Jeremiah 46 8

Jeremiah 46:8 kjv

Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

Jeremiah 46:8 nkjv

Egypt rises up like a flood, And its waters move like the rivers; And he says, 'I will go up and cover the earth, I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.'

Jeremiah 46:8 niv

Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters. She says, 'I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their people.'

Jeremiah 46:8 esv

Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, 'I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.'

Jeremiah 46:8 nlt

It is the Egyptian army,
overflowing all the land,
boasting that it will cover the earth like a flood,
destroying cities and their people.

Jeremiah 46 verses

Jeremiah 46 8 Meaning

Jeremiah 46:8 vividly portrays the arrogance and self-assured might of Egypt, likening its impending advance to the powerful, unstoppable surge of the Nile river and its many tributaries overflowing their banks. The verse presents Egypt, personified, boasting of its intent to dominate and inundate the entire earth, and to utterly devastate cities and their populations. This declaration reveals a profound sense of pride and an ambition for global dominion, setting the stage for its confrontation with the sovereign God of Israel.

Jeremiah 46 8 Context

Jeremiah chapter 46 is the first of a series of oracles (chapters 46-51) specifically pronouncing divine judgment against foreign nations. The immediate context of Jeremiah 46:8 is a prophecy delivered by Jeremiah regarding the defeat of Pharaoh Neco's Egyptian army by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at Carchemish around 605 BCE (v.2). This event marked a pivotal shift in geopolitical power, signifying the end of Egyptian dominance in the Levant and the rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.The historical context shows Egypt as a long-standing regional power, often interacting with Israel, sometimes as an ally, sometimes as an oppressor. Egyptians worshipped a pantheon of gods, and the Nile River was central to their life, prosperity, and religious worldview, often personified or associated with their deities as the source of life and power.The verse highlights Egypt's internal confidence and perceived invincibility, often expressed through their powerful pharaohs. The polemic is direct: the God of Israel is challenging Egypt's self-exalting belief that it, like the unstoppable Nile, can effortlessly sweep away all opposition. This divine oracle contrasts Egypt's human-centric view of power and destiny with the ultimate sovereignty of Yahweh, who orchestrated the rise of Babylon as His instrument to humble Egypt.

Jeremiah 46 8 Word analysis

• Egypt (מִצְרַיִם, Mitsrayim): Refers to the powerful nation located southwest of Judah, often depicted in the biblical narrative as a symbol of worldly strength and a source of temptation for Judah to trust in human power rather than God.
• rises (עָלָה, ʿalâh): To go up, ascend, grow, swell. This verb captures the visual imagery of the Nile River's annual flood, which was essential for Egypt's agriculture but here metaphorically describes Egypt's aggressive, overflowing military power and prideful ambition. It signifies an unstoppable, upward movement.
• like the Nile (כַּיְאֹר, ka-yəʾōr): Yəʾōr specifically refers to the Nile River or its branches. The simile emphasizes the immense volume, natural force, and overwhelming nature of the Nile's inundation, applying these qualities to Egypt's military might and territorial aspirations. The Nile was deeply tied to Egyptian identity and perceived invincibility.
• like rivers (וְכַנְּהָרוֹת, wəka-nnəhārōt): Nəhārōt refers to rivers generally. The plural "rivers" intensifies the imagery of widespread, overwhelming water, not just a single main stream, implying Egypt's expansive reach and an intent to submerge all regions.
• its waters surge (יִתְגָּאוּ, yitgāʾû): This verb means to be majestic, exalted, lifted up, to be proud, to surge mightily. Here, it refers to the overflowing or swelling of water. Importantly, the root gāʾâ is often associated with pride or arrogance when referring to people, imbuing the surging waters with a sense of Egypt's haughty self-assurance and boastful confidence.
• He says (וַיּאמֶר, wayyōʾmer): The third-person masculine singular verb introduces a direct quotation. It attributes the arrogant declaration to Egypt itself, personified as an active, speaking entity. This shifts from observation of Egypt's outward appearance (like the Nile rising) to its internal boastful intent.
• I will rise and cover the earth: This phrase reflects Egypt's grand, imperial ambition to establish dominion over a vast territory, literally to "cover" or "inundate" the whole world, mirroring the physical inundation of its lands by the Nile. It speaks to a global aspiration, not just regional. This universal claim sets it in direct conflict with God's unique sovereignty.
• I will destroy cities and their inhabitants: This declares the destructive consequence of Egypt's imperialistic goals. It outlines the common outcome of ancient warfare waged by a dominant power—utter devastation, annihilation of urban centers, and the extermination or subjugation of their populations. This is the ruthless reality of their boast.

Jeremiah 46 8 Bonus section

The imagery of the Nile is deeply significant as it was the lifeblood of ancient Egypt. For Egyptians, the annual, predictable, and bountiful flood of the Nile was often associated with their gods (like Hapi, god of the Nile's inundation, or Osiris) and seen as a divine gift guaranteeing their survival and prosperity. To say that Egypt "rises like the Nile" therefore carried profound theological implications for an Egyptian audience—it wasn't just a powerful metaphor, but an almost sacred declaration of their unchallengeable nature. Jeremiah's prophecy subverts this, presenting the Nile's 'surge' as a metaphor for Egypt's destructive pride and ambition which, precisely because of its self-exaltation, will meet divine opposition and judgment, highlighting a strong polemic against Egyptian polytheistic beliefs and pharaonic divinity claims. The divine judgment would reveal that the 'gods' of Egypt could not save their nation or prevent their great river from being a symbol of their undoing rather than their eternal strength.

Jeremiah 46 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 46:8 delivers a powerful message about human pride and God's sovereignty. Egypt's self-perception, elevated to the status of an unstoppable force of nature like the Nile in flood, highlights the common human tendency to equate material power with invincibility. The Nile, which was life-giving and a source of Egyptian prosperity, here symbolizes its overweening ambition and destructive potential when directed outwards. Egypt's boast, "I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their inhabitants," epitomizes the hubris of ancient empires that believed they controlled their own destiny and could impose their will without opposition.

This prophetic utterance, however, is not a testament to Egypt's actual power but a prelude to its downfall. It serves as a direct challenge to the idolatrous confidence placed in their gods and their military might. The God of Israel demonstrates His absolute control over the rise and fall of nations, humbling those who exalt themselves. Despite Egypt's confident declaration, the preceding verses of Jeremiah 46 and subsequent prophecies clearly state that Nebuchadnezzar, acting as God's instrument, will be the true flood that sweeps over Egypt, nullifying its arrogant claims. Thus, the verse functions as a poignant warning against nationalistic pride and reliance on human strength, reminding all that ultimate authority rests solely with the Lord of Hosts.