Jeremiah 2:18

And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

And now what hast thou to do in the way {H1870} of Egypt {H4714}, to drink {H8354} the waters {H4325} of Sihor {H7883}? or what hast thou to do in the way {H1870} of Assyria {H804}, to drink {H8354} the waters {H4325} of the river {H5104}?

If you go to Egypt, what's in it for you? Drinking water from the Nile? If you go to Ashur, what's in it for you? Drinking water from the [Euphrates] River?

Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?

Jeremiah 2:18 presents a powerful rhetorical question from God through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. It highlights their folly and spiritual unfaithfulness in seeking alliances with powerful foreign nations, Egypt and Assyria, instead of trusting in the Lord their God.

Context of Jeremiah 2:18

This verse is part of a larger indictment in Jeremiah chapter 2, where God expresses His deep disappointment and sorrow over Israel's abandonment of Him. He recalls their initial devotion in the wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2-3) and then contrasts it sharply with their current idolatry and political maneuvering. Just before this verse, God laments that His people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Him, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13). Their desperate search for security leads them to unreliable sources, symbolized by the "waters" of foreign powers.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Misplaced Trust: The core message is the misplaced trust of Judah. Instead of relying on the covenant-keeping God, they looked to human powers for deliverance and sustenance.
  • Spiritual Adultery: This pursuit of foreign alliances is implicitly an act of spiritual unfaithfulness, akin to a spouse seeking comfort and provision outside the marriage. It represents a betrayal of their unique relationship with God.
  • Futility of Human Alliances: The rhetorical questions — "what hast thou to do...?" — emphasize the ultimate futility and lack of benefit in these partnerships. They would not bring true security or satisfaction, but rather shame and judgment, as seen in other prophetic warnings against relying on Egypt (Isaiah 30:1-3).
  • God as the Only True Source: Implicitly, God reminds them that He alone is the source of true life, provision, and protection.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

The "waters of Sihor" refers to the Nile River, the lifeblood of Egypt. To "drink the waters of Sihor" symbolizes seeking sustenance, protection, and political stability from Egypt. Similarly, "the waters of the river" points to the Euphrates River, which was strongly associated with the Assyrian Empire, the dominant power in the region during Jeremiah's early ministry. Judah's oscillating alliances between these two great powers were a constant feature of their foreign policy, always seeking to balance one against the other. The act of "drinking" signifies drawing life, strength, or benefit from these foreign sources, which God declares to be meaningless and ultimately detrimental.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 2:18 serves as a timeless warning against seeking security, wisdom, or fulfillment from sources other than God. In our modern context, this might involve placing ultimate trust in financial stability, political systems, human ideologies, or personal achievements. The verse challenges us to examine where we truly "drink our waters" – where we seek our sustenance and security. Just as Judah's alliances proved to be broken cisterns, so too can worldly solutions fail to provide lasting peace or genuine well-being. True peace and security are found in a complete reliance on God's divine provision and faithfulness, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6, which advises trusting in the Lord with all your heart.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joshua 13:3

    From Sihor, which [is] before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, [which] is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

  • Hosea 7:11

    Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

  • Isaiah 31:1

    ¶ Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

  • Jeremiah 2:36

    Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

  • Hosea 5:13

    When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

  • Lamentations 4:17

    As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation [that] could not save [us].

  • Ezekiel 17:15

    But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such [things]? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

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