Jeremiah 46:13 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 46:13 kjv
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 nkjv
The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would come and strike the land of Egypt.
Jeremiah 46:13 niv
This is the message the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to attack Egypt:
Jeremiah 46:13 esv
The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
Jeremiah 46:13 nlt
Then the LORD gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar's plans to attack Egypt.
Jeremiah 46 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 19:1 | An oracle concerning Egypt... | Prophecy against Egypt |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb...I appointed you as a prophet to nations." | Jeremiah's call to prophesy against nations |
| Jer 1:10 | "See, I have appointed you this day...to pluck up and to pull down..." | Jeremiah's authority over nations |
| Jer 25:15 | "...cup of the wine of wrath...make all the nations drink it..." | God's judgment cup for all nations |
| Jer 27:6 | "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar..." | Nebuchadnezzar as God's servant |
| Jer 43:10 | "I will send and get Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant..." | God calls Nebuchadnezzar His servant |
| Jer 44:30 | "...give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies..." | Prophecy of Egypt's king falling |
| Ezek 29:19-20 | "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon...executed My judgment on Tyre...I have given him the land of Egypt." | Egypt as spoils for Nebuchadnezzar's service |
| Ezek 30:10-12 | "...bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon against you...lay waste the land." | Nebuchadnezzar explicitly to destroy Egypt |
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger...I send it against a godless nation." | God uses pagan empires as His instruments |
| Hab 1:6 | "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation..." | God raises up nations for judgment |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "Exaltation comes neither from the east...west...from God alone." | God controls rise and fall of nations |
| Dan 2:21 | "...He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and installs kings..." | God's sovereignty over rulers and empires |
| Gen 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse." | Principle of divine blessing/curse for nations |
| Exod 14:4 | "...I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will gain glory..." | God's sovereignty over Egyptian rulers and history |
| 1 Ki 11:29-31 | Ahijah's prophecy of Israel's division, illustrating specific divine intervention. | Specific prophetic revelation of future events |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." | God reveals His plans to prophets |
| Jn 16:13 | "...He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative..." | God's Spirit guiding truth in the NT |
| 2 Pet 1:20-21 | "...no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation...carried along by the Holy Spirit." | Divine origin of prophecy |
| Mt 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." | God's word is enduring and faithful |
| Jer 46:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations." | Similar superscription for broader foreign nation prophecies |
| Zech 10:11-12 | "He will pass through the sea of distress...all the proud force of Assyria will be humbled..." | Prophecy concerning Egypt's pride and fall |
Jeremiah 46 verses
Jeremiah 46 13 meaning
This verse acts as a superscription, introducing a divine message from the Lord (YHWH) delivered through His prophet Jeremiah. It declares God's explicit word concerning the impending invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The primary intent is to signify God's sovereign hand orchestrating historical events, specifically using Nebuchadnezzar as an instrument of judgment against Egypt. It sets the stage for the detailed prophecy that follows, affirming the source of the message as divine and its fulfillment as certain.
Jeremiah 46 13 Context
Jeremiah chapter 46 specifically introduces prophecies against Egypt, beginning with an oracle about the battle of Carchemish (vv. 2-12). This battle, occurring in 605 BC, saw Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces decisively defeat Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, ending Egyptian dominance in the Levant and ushering in Babylonian supremacy. Following this, the verse at hand (v. 13) serves as a new superscription, introducing a further and more direct prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's future invasion of Egypt itself.
Historically, Egypt represented a significant regional power that Judah frequently turned to for political and military alliances, often in defiance of God's commands and warnings through prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. This reliance was consistently portrayed as futile and faithless. Therefore, this prophecy against Egypt serves a dual purpose: to demonstrate God's sovereignty over all nations, even those seemingly powerful, and to underscore the folly of Judah's misplaced trust in foreign alliances rather than in God Himself. It confirms that the Lord controls the course of empires and executes His judgments even through pagan kings, making His word undeniable and sovereign.
Jeremiah 46 13 Word analysis
The word (davar - דָּבָר): This noun emphasizes a message or pronouncement, particularly one carrying authority and divine weight. In biblical Hebrew, davar often refers to an act of God, a command, a promise, or the very essence of God's revelation, signifying truth and effectiveness.
that the Lord (YHWH - יְהוָה): Refers to the personal covenant God of Israel. This designation highlights His unique identity as the self-existent, faithful, and sovereign deity, ensuring the absolute authority and certainty of the message, distinguishing it from human speculation.
spoke (dibber - דִּבֶּר): This verb indicates a direct and intentional communication. It implies not just utterance but also a purpose behind the speaking, stressing the intentionality of the divine revelation through Jeremiah.
to Jeremiah the prophet (el-Yirmeyahu ha-navi' - אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא): Identifies the specific human instrument through whom God's message is conveyed. Jeremiah's prophetic office validates the message as authentic and divinely inspired, removing doubt about its source. He is the authorized messenger.
concerning the coming ('al-bo' - עַל־בֹּא): The preposition "concerning" introduces the specific subject of the prophecy. "Coming" (literally "at the coming of") indicates an impending or definite future arrival, pointing to a concrete historical event.
of Nebuchadnezzar (nebuchadnetzar - נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר): This is the Babylonian king, a real historical figure. His explicit naming underscores the concrete, verifiable nature of the prophecy, showing God's intimate involvement in world history and His knowledge of future events and their specific actors.
king of Babylon (melekh Babel - מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל): Reinforces the identity of Nebuchadnezzar as the powerful ruler of the dominant empire of the era, the primary instrument of God's judgment across the ancient Near East.
to strike (le-hakot - לְהַכּוֹת): This infinitive, meaning "to strike down," "to smite," or "to conquer," denotes aggressive action and intended destruction or subjugation. It specifies the hostile purpose of Nebuchadnezzar's coming.
the land of Egypt (et-'erets-Mitsrayim - אֶת־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם): Clearly identifies the target of this divine judgment. Egypt was a powerful kingdom, often a symbol of human pride and reliance, and a constant temptation for Judah to seek worldly alliances.
"The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet": This phrase firmly establishes the divine origin and prophetic authority of the message. It means this is not Jeremiah's personal opinion or a human political analysis, but a direct revelation from YHWH, communicated precisely to His chosen spokesperson.
"concerning the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon": This segment highlights God's absolute sovereignty over even the most powerful pagan rulers. Nebuchadnezzar, despite his personal ambitions, is unwittingly serving God's predetermined plan. His rise and movements are orchestrated by God for divine purposes.
"to strike the land of Egypt": This phrase concisely states the purpose and object of the divine judgment. It signifies God's justice against a nation known for its pride and historical oppression, demonstrating that no nation is beyond the scope of His judgment and that He is truly sovereign over all.
Jeremiah 46 13 Bonus section
This verse's format as a "superscription" (a heading introducing a prophetic oracle) is a common literary feature in the prophetic books, notably seen throughout Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Amos. Such introductions serve to authenticate the prophecy, identify its speaker (God) and human recipient (the prophet), and specify its subject matter, often including a timeframe or target nation. This literary device emphasizes the divinely revealed nature of the text, setting it apart from historical chronicles or human opinion. It reinforces the authority behind the ensuing message, framing historical events not as random occurrences but as direct manifestations of God's pre-declared will. The naming of Nebuchadnezzar so directly, long before the event (from the perspective of when Jeremiah likely recorded it, though the fulfillment was indeed soon to follow), also served as a powerful testimony to God's omniscience, contrasting with the limited foresight of human leaders and pagan diviners. This detail also serves as an indirect polemic against Egyptian gods and their supposed protection; if their land can be struck by a king chosen by YHWH, their deities are clearly powerless.
Jeremiah 46 13 Commentary
Jeremiah 46:13 acts as an essential heading for the subsequent prophecy detailing Egypt's impending destruction by Babylon. This brief yet potent statement communicates several profound truths. First, it asserts the undeniable divine origin of the message ("The word that the Lord spoke"), stressing that the Lord YHWH is not merely a regional deity but the sovereign orchestrator of global events. Second, it highlights the prophetic legitimacy through Jeremiah, confirming his role as God's authentic voice amidst a time rife with false prophets. Third, it pinpoints the specific agent of God's judgment: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. This seemingly pagan monarch is revealed as God's tool, a stark reminder that even those outside the covenant community operate under the unseen hand of divine providence. Lastly, the clear target—the land of Egypt—shows God's justice extended to nations beyond Israel, signifying that no empire, however mighty or self-sufficient, is exempt from accountability before the Almighty. This verse thereby transforms a geopolitical conflict into a clear demonstration of God's absolute control over history, delivering a message of judgment for Egypt while subtly reaffirming God's power to Judah who once relied on Egyptian strength.