TRV
Translation
King James Version
Wherefore 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Why do I see them retreating in panic, their heroes routed, fleeing headlong, not looking back, terror all around?" asks ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible
Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.
American Standard Version
Wherefore have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: terror is on every side, saith Jehovah.
World English Bible Messianic
Why have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and don’t look back: terror is on every side, says the LORD.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Wherefore haue I seene them afraid, and driuen backe? for their mighty men are smitten, and are fled away, and looke not backe: for feare was rounde about, sayeth the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore have I seen them dismayed--They are turned backward, And their mighty ones are beaten down, And to a refuge they have fled, and not turned the face? Fear is round about--an affirmation of Jehovah.
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In the KJVVerse 20,051 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Jeremiah 46 verses 1–12
1 ¶ The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
2 Against 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.
3 Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
4 Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
5 Wherefore 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.
6 Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
7 Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
8 Egypt 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.
9 Come 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.
10 For 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.
11 Go 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.
The first verse is the title of that part of this book, which relates to the neighbouring nations, and follows here. It is the word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah against the Gentiles; for God is King and Judge of nations, knows and will call to an account those who know him not nor take any notice of him. Both Isaiah and Ezekiel prophesied against these nations that Jeremiah here has a separate saying to, and with reference to the same events. In the Old Testament we have the word of the Lord against the Gentiles; in the New Testament we have the word of the Lord for the Gentiles, that those who were afar off are made nigh.
He begins with Egypt, because they were of old Israel's oppressors and of late their deceivers, when they put confidence in them. In these verses he foretells the overthrow of the army of Pharaoh-necho, by Nebuchadnezzar, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, which was so complete a victory to the king of Babylon that thereby he recovered from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt, and so weakened him that he came not again any more out of his land (as we find, Kg2 24:7), and so made him pay dearly for his expedition against the king of Assyria four years before, in which he slew Josiah, Kg2 23:29. This is the event that is here foretold in lofty expressions of triumph over Egypt thus foiled, which Jeremiah would speak of with a particular pleasure, because the death of Josiah, which he had lamented, was now avenged on Pharaoh-necho. Now here,
I. The Egyptians are upbraided with the mighty preparations they made for this expedition, in which the prophet calls to them to do their utmost, for so they would: "Come then, order the buckler, let the weapons of war be got ready," Jer 46:3. Egypt was famous for horses - let them be harnessed and the cavalry well mounted: Get up, you horsemen, and stand forth, etc., Jer 46:4. See what preparations the children of men make, with abundance of care and trouble and at a vast expense, to kill one another, as if they did not die fast enough of themselves. He compares their marching out upon this expedition to the rising of their river Nile (Jer 46:7, Jer 46:8): Egypt now rises up like a flood, scorning to keep within its own banks and threatening to overflow all the neighbouring lands. It is a very formidable army that the Egyptians bring into the field upon this occasion. The prophet summons them (Jer 46:9): Come up, you horses; rage, you chariots. He challenges them to bring all their confederate troops together, the Ethiopians, that descended from the same stock with the Egyptians (Gen 10:6), and were their neighbours and allies, the Libyans and Lydians, both seated in Africa, to the west of Egypt, and from them the Egyptians fetched their auxiliary forces. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain; they shall be shamefully defeated notwithstanding, for God will fight against them, and against him there is no wisdom nor counsel, Pro 21:30, Pro 21:31. It concerns those that go forth to war not only to order the buckler, and harness the horses, but to repent of their sins, and pray to God for his presence with them, and that they may have it to keep themselves from every wicked thing.
II. They are upbraided with the great expectations they had from this expedition, which were quite contrary to what God intended in bringing them together. They knew their own thoughts, and God knew them, and sat in heaven and laughed at them,; but they knew not the thoughts of the Lord, for he gathers them as sheaves into the floor, Mic 4:11, Mic 4:12. Egypt saith (Jer 46:8): I will go up; I will cover the earth, and none shall hinder me; I will destroy the city, whatever city it is that stands in my way. Like Pharaoh of old, I will pursue, I will overtake. The Egyptians say that they shall have a day of it, but God saith that it shall be his day: The is the day of the Lord God of hosts (Jer 46:10), the day in which he will be exalted in the overthrow of the Egyptians. They meant one thing, but God meant another; they designed it for the advancement of their dignity and the enlargement of their dominion, but God designed it for the great abasement and weakening of their kingdom. It is a day of vengeance for Josiah's death; it is a day of sacrifice to divine justice, to which multitudes of the sinners of Egypt shall fall as victims. Note, When men think to magnify themselves by pushing on unrighteous enterprises, let them expect that God will glorify himself by blasting them and cutting them off.
III. They are upbraided with their cowardice and inglorious flight when they come to an engagement (Jer 46:5, Jer 46:6): "Wherefore have I seen them, notwithstanding all these mighty and vast preparations and all these expressions of bravery and resolution, when the Chaldean army faces them, dismayed, turned back, quite disheartened, and no spirit left in them." 1. They make a shameful retreat. Even their mighty ones, who, one would think, should have stood their ground, flee a flight, flee by consent, make the best of their way, flee in confusion and with the utmost precipitation; they have neither time nor heart to look back, but fear is round about them, for they apprehend it so. And yet, 2. They cannot make their escape. They have the shame of flying, and yet not the satisfaction of saving themselves by flight; they might as well have stood their ground and died upon the spot; for even the swift shall not flee away. The lightness of their heels shall fail them when it comes to the trial, as well as the stoutness of their hearts; the mighty shall not escape, nay, they are beaten down and broken to pieces. They shall stumble in their flight, and fall towards the north, towards their enemy's country; for such confusion were they in when they took to their feet that instead of making homeward, as men usually do in that case, they made forward. Note, The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Valiant men are not always victorious.
IV. They are upbraided with their utter inability ever to recover this blow, which should be fatal to their nation, Jer 46:11, Jer 46:12. The damsel, the daughter of Egypt, that lived in great pomp and state, is sorely wounded by this defeat. Let her now seek for balm in Gilead and physicians there; let her use all the medicines her wise men can prescribe for the healing of this hurt, and the repairing of the loss sustained by this defeat; but all in vain; no cure shall be to them; they shall never be able to bring such a powerful army as this into the field again. "The nations that rang of thy glory and strength have now heard of thy shame, how shamefully thou wast routed and how thou are weakened by it." It needs not be spread by the triumphs of the conquerors, the shrieks and outcries of the conquered will proclaim it: Thy cry hath filled the country about. For, when they fled several ways, one mighty man stumbled upon another and dashed against another, such confusion were they in, so that both together became a pray to the pursuers, an easy prey. A thousand such dreadful accidents there should be, which should fill the country with the cry of those that were overcome. Let not the mighty man therefore glory in his might, for the time may come when it will stand him in no stead.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–12. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 46:5 powerfully captures the ignominious and chaotic rout of the Egyptian army at the pivotal Battle of Carchemish. Through a rhetorical question, the Lord Himself highlights His direct observation and orchestration of their sudden dismay and headlong retreat, underscoring that their military collapse was not a mere misfortune but a divinely ordained judgment. The verse vividly portrays the futility of human strength and pride when confronted by God's sovereign will, revealing that even Egypt's formidable "mighty ones" were utterly overwhelmed by a pervasive, divinely-instilled fear that compelled their desperate, unthinking flight.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 46:5 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment and the futility of human might. The verse opens with a Rhetorical Question ("Wherefore have I seen them dismayed...?"), which serves to immediately draw the reader's attention to the shocking spectacle of Egypt's defeat and to underscore the Lord's direct observation and implied agency in the event. This is followed by intensely Vivid Imagery and a rapid succession of Action Verbs ("dismayed," "turned away back," "beaten down," "fled apace," "look not back"). These verbs create a dynamic, chaotic, and almost frenetic scene, effectively painting a picture of a once-proud army reduced to a terrified, disorganized mob. The phrase "fled apace, and look not back" utilizes Hyperbole to emphasize the absolute nature of their rout, suggesting a panic so profound that all military discipline, strategic thinking, and self-preservation were abandoned in favor of sheer escape. Finally, the statement "fear [was] round about, saith the LORD" employs a form of Personification where "fear" is presented as an almost tangible, encircling force that actively paralyzes the army. The concluding phrase, "saith the LORD," functions as a Divine Declaration, stamping the entire prophecy with undeniable authority and attributing the ultimate cause of Egypt's catastrophic downfall directly to God's sovereign will and judgment.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 46:5 stands as a profound testament to God's absolute sovereignty over the affairs of nations and the ultimate futility of human power when it presumes to oppose or ignore His will. It reveals that the rise and fall of empires are not merely products of geopolitical forces, military might, or human ingenuity, but are meticulously orchestrated by the Almighty according to His immutable divine purposes. The swift and decisive defeat of Egypt's formidable army, despite its historical prowess and strategic preparations, serves as a stark reminder that no human institution, no matter how strong, proud, or seemingly invincible, can ultimately stand against the decree of the Lord. This truth should profoundly humble humanity, redirecting our trust from temporary earthly securities and fleeting human strength to the eternal, unshakeable power and wisdom of God. The divine instillation of fear demonstrates God's ability to dismantle even the most organized and powerful forces through psychological means, proving that true strength lies not in numbers, weaponry, or human resolve, but in alignment with the divine will.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 46:5 offers profound and enduring lessons for contemporary believers, serving as a powerful reminder that all human power, military might, national pride, and even personal capabilities are ultimately fleeting, temporal, and subject to God's supreme authority. In a world often characterized by political instability, economic uncertainty, and the rise and fall of global powers, this verse profoundly encourages us to place our ultimate trust and security not in earthly institutions, political systems, or even our own perceived strengths and abilities, but solely in the sovereign God who holds the destiny of nations and individuals in His hands. It calls for a posture of deep humility, recognizing that true security, lasting peace, and genuine strength come only from Him. When faced with overwhelming personal challenges, societal anxieties, or global crises, this passage reminds us that the Lord can, and often does, instill fear and confusion in the hearts of adversaries, ensuring His purposes are fulfilled. Therefore, our ultimate reliance should always be on Him, rather than succumbing to fear, despair, or misplaced confidence in human solutions.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the significance of the Battle of Carchemish for the ancient world?
Answer: The Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC was a pivotal moment in ancient Near Eastern history. It marked the definitive end of Egypt's imperial dominance and the complete collapse of the remnants of the Assyrian Empire, paving the way for the unchallenged rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar. This dramatic shift in power had profound implications for Judah, which subsequently fell under Babylonian control, leading directly to the Babylonian exile as prophesied by Jeremiah (compare Jeremiah 25:9-11).
Why does God "instill fear" in armies, as described in this verse?
Answer: God instills fear in armies as a potent means of divine judgment and to unequivocally demonstrate His absolute sovereignty over all human endeavors. In Jeremiah 46:5, the "fear [was] round about" the Egyptian army, causing their complete and disorderly rout. This is not merely a psychological tactic but a supernatural intervention that supernaturally breaks the morale and fighting spirit of even the strongest forces. It serves to show that no human power, no matter how formidable, can stand against God's will and that He can use any means, including internal panic and confusion, to achieve His purposes and execute His judgments (compare Exodus 23:27).
How does this verse relate to God's justice and mercy?
Answer: While Jeremiah 46:5 primarily highlights God's justice and judgment against a proud and often oppressive nation, it implicitly underscores His mercy towards His own covenant people. By dismantling the power of nations that oppressed or threatened Israel, God demonstrated His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His protective care for His chosen people. This act of judgment on Egypt was part of a larger, overarching divine plan that would eventually lead to the discipline of Judah, but also its ultimate restoration. God's justice is always perfectly balanced and righteous, even when its manifestation is severe, ultimately serving His redemptive purposes for humanity and His glory (compare Jeremiah 29:10-14).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 46:5, with its vivid depiction of a mighty army collapsing under divinely instilled fear and the profound futility of human strength, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The very sovereignty of God, which meticulously orchestrated the fall of Egypt and the rise of Babylon, is perfectly embodied in Christ, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given (compare Matthew 28:18). The "fear" that enveloped Egypt foreshadows the ultimate terror that will grip those who stand in rebellion against the Lamb of God on the day of final judgment, yet conversely, it powerfully highlights the profound peace, security, and refuge found by those who, by faith, take shelter in Him (compare Revelation 6:15-17). The "mighty ones" of Egypt, beaten down and fleeing in disarray, powerfully illustrate the absolute futility of relying on any human power, wisdom, military strength, or self-righteousness for salvation or ultimate security. Instead, all true power, victory, and salvation reside solely in Christ, who, through His crucifixion and resurrection, "disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities" and "made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (compare Colossians 2:15). His decisive victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness is the ultimate demonstration of God's sovereignty, ensuring that no earthly or spiritual foe can ultimately stand against His eternal kingdom. In Jesus, God's justice is perfectly executed, and His redemptive plan for humanity is fully realized, offering refuge from the very "fear" that consumes those outside of His grace (compare John 16:33).