Jeremiah 46 12

Jeremiah 46:12 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 46:12 nkjv

The nations have heard of your shame, And your cry has filled the land; For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty; They both have fallen together."

Jeremiah 46:12 niv

The nations will hear of your shame; your cries will fill the earth. One warrior will stumble over another; both will fall down together."

Jeremiah 46:12 esv

The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together."

Jeremiah 46:12 nlt

The nations have heard of your shame.
The earth is filled with your cries of despair.
Your mightiest warriors will run into each other
and fall down together."

Jeremiah 46 verses

Jeremiah 46 12 Meaning

Jeremiah 46:12 vividly portrays the complete humiliation and widespread distress of Egypt following its devastating defeat. The verse declares that the neighboring nations will not only hear but understand and grasp the full extent of Egypt's disgrace, implying a public spectacle of their fall. The cries of defeat, pain, and anguish from the routed Egyptian forces will reverberate so widely that they will metaphorically "fill the earth," indicating the immense scale and notoriety of their collapse. The underlying reason for this profound shame and pervasive lament is depicted as a scene of internal chaos and mutual destruction within the Egyptian army itself: "one warrior has stumbled over another, and both have fallen down together," signifying their total disarray and an uncoordinated, catastrophic downfall. This signifies God's sovereign judgment being executed upon a proud nation.

Jeremiah 46 12 Context

Jeremiah chapter 46 is part of a series of prophecies against various foreign nations, serving to underscore Yahweh's universal sovereignty and His active role in human history beyond just Israel. Specifically, verses 1-26 focus on God's judgment against Egypt, particularly concerning the defeat of Pharaoh Necho's army by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE. This was a pivotal moment in ancient Near Eastern history, as it marked the decline of Egyptian power and the ascendance of the Babylonian empire. Jeremiah 46:12 encapsulates the immediate aftermath and profound consequence of this devastating defeat. It speaks directly to the utter military and national humiliation that Egypt experienced, which was meant to be publicly recognized by all surrounding nations. The preceding verses (Jer 46:3-11) vividly depict the futile preparations and the initial, powerful charge of the Egyptian army, only to culminate in their complete disarray and flight. Verse 12 serves as the divine pronouncement of the far-reaching impact of this catastrophe, explaining why Egypt's once-vaunted strength became an object of mockery and despair.

Jeremiah 46 12 Word analysis

• וְשָׁמְעוּ (wəšām‘û) - "And heard" / "The nations have heard": Derived from shama' (שָׁמַע), meaning to hear, listen, or obey. Here, it implies a thorough, pervasive hearing and understanding, not just a casual encounter with noise. The news of Egypt's defeat will spread far and wide, grasped by surrounding peoples.
• גּוֹיִם (gōyîm) - "Nations": Refers to the Gentile peoples or the surrounding non-Israelite nations. This highlights the international witness to Egypt's humiliation, making it a matter of global consequence.
• חֶרְפָּתֵךְ (ḥer•pātēḵ) - "Your shame" / "your disgrace": From ḥerphah (חֶרְפָּה), a strong term for public disgrace, humiliation, reproach, or insult. The suffix '-ēḵ' indicates second-person feminine singular, personifying Egypt as a shamed woman, a common prophetic device.
• וְהֶמְלֵאָה (wəhemlə’āh) - "And filled": From male' (מָלֵא), meaning to fill or be full. This emphasizes the sheer volume and pervasive nature of the sounds.
• הָאָרֶץ (hā’āreṣ) - "The earth" / "the land": Can denote the entire globe or simply the immediate region, depending on context. Here, it signifies the extensive reach of the cries, perhaps suggesting the entire known world of that time.
• קוֹלֵךְ (qōlēḵ) - "Your voice" / "your cry": From qol (קוֹל), meaning voice, sound, or noise. In this context, it is a cry of agony, lamentation, and military defeat, rather than a sound of strength or joy.
• כִּי־ (kî-) - "For" / "because": Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statements, clarifying why Egypt experiences such shame and widespread cries.
• גִּבּוֹר בְּגִבּוֹר (gibôr bəḡibôr) - "Warrior over warrior" / "warrior against warrior": Gibôr (גִּבּוֹר) means a mighty man, hero, or warrior. The repetition with the preposition bə- (in/among/by/against) signifies a catastrophic breakdown where soldiers trip over each other, or perhaps even fight among themselves, in sheer panic and disorganization. It denotes a mutual and disorderly collapse.
• כָּשְׁלוּ (kāšəlû) - "They stumbled": From kashal (כָּשַׁל), to stumble, falter, or totter. This describes the initial lack of footing and stability, suggesting disorganization rather than direct combat.
• וַיִּפְּלוּ (wayyipəlû) - "And they fell": From naphal (נָפַל), to fall, drop, or collapse. This term indicates a more complete and ultimate collapse following the stumble.
• שְׁנֵיהֶם (šəneihèm) - "Both of them" / "the two of them": Emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the collapse. Not just one falling, but a cascade, indicating the army's unity fracturing into a collective tumble.
• יַחְדָּו (yaḥdāw) - "Together" / "simultaneously": Reinforces the complete and collective nature of the downfall, implying a scene of chaotic and mutual collapse.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The nations have heard of your shame; your cries fill the earth": This phrase emphasizes the global reach and renown of Egypt's disgrace. It is a declaration that the consequences of God's judgment will not be confined to Egypt but will serve as a stark warning to all nations observing. It underscores the public and humiliating nature of the defeat, marking the end of Egypt's perceived invincibility.
• "For one warrior has stumbled over another, and both have fallen down together": This vivid imagery paints a picture of extreme disarray, panic, and a complete breakdown of military discipline. It's not just defeat by an external enemy, but an internal implosion. This might indicate soldiers fleeing in a chaotic rout, hindering each other, or even being trampled by their own comrades. The simultaneous fall of "both" underscores a collective and mutual collapse, where the very strength of their "warriors" becomes their undoing. This is not a planned retreat but utter chaos and disorganization that multiplies their losses.

Jeremiah 46 12 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ḥerphah (חֶרְפָּה), translated as "shame" or "disgrace," is a very potent term throughout the Old Testament. It often signifies not merely internal embarrassment but public ridicule, scorn, and a stripping away of honor. For a powerful nation like Egypt, known for its long history and impressive armies, to be consumed by ḥerphah was the ultimate insult, signaling the demise of its former glory and authority. The repetition of gibôr bəḡibôr not only points to chaos but can also imply that the strength ("warrior") they relied on ultimately contributed to their downfall, turning inward to destroy itself. This speaks to the self-destructive nature of pride and relying on finite human power. The sound "filling the earth" further carries a polemic against the Egyptian pantheon. While the Egyptians attributed military prowess to gods like Re and Horus, this prophecy declares that their fall would echo loudly, not the strength of their gods. It's a loud declaration of the one true God's absolute supremacy over all perceived earthly powers and false deities.

Jeremiah 46 12 Commentary

Jeremiah 46:12 serves as a poignant epitaph for Egypt's military might and national pride in the face of divine judgment. The verse highlights not merely a military defeat, but a profound public humiliation witnessed by the entire world of that era. God's purpose was to expose the hollowness of relying on human strength and alliances apart from Him. The "shame" and "cries filling the earth" convey a universal awareness of Egypt's sudden fall from grace and perceived power, silencing their boasts and displaying their vulnerability. The striking imagery of "one warrior stumbling over another" encapsulates the depth of their internal disarray and panic. It reveals that the defeat was not just from the might of Babylon, but facilitated by the chaos and fear that gripped the Egyptian forces from within. This internal collapse intensified their vulnerability, demonstrating God's capacity to undermine a nation's strength even by causing its own foundations to crumble. It stands as a stark reminder that pride precedes a fall, and ultimately, no human power can stand against the sovereign decree of the Lord of Hosts.

• Example for Practical Usage: A community project relying solely on human expertise and ego-driven leaders may stumble and fall into disarray, similar to the warriors. This contrasts with efforts that acknowledge human limitations and seek divine guidance, preventing internal chaos.
• Example for Practical Usage: Individuals consumed by pride in their own strength or achievements may find themselves suddenly disgraced and crying out when unexpected adversity exposes their limitations. True strength comes from reliance on the Lord.