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Judgment on Egypt
Jeremiah 46 brings Yahweh’s word about Egypt. The prophecy moves from battle preparation and proud claims to collapse, punishment, and then a distinct closing word of comfort and discipline for Jacob.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The chapter is introduced as Yahweh’s word to Jeremiah concerning the nations, then it speaks of Egypt and its army at Carchemish by the Euphrates. A later message says Nebuchadnezzar will strike Egypt itself. The passage ends by addressing Jacob and Israel directly.
Jeremiah 46:1–28Main takeaway
Yahweh rules over nations, brings down Egypt’s strength and pride, and preserves Jacob while still correcting him justly.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Prepared for battle, yet driven backThe prophecy opens with orders to ready shields, horses, helmets, spears, and armour. The scene sounds strong and organised, but the result is the opposite.
Explanation
The prophecy opens with orders to ready shields, horses, helmets, spears, and armour. The scene sounds strong and organised, but the result is the opposite. The mighty are beaten down, flee in haste, and do not look back. By the Euphrates, even the swift and strong stumble and fall.
02Egypt rises like a flood, but this day belongs to YahwehEgypt is pictured like the Nile surging upward, boasting that it will rise, cover the earth, and destroy cities.
Explanation
Egypt is pictured like the Nile surging upward, boasting that it will rise, cover the earth, and destroy cities. More warriors are summoned, yet the prophecy says this is the day of the Lord Yahweh of Armies. Egypt cannot heal itself with balm or many medicines, and its shame becomes known among the nations.
03A coming strike on Egypt itselfA new word explains that Nebuchadnezzar will come against the land of Egypt. Cities are told to prepare, but the strong ones are swept away because Yahweh pushed them.
Explanation
A new word explains that Nebuchadnezzar will come against the land of Egypt. Cities are told to prepare, but the strong ones are swept away because Yahweh pushed them. Some decide to return to their own people, and Pharaoh is called “but a noise” who has let the appointed time pass by. Egypt must prepare for captivity and desolation.
04Punishment for Egypt, measured correction for JacobEgypt is described with images of a beautiful heifer, stalled calves, a serpent-like sound, and a forest cut down by countless attackers.
Explanation
Egypt is described with images of a beautiful heifer, stalled calves, a serpent-like sound, and a forest cut down by countless attackers. Yahweh says he will punish Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, her kings, and those who trust in him. Afterwards Egypt will be inhabited again. Jacob, however, is told not to fear, because Yahweh will save him, though he will still correct him in measure.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the passage overturn the confidence created by the battle commands at the start?
Compare the orders to prepare weapons and horses with the later words about terror, retreat, stumbling, and falling by the Euphrates.
02What do Egypt’s flood-like claims reveal, and how does the prophecy answer them?
Notice Egypt’s words about rising and covering the earth, then read the statement that this is Yahweh’s day and that Egypt’s remedies are useless.
03What contrast appears at the end between the fate of Egypt and the future of Jacob?
Read the words about punishing Pharaoh, Egypt, and those who trust in him, then compare them with the promise to save Jacob while still correcting him.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 46:1–28
1Yahweh’s word which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.
3“Prepare the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle!
4Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand up with your helmets. Polish the spears, put on the coats of mail.
5Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and are turned backward. Their mighty ones are beaten down, have fled in haste, and don’t look back. Terror is on every side,” says Yahweh.
6“Don’t let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape. In the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.
7“Who is this who rises up like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?
8Egypt rises up like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He says, ‘I will rise up. I will cover the earth. I will destroy cities and its inhabitants.’
9Go up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow.
10For that day is of the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge himself of his adversaries. The sword will devour and be satiated, and will drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt. You use many medicines in vain. There is no healing for you.
12The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they both fall together.”
13The word that Yahweh spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt:
14“Declare in Egypt, publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand up, and prepare, for the sword has devoured around you.’
15Why are your strong ones swept away? They didn’t stand, because Yahweh pushed them.
16He made many to stumble. Yes, they fell on one another. They said, ‘Arise! Let’s go again to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from the oppressing sword.’
17They cried there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has let the appointed time pass by.’
18“As I live,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, “surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so he will come.
19You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis will become a desolation, and will be burned up, without inhabitant.
20“Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; but destruction out of the north has come. It has come.
21Also her hired men in the middle of her are like calves of the stall, for they also are turned back. They have fled away together. They didn’t stand, for the day of their calamity has come on them, the time of their visitation.
22Its sound will go like the serpent, for they will march with an army, and come against her with axes, as wood cutters.
23They will cut down her forest,” says Yahweh, “though it can’t be searched; because they are more than the locusts, and are innumerable.
24The daughter of Egypt will be disappointed; she will be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.”
25Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him.
26I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants. Afterwards it will be inhabited, as in the days of old,” says Yahweh.
27“But don’t you be afraid, Jacob my servant. Don’t be dismayed, Israel; for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid.
28Don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant,” says Yahweh, “for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I will not make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.”