Jeremiah 46 6

Jeremiah 46:6 kjv

Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

Jeremiah 46:6 nkjv

"Do not let the swift flee away, Nor the mighty man escape; They will stumble and fall Toward the north, by the River Euphrates.

Jeremiah 46:6 niv

"The swift cannot flee nor the strong escape. In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.

Jeremiah 46:6 esv

"The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.

Jeremiah 46:6 nlt

"The swiftest runners cannot flee;
the mightiest warriors cannot escape.
By the Euphrates River to the north,
they stumble and fall.

Jeremiah 46 verses

Jeremiah 46 6 Meaning

This verse declares the certain and inescapable defeat of the Egyptian army. Despite their famed swiftness in cavalry and the prowess of their mighty warriors, they will find no way to flee or escape the impending judgment. Instead, they are destined to stumble and fall disastrously in the specific geographical location to the north, near the river Euphrates, signifying their utter humiliation and destruction at the hand of their divinely appointed adversary.

Jeremiah 46 6 Context

Jeremiah chapter 46 is the beginning of a section of prophecies concerning various foreign nations, reflecting God's sovereign control over the whole earth. This specific prophecy (verses 1-12) targets Egypt and is set in the context of the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, a pivotal historical event. At this battle, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, decisively defeated Pharaoh Necho's Egyptian army and his Assyrian allies. Jeremiah’s words were spoken before the battle, foretelling the Egyptian military’s utter destruction, highlighting that their renowned might and speed would be utterly ineffective against the Lord’s appointed agent of judgment. The verse emphasizes that no human power can stand against God’s determined purpose.

Jeremiah 46 6 Word analysis

• Let not the swift (לֹא יָנוּס הַקַּל - lō yānūs haq•qal):

  • "Let not": Expresses a divine decree or certainty of impossibility. It’s not an instruction, but an ironic statement affirming futility.
  • "swift" (קַל - qal): Refers to lightness, agility, speed. In military context, likely refers to swift cavalry or elite light-armed troops, Egypt was known for these. Its ineffectiveness against divine judgment underscores a common biblical theme.

• flee away (יָנוּס - yānūs):

  • To escape, take flight. Despite their speed, no Egyptian soldier will succeed in retreating safely from the impending defeat.

• nor the mighty man (וְהַגִּבּוֹר - wəhag•gibbōr):

  • "mighty man" (גִּבּוֹר - gibbōr): A warrior, champion, a strong man. This term signifies powerful, brave, or valiant soldiers, elite forces. Their inability to escape mocks their famed strength and reputation.

• escape (יִמָּלֵט - yim•māleṭ):

  • To slip away, be delivered, save oneself. Conveys utter inability to preserve themselves.

• they shall stumble (כָּשְׁלוּ - kāshlū):

  • To trip, stumble, totter, falter. Suggests disorder, panic, and internal collapse rather than organized retreat. It implies loss of footing, physically and militarily.

• and fall (וְנָפְלוּ - wənāflū):

  • To fall, lie prostrate, be cast down. Denotes complete defeat, collapse, or death on the battlefield. The outcome is absolute and inevitable.

• toward the north (צָפוֹנָה - tsāfônāh):

  • Indicates the direction from which Babylon would come and where the battle would primarily occur (i.e., Carchemish, which was north of Egypt and Judah). "The North" is often a biblical designation for the origin of judgment from enemy nations (Jer 1:14-15).

• by the river Euphrates (עַל־נְהַר פְּרָת - ‘al-nəhar Pərāt):

  • Specific geographical identifier, making the prophecy very precise. The Euphrates marked the eastern boundary of Assyrian and Babylonian empires, and its upper bend at Carchemish was a strategic choke point where significant battles were fought. It specifies the battle location as part of divine judgment.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape": This parallelism emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the defeat. Neither speed nor strength will offer salvation. It's an indictment of reliance on human might.
  • "they shall stumble, and fall": These two verbs describe the progression from disorientation and panic to total collapse. The double action reinforces the certainty and finality of their destruction. It's a vivid picture of chaotic and catastrophic defeat.
  • "toward the north by the river Euphrates": The geographic specificity authenticates the prophecy. It grounds the divine judgment in a real, historical event (Battle of Carchemish). This location became a symbol of Egypt’s broken power.

Jeremiah 46 6 Bonus section

The mention of the Euphrates river is particularly significant. It was a common point of contention and a strategic gateway between great empires in the ancient Near East, symbolizing major battles and the shifting balance of power. For Jeremiah's audience, it would have resonated with the geo-political realities of their time. The phrase "stumble and fall" can also carry moral and spiritual implications in prophetic literature, signifying the collapse due to unrighteousness and rejection of God, although in this context it is primarily military defeat. The irony present in the verse highlights that Egypt, previously seen as a powerful deliverer by some nations (including elements within Judah), would now find itself utterly helpless, shattering any false hope placed in foreign alliances over divine trust.

Jeremiah 46 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 46:6 serves as a powerful testament to the futility of human strength when pitted against the sovereign will of the Almighty. The verse directly addresses the highly regarded military power of Egypt—noted for its swift chariots and formidable warriors—only to declare their absolute and humiliating defeat. The imagery of the swift unable to flee and the mighty unable to escape vividly portrays a chaotic rout rather than an organized retreat. They will "stumble and fall," indicating utter disarray, panic, and an inescapable end on the battlefield. The precision of the geographical details, "toward the north by the river Euphrates," specifically points to the Battle of Carchemish, where Egypt suffered a crushing defeat by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces, thereby authenticating Jeremiah's prophetic message as divinely inspired foresight. This verse powerfully teaches that reliance on human strength, no matter how great, is always insufficient against God's appointed instruments of judgment. It underscores the biblical principle that salvation and true victory do not come by might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, affirming God's ultimate dominion over nations and their armies.