Jeremiah 46 15

Jeremiah 46:15 kjv

Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

Jeremiah 46:15 nkjv

Why are your valiant men swept away? They did not stand Because the LORD drove them away.

Jeremiah 46:15 niv

Why will your warriors be laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD will push them down.

Jeremiah 46:15 esv

Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the LORD thrust them down.

Jeremiah 46:15 nlt

Why have your warriors fallen?
They cannot stand, for the LORD has knocked them down.

Jeremiah 46 verses

Jeremiah 46 15 Meaning

Jeremiah 46:15 questions why Egypt's seemingly invincible warriors were defeated and swept away. The verse itself answers the rhetorical question, declaring that their defeat was not due to a lack of their own strength but because the Lord (Yahweh) actively and sovereignly swept them away, highlighting divine judgment and power over even the mightiest of human forces.

Jeremiah 46 15 Context

Jeremiah 46 is a prophetic oracle specifically concerning Egypt. It begins with the significant historical event of the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, where the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar decisively defeated the Egyptian forces under Pharaoh Neco II. This defeat effectively ended Egypt's brief resurgence as a major regional power and marked Babylon's rise to dominance, deeply impacting Judah's geopolitical position.

Verse 15 comes after a vivid description of Egypt preparing for war, picturing them as mighty and boasting of their strength (Jer 46:3-12). Jeremiah ironically paints a picture of their formidable preparations followed by their utter collapse. The oracle uses powerful imagery of floods and military mustering to underscore the contrast between Egypt's perceived strength and its actual vulnerability before Yahweh. The "swept away" imagery could also allude to the River Nile, a source of Egypt's power, being turned against them or rendered useless. The broader context of Jeremiah's prophecies against nations (Jer 46-51) demonstrates God's sovereign control over world events and His use of nations (like Babylon) as instruments of His judgment, both for Judah's correction and the judgment of their oppressors or false hopes.

Jeremiah 46 15 Word analysis

• Why: A rhetorical question, not seeking information but expressing incredulity or emphatic certainty. It sets up the immediate answer, highlighting the cause of their defeat.
• are your mighty ones:
  • mighty ones (אַבִּירֶיךָ - ʾabbireykā): The Hebrew word ʾabbir (אַבִּיר) signifies the strongest, most powerful, or chief individuals. Often refers to strong men, valiant warriors, or even robust bulls, connoting impressive physical strength and resilience. Here, it explicitly refers to Egypt's elite military, its strongest and most trusted soldiers and possibly commanders. The possessive "your" identifies them directly with Egypt (implied from chapter context). The implication is that even their most formidable forces were useless.
• swept away?:
  • swept away (נִסְחָפוּ - nischapu): From the Hebrew root sāḥap (סָחַף), meaning to drag away, sweep off, or overwhelm. The Niphal perfect passive voice used here (نִסְחָפוּ) emphasizes that they were acted upon, not that they actively retreated or fled in an organized manner. It suggests a forceful, uncontrollable removal, like debris being carried away by a flood or an irresistible current. It denotes utter destruction, collapse, and an inability to resist the overwhelming force.
• They did not stand: This phrase indicates an absolute inability to hold their ground, to maintain a defensive position, or to offer any effective resistance. It suggests utter collapse, flight, or death rather than strategic retreat. It signifies the complete failure of their resolve and physical ability.
• because: A causal conjunction (kī, כִּי), establishing a direct explanation and linking the observed defeat to its divine cause.
• the Lord: יהוה (Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of the God of Israel. His explicit naming here is crucial. It asserts that Egypt's fall was not a mere stroke of bad luck or a result of superior Babylonian tactics alone, but a direct, deliberate act of the sovereign God of Israel. This is a polemic against the Egyptian deities who were powerless to save their nation and its armies.
• swept them away:
  • swept them away (סְחָפָם - səchāphām): Uses the same Hebrew root sāḥap (סָחָף) as the first instance, but now in the Qal active perfect voice. This second use directly attributes the active sweeping to Yahweh, reiterating and emphasizing His decisive role. The repetition of the verb powerfully drives home the point of divine agency behind the catastrophe. It shifts from their being passively swept away to the Lord being the active agent of that very action, making the divine causality undeniable.

Words-group analysis:

• "Why are your mighty ones swept away? ... They did not stand": This pair of statements contrasts Egypt's supposed might and prepared posture (described earlier in the chapter) with its actual humiliating and irresistible defeat. It uses rhetoric to lead the listener to the inescapable conclusion.
• "swept away ... because the Lord swept them away": The powerful repetition of the verb swept away (סָחַף - sāḥap) is key. In the first instance, it is passive (nischapu), describing the consequence for the mighty ones. In the second instance, it is active (səchāphām), revealing the ultimate agent. This linguistic construction ensures that the listener understands that the Lord is not just a distant observer but the direct, active cause of Egypt's military catastrophe, highlighting His absolute control.

Jeremiah 46 15 Bonus section

The active and passive voice play in this verse (swept away passive vs. swept them away active) is a profound theological device. It signifies that Egypt was utterly helpless in its destruction (they were swept away), and the specific agent of that helplessness was the sovereign hand of the Lord (the Lord swept them away). This emphasizes not just a general defeat but a divinely ordained one. It's an affirmation of divine decree over human destiny and geopolitical power, demonstrating Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy over all the earth.

Jeremiah 46 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 46:15 offers a potent theological statement wrapped in a historical lament. It cuts through any humanistic explanation for Egypt's downfall, whether attributing it to superior Babylonian tactics, military misjudgment, or sheer bad luck. Instead, it asserts that the ultimate cause was divine action. Egypt's "mighty ones" – their elite warriors, their strongest military assets – were deemed powerless, not because they lacked courage or skill, but because they faced a force beyond human comprehension or resistance: the sovereign will of Yahweh. This served as a stark reminder to Judah that relying on Egypt for political or military alliance was futile, as God Himself was against them. It was also a powerful polemic against the perceived invincibility of powerful pagan nations and their deities. For the believing audience, this verse affirmed God's control over the rise and fall of nations, demonstrating that His plans prevail regardless of human strength or ambition, thus inspiring trust in Him rather than in earthly alliances. It is a timeless truth that no earthly power, however great, can stand against the will and decree of the Almighty.