Jeremiah 46 5

Jeremiah 46:5 kjv

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 46:5 nkjv

Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back? Their mighty ones are beaten down; They have speedily fled, And did not look back, For fear was all around," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 46:5 niv

What do I see? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are defeated. They flee in haste without looking back, and there is terror on every side," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 46:5 esv

Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back ? terror on every side! declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 46:5 nlt

But what do I see?
The Egyptian army flees in terror.
The bravest of its fighting men run
without a backward glance.
They are terrorized at every turn,"
says the LORD.

Jeremiah 46 verses

Jeremiah 46 5 Meaning

Jeremiah 46:5 describes the utter disarray and devastating defeat of Pharaoh Necho's Egyptian army at the Battle of Carchemish. The Lord, through the prophet, questions the reason for their panic and chaotic retreat, highlighting the complete collapse of their mighty warriors. It emphasizes their swift, panicked flight without any opportunity for even a glance backward, consumed by an omnipresent terror that emanates from God's judgment.

Jeremiah 46 5 Context

Jeremiah chapter 46 is part of a larger section (chapters 46-51) containing prophecies against various foreign nations. These prophecies serve to demonstrate the Lord's absolute sovereignty over all kingdoms, even the mightiest ones of the day. Jeremiah 46 specifically concerns Egypt and focuses on the defeat of Pharaoh Necho's army by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. This battle was a decisive turning point in ancient Near Eastern history, marking the end of Egyptian dominance and the beginning of the Babylonian Empire's rise to power. For the original audience in Judah, who had seen Pharaoh Necho defeat and kill King Josiah (2 Ki 23:29-30), this prophecy of Egypt's humiliating downfall would have underscored the futility of relying on any earthly power, including Egypt, and the inescapable reality of God's divine judgment against pride and ungodliness.

Jeremiah 46 5 Word analysis

• Why have I seen them: This rhetorical question comes directly from the Lord. It signifies His keen observation of the events, not out of ignorance, but as a pronouncement of the complete and observable collapse. It conveys a sense of divine certainty and the inevitability of this judgment, almost as if He is presenting a self-evident fact of their utter defeat.
• dismayed: (Hebrew: מְחַתִּים, mekhattim) - This term derives from a root meaning "to be terrified, shattered, dismayed, broken." It indicates a deep internal state of panic, loss of courage, and a complete shattering of morale. It’s not just confusion, but an existential dread that paralyzes their fighting spirit.
• and turned backward: (Hebrew: נְסוֹגִים אָחוֹר, nesogim achor) - Literally, "retreating backward" or "falling back." This signifies a panicked flight from the battlefield, a disorderly rout rather than an organized withdrawal. It means they were actively and hurriedly going in the opposite direction from the fight.
• And their mighty ones: (Hebrew: וְגִבּוֹרֵיהֶם, veggibborehem) - Refers to their heroes, valiant warriors, or elite soldiers. This emphasizes that even the most formidable and renowned among them were not spared this defeat, highlighting the extent of God's power over human strength. This is a direct polemic against the idea of Egypt's military invincibility.
• are beaten down: (Hebrew: נִגָּפוּ, niggāfu) - This verb implies being "struck down" or "smitten." Often, in biblical usage, when forces are "beaten down" or "smitten" (from the root נגף nagaf), it suggests a direct divine hand in their defeat, a "plague" or a "blow." It goes beyond merely being overcome by enemy soldiers; it hints at a divinely orchestrated collapse.
• And have fled in haste: (Hebrew: וַיִּמְרָקוּ מָנוֹס, wayyimraqu manōs) - "They hurried away with a flight." The phrase depicts a frantic, desperate escape, devoid of military discipline or strategic purpose. It's a spontaneous rush to save oneself.
• and do not look back! (Hebrew: וְלֹא הִפְנוּ, velo hiphnu) - This detail signifies absolute desperation and terror. They are so consumed by the need to escape that they dare not even glance behind them, indicating the immense pressure of their pursuers or the depth of their fear, lest they be caught or lose even a fraction of their escape velocity. It also echoes commands for swift escape from divine judgment (e.g., Lot's flight).
• Terror is on every side, (Hebrew: מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב, māgôr missābîb) - This specific phrase, frequently used by Jeremiah (Jer 6:25, 20:3, 10, 49:29), becomes a signature motif for him. Māgôr means "terror," "dread," or "fear," and missābîb means "from every side" or "all around." It indicates a pervasive, inescapable dread, suggesting that the terror they experience is comprehensive, leaving no avenue for escape, a hallmark of divine judgment.

Jeremiah 46 5 Bonus section

The specific portrayal of Egyptian warriors as gibborim (mighty ones) holds significance as these were the archetypes of military prowess in the ancient world, often depicted proudly in Egyptian art. Their humiliation serves to amplify the magnitude of God's power. The motif of "not looking back" (Jer 46:5) echoes the warning given to Lot and his family when fleeing Sodom (Gen 19:17), which highlights that in moments of divine judgment, any pause or regret can be fatal. It underscores the urgency and totality of the flight from God's wrath. This prophecy also acts as an implicit comfort to Judah, reminding them that their deliverance and true security lie not in alliances with fragile world powers like Egypt, but solely in the power and protection of the Lord, who can effortlessly dismantle the mightiest empires. The vivid, almost theatrical, language chosen by Jeremiah helps the audience truly see the spectacle of Egypt's collapse as an undeniable demonstration of God's active involvement in human history.

Jeremiah 46 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 46:5 serves as a profound testament to the Lord's absolute sovereignty over nations and the futility of human might when it opposes His will. It portrays Egypt, once a formidable world power, experiencing a humiliating and total rout at Carchemish. The vivid description emphasizes the psychological collapse alongside the physical defeat: from initial dismay and retreat to the ignominious flight of their once-proud warriors. The detail that "their mighty ones are beaten down" underscores the devastating effect of divine judgment on human strength. The declaration that they "fled in haste and do not look back" powerfully conveys a state of sheer panic and desperation, demonstrating a complete breakdown of military discipline and individual courage. This is no strategic withdrawal, but a frantic scramble for survival, so desperate that not even a momentary glance behind is risked. The culmination, "Terror is on every side," a hallmark phrase of Jeremiah, signifies an overwhelming, inescapable dread. This terror is not just external threat but a deep, pervasive psychological state induced by the very presence of God's judgment, leaving no direction free from its grip. The Lord's rhetorical question, "Why have I seen them dismayed and turned backward?" asserts His divine oversight and underscores the undeniable reality of this catastrophic downfall. It highlights that the defeat was clear, decisive, and fully within His foreknowledge and orchestrating hand, intended to humble the proud and demonstrate that YHVH alone controls the destiny of nations. It serves as a potent warning to any who would trust in chariots, horses, or any human power instead of the Most High God.