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Jeremiah 43:13

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He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that [is] in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

He shall break {H7665} also the images {H4676} of Bethshemesh {H1053}, that is in the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}; and the houses {H1004} of the gods {H430} of the Egyptians {H4714} shall he burn {H8313} with fire {H784}.

He will also break the standing-stones of the temple of the sun in the land of Egypt and burn to the ground the temples of the gods of Egypt."'"

He will demolish the sacred pillars of the temple of the sun in the land of Egypt, and he will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’”

He shall also break the pillars of Beth-shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of Egypt shall he burn with fire.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 43:13 (KJV)

Jeremiah 43:13 is a powerful declaration of God's coming judgment against Egypt, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish remnant who had fled there against God's explicit command after the fall of Jerusalem.

Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar (recorded in Jeremiah 39), a remnant of Jews remained in the land. Against Jeremiah's fervent warnings from the Lord, they chose to flee to Egypt, seeking safety and sustenance there (Jeremiah 42). Chapter 43 recounts Jeremiah being forced to accompany them to Tahpanhes in Egypt (Jeremiah 43:7). While there, God gave Jeremiah this prophecy, foretelling that Nebuchadnezzar, His servant, would conquer Egypt and judge their idolatry.

Key Themes

  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: This verse demonstrates God's control not only over Israel's fate but also over powerful nations like Egypt and the Babylonian empire used as His instrument of judgment.
  • Judgment on Idolatry: The central focus is the destruction of Egyptian idols and temples, highlighting God's absolute opposition to false worship and the futility of relying on pagan gods.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: For the Jewish remnant, fleeing to Egypt for safety meant running directly into the path of God's coming judgment on that nation, proving the danger of trusting in worldly refuge over divine instruction.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Bethshemesh" (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ - Beyth Shemesh) literally means "House of the Sun." This city was a major center for the worship of the Egyptian sun god, Ra, known to the Greeks as Heliopolis. The "images" (מַצֵּבָה - matstsebah) could refer to sacred pillars, obelisks, or standing stones associated with idol worship, which Nebuchadnezzar would break.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 43:13 serves as a stark reminder that God will judge all forms of idolatry. Whether worshipping physical images or placing ultimate trust in wealth, power, or any created thing instead of the Creator, such misplaced devotion will ultimately prove futile. The verse encourages believers to place their sole trust and worship in the one true God, recognizing that He holds the destiny of all nations and individuals in His hands. Seeking refuge or security apart from Him, as the remnant did by fleeing to Egypt, leads only to encountering His judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 19:18 (2 votes)

    ¶ In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.