egypt itself, warning its cities to prepare for devastation. The Lord asserts that Egypt's valiant men will be swept away because He Himself drives them, and its hired soldiers will flee. Pharaoh is dismissed as a mere "noise," and Egypt, likened to a fair heifer, faces destruction from the north. The Lord vows to punish Pharaoh, Egypt, its gods, and kings, delivering them into the hands of Babylon. Yet, the chapter concludes with a comforting word to Israel, promising their salvation from afar, rest, and a measured correction rather than a full end.

Long Summary

Jeremiah 46 begins with a divine word against the Gentiles, specifically targeting Egypt and its army under Pharaohnecho, recounting their historical defeat by Nebuchadrezzar at Carchemish. The Lord ironically commands Egypt to prepare for battle, only to immediately describe their utter dismay, flight, and stumbling defeat by the Euphrates. Egypt, though depicted as a rising flood, is destined for judgment, as the Lord declares this a "day of vengeance," a "sacrifice" in the north country where the sword will devour. Egypt's attempts at healing are futile, its shame known among nations. The prophecy then shifts to a future invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadrezzar, warning its cities to prepare for devastation. The Lord reveals that Egypt's valiant men are swept away because He Himself is driving them, causing them to flee back to their native lands. Pharaoh is derided as a mere "noise," having missed his appointed time. The King, the LORD of hosts, solemnly swears that Nebuchadrezzar will surely come. Egypt, described as a "very fair heifer," faces destruction from the north, and its hired foreign soldiers will turn back and flee due to their day of calamity. The invading army, numerous as grasshoppers, will come with axes, cutting down Egypt's forests and delivering her into the hands of the people of the north. The Lord of hosts declares He will punish Pharaoh, Egypt, its gods, and its kings, delivering them to Nebuchadrezzar. However, a promise of future habitation for Egypt is given. The chapter concludes with a distinct message of comfort for Israel, Jacob, instructing them not to fear or be dismayed. The Lord promises to save them from afar, bring them rest, and ensure none make them afraid. While He will make a full end of the nations where He has driven them, He will not make a full end of Israel, but will correct them in measure, though not leaving them wholly unpunished.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Judgment on EgyptThe chapter primarily details the Lord's judgment against Egypt, foretelling its military defeat and subsequent invasion and devastation by Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon.
  • Defeat at CarchemishThe prophecy specifically references the historical defeat of Pharaohnecho's Egyptian army by Nebuchadrezzar at the battle of Carchemish by the river Euphrates, a significant event in regional power shifts.
  • Pharaoh's WeaknessPharaoh is portrayed as ineffective and ultimately powerless against the Lord's decree, being called 'but a noise' and having his valiant men swept away by divine action.
  • Babylon as God's InstrumentNebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, is identified as the instrument through whom the Lord will execute His judgment against Egypt, delivering the nation, its gods, and kings into his hands.
  • Futility of Human StrengthDespite Egypt's initial preparations and its hired foreign soldiers, their strength is shown to be vain, as they are dismayed, flee, and fall because the Lord Himself drives them.
  • Israel's PreservationIn contrast to the judgment on Egypt and other nations, the chapter concludes with a promise of salvation and rest for Israel (Jacob), affirming that the Lord will correct them in measure but not make a full end of them.
  • The Lord's VengeanceThe Lord declares a 'day of vengeance' against Egypt, likening the slaughter of its army to a 'sacrifice' by the river Euphrates, demonstrating His sovereign power over nations.