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The word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the nations.
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Concerning Egypt.
Against the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was encamped by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:
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“Prepare the large shield and the small shield, and advance to battle!
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Harness the horses, and mount up, O riders!
Take your stand with helmets on,
sharpen your spears,
put on your armor!
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Why do I see them terrified, turning back?
Their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste, without looking back;
terror on every side!” declares the LORD.
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The swift cannot flee,
the warrior cannot escape;
in the north, by the river Euphrates, they stumble and fall.
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Who is this that rises like the Nile,
whose waters surge like the rivers?
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It is Egypt that rises like the Nile,
whose waters surge like the rivers.
It says: I will rise and cover the earth,
destroy cities and their inhabitants.
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Advance, O horses!
Race on, O chariots!
Advance to battle, O warriors,
O you Cushites and Putites who handle the shield,
and you Lydians who draw the bow!
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That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts,
a day of vengeance, to take vengeance on his foes.
The sword shall devour and be satisfied,
and drink its fill of their blood;
for the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the land of the north, by the river Euphrates.
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Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt!
In vain you use many medicines; there is no healing for you!
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The nations have heard of your shame,
and the earth is full of your cry,
for warrior has stumbled against warrior,
and both have fallen together.”
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The word that the LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, coming to strike the land of Egypt:
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“Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol!
Proclaim in Memphis and in Tahpanhes!
Say: Take your stand and be ready, for the sword has devoured all around you!
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Why has Apis fled? Why has your bull not stood firm?
Indeed, the LORD has brought him down!
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Many among you have stumbled and fallen;
they said one to another:
Come, let us return to our own people, to the land of our birth, away from this ravaging sword!
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Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt: ‘A noisy one who lets the opportunity pass by!'”
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As I live, says the King whose name is the LORD of hosts,
he shall come like Mount Tabor among the mountains,
like Mount Carmel by the sea.
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Prepare for yourself baggage for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt for a long time!
For Memphis shall become a desolation, laid waste, without inhabitant.
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Egypt is a very beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.
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Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves;
they also turn back and flee together;
they cannot stand,
because the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
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Its sound is like a hissing serpent as they march forward with an army;
they come against her with axes, like woodcutters.
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They cut down her forest, says the LORD, though it cannot be searched through;
for they are more numerous than locusts, without number.
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The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame, delivered into the hand of the people from the north.”
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The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says:
“Behold, I am bringing punishment on Amon of Thebes, on Pharaoh and on Egypt, on her gods and her kings, even on Pharaoh and on those who trust in him.
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I will give them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his servants.
But afterward it shall be inhabited as in former days, says the LORD.
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But you, do not fear, O Jacob my servant,
do not be dismayed, O Israel!
For behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and be at peace and secure, with no one to make him afraid.
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But you, do not fear, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD,
for I am with you;
I will make an end of all the nations among which I have scattered you,
but of you I will not make an end.
I will discipline you in justice,
but I will by no means leave you unpunished.
⚔️🐪🔥 Summary of Jeremiah 46 – Judgment on Egypt and Relief for Israel
Jeremiah 46 is the beginning of the section of prophecies against the nations (Jeremiah 46–51). In this chapter, the Lord gives two prophecies concerning Egypt: first, Egypt’s defeat by Babylon in the battle at Carchemish; second, Egypt’s further destruction in the future. Yet at the end of the chapter, the Lord gives special comfort to Israel, that although they will be disciplined, the Lord will still save them and not utterly destroy them.
📌 1. The Defeat of Egypt at Carchemish (verses 1–12)
“What do I see? They are dismayed and flee…”
➡️ This prophecy is directed to Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, who was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish (around 605 BC).
➡️ Egypt is portrayed as proud and self-confident, like the overflowing Nile, but suddenly it runs away in fear.
➡️ The Lord declares that the day of reckoning has come for Egypt, and their army will not be able to stand.
🎯 National pride without God will fall before His power.
📌 2. Continued Prophecy: The Destruction of Egypt (verses 13–26)
“Egypt is a beautiful young heifer, but a destroyer comes from the north.”
➡️ The Lord again prophesies that Nebuchadnezzar will attack and take control of Egypt.
➡️ The cities of Egypt will be destroyed, their gods will be put to shame, and Pharaoh Hophra will be captured.
➡️ Egypt will not rise again as a great kingdom as before.
🎯 The Lord is king over all nations, even over powerful pagan nations.
📌 3. A Promise of Relief for Israel (verses 27–28)
“Do not fear, O Jacob, My servant… I will save you…”
➡️ In the midst of the prophecy of judgment, the Lord inserts a promise for His people:
- They will not be completely destroyed
- They will be restored from exile
- The Lord will discipline them justly, not to destroy them
🎯 Even in judgment, God’s grace continues to work for His chosen people.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord rules over history and the nations
- Military and political pride cannot match the will of the Lord
- A nation that rejects the Lord will be brought low, no matter how strong it is
- Though Israel is disciplined because of sin, the Lord will not forget them
- Behind the Lord’s anger, there is restoring mercy
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 1 Peter 5:5
“God opposes the proud, but shows mercy to the humble.”
➡️ Proud Egypt is opposed, broken Israel is shown mercy.
📖 Hebrews 12:6
“The Lord disciplines the one He loves…”
➡️ The punishment on Israel is a form of love and purification.
📖 Romans 8:31
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
➡️ The people of God may be pressed down, but they will not be destroyed.
📖 Matthew 10:28
“Do not fear those who kill the body…”
➡️ Like Israel among great nations, the sovereign Lord is to be feared, not man.
🕊️ “They fled without looking back…” – Jeremiah 46:5
🕊️ “The day of the Lord of hosts, a day of vengeance…” – Jeremiah 46:10
🕊️ “Do not fear, O My servant Jacob…” – Jeremiah 46:27
🕊️ “I will save you from far away…” – Jeremiah 46:27
