What does Jeremiah 46:14 mean?
"Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee." - Jeremiah 46:14
The verse Jeremiah 46:14 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads, "Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee." This verse is part of a prophecy against Egypt, which was a prominent political and military power in the ancient world.
The book of Jeremiah is a collection of prophecies and narratives concerning the life and ministry of the prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. He prophesied during the final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, witnessing the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC. Jeremiah's prophecies encompass both Judah and several other nations, including Egypt. In Jeremiah 46, the prophet presents a series of oracles addressing the impending invasion of Egypt by the Babylonians.
The verse under consideration is a summons to the Egyptian cities of Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes to prepare for the onslaught of the sword. The call to "declare" and "publish" the impending judgment reflects the urgency of the situation. It is a warning to the people of Egypt to brace themselves for the devastation that is about to befall them.
The themes in this verse revolve around the impending judgment and destruction of Egypt. The overarching theme is the sovereignty of God and His judgment upon the nations. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, the prophet consistently emphasizes the inevitability of God's judgment on all nations, including Judah and its neighbors. The message conveyed is that no nation is exempt from divine judgment if it acts in disobedience and rebellion against God.
The context of this verse is essential for understanding its significance. Egypt, as a major power in the ancient Near East, held strategic importance and was often a target of conquest for neighboring empires. In this case, the Babylonians, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar, sought to expand their dominion by attacking and subjugating Egypt. Jeremiah's prophecy foretold of the devastation that would be brought upon Egypt by the Babylonian forces.
Symbolism in this verse is evident in the use of the sword as a metaphor for the military invasion and destruction that Egypt would experience. The sword often symbolizes warfare, violence, and judgment throughout the Bible. Here, it represents the imminent and overwhelming force that the Babylonians would unleash upon Egypt, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life.
Additionally, the cities of Migdol, Noph, and Tahpanhes may hold symbolic significance. Migdol and Noph were prominent cities in ancient Egypt, and Tahpanhes was a fortress city with strategic military importance. These cities, mentioned specifically in the prophecy, are representative of the entire nation of Egypt and its vulnerability to invasion and destruction.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 46:14 is a powerful and ominous prophecy of the impending judgment and destruction of Egypt at the hands of the Babylonian forces. The verse conveys the themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and the inevitability of God's justice upon the nations. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion against God. The symbolic use of the sword and the specific mention of Egyptian cities add depth and urgency to the message, emphasizing the severity of the impending devastation. This verse stands as a solemn warning to all nations of the world that God's judgment will be executed upon those who oppose His will and authority.
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Jeremiah 46:14 - "Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee."
"Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee." - Jeremiah 46:14
Jeremiah 46:1 - "The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;"
Jeremiah 46:13 - "¶ The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt."
Jeremiah 46:3 - "Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle."
Jeremiah 46:20 - "Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north."
Jeremiah 46:7 - "Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?"
Mark 14:46 - "¶ And they laid their hands on him, and took him."
Genesis 46:14 - "¶ And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel."
Jeremiah 50:46 - "At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations."
Jeremiah 46:15 - "Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them."
"The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;" - Jeremiah 46:1
Jeremiah 46:24 - "The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north."
Jeremiah 46:17 - "They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed."
Jeremiah 48:46 - "Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives."
Jeremiah 46:22 - "The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood."
Jeremiah 46:19 - "O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant."
Jeremiah 46:23 - "They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable."
"¶ And they laid their hands on him, and took him." - Mark 14:46
Jeremiah 46:4 - "Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines."
Jeremiah 46:6 - "Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates."
1 Samuel 14:46 - "Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place."
"¶ And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel." - Genesis 46:14
"Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle." - Jeremiah 46:3
"¶ The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt." - Jeremiah 46:13
Jeremiah 46:11 - "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."
Jeremiah 46:18 - "As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come."
"Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?" - Jeremiah 46:7
Jeremiah 46:5 - "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."
Jeremiah 46:8 - "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."