Print Page Options Listen to Jeremiah 47

Judgment on Philistia

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet (A)against the Philistines, (B)before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, (C)waters rise (D)out of the north,
And shall be an overflowing flood;
They shall overflow the land and all that is in it,
The city and those who dwell within;
Then the men shall cry,
And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
At the (E)noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses,
At the rushing of his chariots,
At the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers will not look back for their children,
[a]Lacking courage,
Because of the day that comes to plunder all the (F)Philistines,
To cut off from (G)Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains;
For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines,
(H)The remnant of the country of (I)Caphtor.[b]
(J)Baldness has come upon Gaza,
(K)Ashkelon is cut off
With the remnant of their valley.
How long will you cut yourself?

“O you (L)sword of the Lord,
How long until you are quiet?
Put yourself up into your scabbard,
Rest and be still!
How can [c]it be quiet,
Seeing the Lord has (M)given it a charge
Against Ashkelon and against the seashore?
There He has (N)appointed it.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:3 Lit. From sinking hands
  2. Jeremiah 47:4 Crete
  3. Jeremiah 47:7 Lit. you

Prophecy against Philistia

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the (A)Philistines, before Pharaoh [a]conquered (B)Gaza. This is what the Lord says:

“Behold, waters are going to rise from (C)the north
And become an overflowing torrent,
And (D)overflow the land and everything that is in it,
The city and those who live in it;
And the people will (E)cry out,
And every inhabitant of the land will wail.
Because of the noise of the [b](F)galloping hoofs of his [c]stallions,
The roar of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers have not turned back for their children,
Because of the debility of their hands,
Because of the day that is coming
To (G)destroy all the Philistines,
To eliminate from (H)Tyre and Sidon
Every surviving ally;
For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant of the coastland of (I)Caphtor.
(J)Baldness has come upon Gaza;
(K)Ashkelon has been destroyed.
Remnant of their valley,
How long will you (L)gash yourself?
Ah, (M)sword of the Lord,
How long will you not be quiet?
Withdraw into your sheath;
Rest and stay still.
How can [d]it be quiet,
When the Lord has (N)given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the sea shore—
There He has (O)summoned it.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:1 Lit struck
  2. Jeremiah 47:3 Lit stamping of the
  3. Jeremiah 47:3 Lit mighty ones
  4. Jeremiah 47:7 Lit you

Prophecy against Philistia

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked and conquered [the Philistine city of] Gaza.(A) Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, waters are going to rise out of the north (Babylonia)
And become an overflowing stream
And overflow the land and all that is in it,
The city and those who live in it.
Then the people will cry out,
And all the inhabitants of the land [of Philistia] will wail.

“Because of the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of the war-horses [of the Babylonian king],
The rattling of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers have not looked and turned back for their children,
So weak are their hands [with terror]

Because of the day that is coming
To destroy all the Philistines
And to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
Every ally who remains.
For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant [still surviving] of the coastland of [a]Caphtor.(B)

“Baldness [as a sign of mourning] will come on Gaza;
Ashkelon will be cut off and ruined.
O remnant of their valley,
How long will you gash yourselves [as a sign of mourning]?

“O you sword of the Lord,
How long will it be before you are quiet?
Put yourself into your sheath;
Rest and be still.

“How can His sword be quiet
When the Lord has given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the [whole Philistine] seashore
There He has assigned it.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:4 A reference to the island of Crete, believed to be the original homeland of the Philistines.

A Message About the Philistines

47 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines(A) before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:(B)

This is what the Lord says:

“See how the waters are rising in the north;(C)
    they will become an overflowing torrent.
They will overflow the land and everything in it,
    the towns and those who live in them.
The people will cry out;
    all who dwell in the land will wail(D)
at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,
    at the noise of enemy chariots(E)
    and the rumble of their wheels.
Parents will not turn to help their children;
    their hands will hang limp.(F)
For the day has come
    to destroy all the Philistines
and to remove all survivors
    who could help Tyre(G) and Sidon.(H)
The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,(I)
    the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.[a](J)
Gaza will shave(K) her head in mourning;
    Ashkelon(L) will be silenced.
You remnant on the plain,
    how long will you cut(M) yourselves?

“‘Alas, sword(N) of the Lord,
    how long till you rest?
Return to your sheath;
    cease and be still.’(O)
But how can it rest
    when the Lord has commanded it,
when he has ordered it
    to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”(P)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 47:4 That is, Crete

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

Thus saith the Lord; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.

At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;

Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the Lord will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.