Jeremiah 47 2

Jeremiah 47:2 kjv

Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.

Jeremiah 47:2 nkjv

Thus says the LORD: "Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.

Jeremiah 47:2 niv

This is what the LORD says: "See how the waters are rising in the north; they will become an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and everything in it, the towns and those who live in them. The people will cry out; all who dwell in the land will wail

Jeremiah 47:2 esv

"Thus says the LORD: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.

Jeremiah 47:2 nlt

This is what the LORD says: "A flood is coming from the north
to overflow the land.
It will destroy the land and everything in it ?
cities and people alike.
People will scream in terror,
and everyone in the land will wail.

Jeremiah 47 verses

Jeremiah 47 2 meaning

This verse is a prophetic declaration from the LORD, announcing an imminent and overwhelming invasion originating from the north. This invasion is likened to an uncontrollable, rising flood that will engulf the entire land of Philistia, its cities, and all its inhabitants. The outcome will be widespread terror, crying, and wailing among the people as they face total devastation.

Jeremiah 47 2 Context

Jeremiah chapter 47 is an oracle against Philistia, a land west of Judah, home to cities like Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron, and traditional adversaries of Israel. This specific prophecy follows oracles against Egypt and precedes others against nations such as Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Elam, and Babylon. Historically, these prophecies often find their fulfillment in the campaigns of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II, who asserted his dominance over the Syro-Palestinian region following the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. Philistia, lying on the coastal route, was frequently targeted by invading armies moving between Egypt and Mesopotamia. The immediate context of Jeremiah 47:2 sets the stage for the destruction of Gaza and other Philistine cities as detailed in the rest of the chapter, specifically pointing to an invading force from the north as the instrument of divine judgment, reflecting God's sovereignty over all nations and His capacity to bring about the destruction He declares.

Jeremiah 47 2 Word analysis

• Thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH): This phrase introduces a divine oracle, asserting absolute authority and origin of the prophecy. It underscores that this is not human conjecture but God's explicit declaration, lending the message undeniable weight and certainty.
• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection used to draw immediate attention to what follows, emphasizing the urgency and imminent reality of the prophecy.
• waters (מַיִם - mayim): This term, plural for water, is a common biblical metaphor. Here, it refers to a vast and destructive military force or invading army. Its nature as an unstoppable, overwhelming element underscores the futility of resistance.
• are rising (נִזְלִים - niz'lim): The verb denotes a flowing or trickling, but in context with "waters" and "overflowing torrent," it implies a surge or gathering force that is actively increasing and advancing, not merely static.
• out of the north (מִצָּפוֹן - mitzaphon): This cardinal direction consistently identifies the source of judgment and invasion throughout Jeremiah and other prophetic books (e.g., Jeremiah 1:14-15, 4:6, 6:1). For nations in the Levant, the "north" symbolized the traditional route for armies from Mesopotamia (like Assyria or Babylon), bringing terror and devastation.
• And shall become an overflowing torrent (וְהָיָה נַחַל שׁוֹטֵף - v'hayah nachal shotef): A "torrent" (נַחַל - nachal) refers to a wadi or seasonal river that swells suddenly and violently with rain, becoming an "overflowing" (שׁוֹטֵף - shotef) and destructive flood. This powerfully conveys the sudden, swift, overwhelming, and utterly destructive nature of the impending invasion.
• They shall overflow the land (וְיִשְׁטְפוּ אֶרֶץ - v'yishtfu eretz): "Overflow" repeats the root of shotef, reinforcing the idea of a comprehensive inundation. The land, in this context, refers specifically to Philistia.
• and all that is in it (וּמְלֹאָהּ - u'melo'ah): Signifies completeness; everything contained within the land – its resources, livestock, possessions – will be consumed by this force.
• The city (עִיר - `ir): Referring generally to the fortified urban centers of Philistia, which traditionally represented strength and security, yet would be no match.
• and those who dwell in it (וְיֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ - v'yoshvei vah): Emphasizes the human toll, highlighting that no one will be spared from the calamity within their homes or communities.
• Then men shall cry (וְזָעֲקוּ אָדָם - v'za'aku adam): "Cry" denotes a sharp, distressed, and desperate cry, indicative of extreme fear and anguish in the face of imminent danger and destruction.
• And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail (וְהֵילִיל כֹּל יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ - v'heilil kol yoshvei ha'aretz): "Wail" describes a prolonged, sorrowful cry or lament, a public expression of deep grief, terror, and mourning for profound loss and suffering. "All the inhabitants" stresses the universal impact of the disaster.

• "waters are rising out of the north": This phrase functions as a potent metaphor. "Waters" vividly represent armies, which, like a flood, can surge with irresistible force. "Out of the north" consistently designates the source of divine judgment, pointing specifically to the Babylonians for Philistia.
• "an overflowing torrent": This expands the flood imagery, intensifying the destructive power. A nachal shotef is a flash flood, arriving without warning and devastating everything in its path, illustrating the speed, intensity, and comprehensiveness of the invasion.
• "They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell in it": This series emphasizes the absolute and indiscriminate nature of the destruction. From the agricultural land to urban centers, and from physical resources to human lives, nothing will be left untouched.
• "Then men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail": This depicts the inevitable consequence of such overwhelming devastation. It moves from the general description of the physical invasion to the profound emotional and psychological impact, signifying total despair, terror, and mourning.

Jeremiah 47 2 Bonus section

The concept of "the North" as the source of invading armies was deeply ingrained in the psyche of ancient Near Eastern peoples. For Judah and its neighbors, including Philistia, it represented a strategic corridor for powers like Assyria and Babylon. The use of this directional imagery in Jeremiah is not merely geographical but carries strong theological significance, identifying the source of an invasion as specifically orchestrated by the LORD. Even without directly naming Babylon, the Philistian audience would have understood the grave implication. This divine decree against Philistia highlights that no nation is outside God's jurisdiction and judgment, contrasting their previous military prowess (e.g., against Israel in earlier history) with their coming despair against an instrument of the Almighty. The "waters" imagery is a prime example of God communicating overwhelming power through familiar natural phenomena, making the warning accessible and terrifying.

Jeremiah 47 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 47:2 functions as a vivid prophetic overture to the doom awaiting Philistia. The divine declaration "Thus says the LORD" asserts the infallible authority behind this devastating forecast, ensuring its certain fulfillment. The use of the "rising waters" and "overflowing torrent" from the north is a powerful and oft-repeated metaphor in the Old Testament, representing the unstoppable tide of invading armies, in this case, the Neo-Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar. This imagery underscores the swift, violent, and utterly overwhelming nature of the coming destruction, portraying it as a force of nature beyond human control. The prophecy emphasizes a complete subjugation, sweeping over the entire land, its cities, and their inhabitants, sparing nothing and no one. The resulting "crying" and "wailing" depict a universal response of terror, anguish, and lamentation, signifying the catastrophic loss and profound suffering. This verse powerfully conveys God's sovereignty over the nations, using even pagan empires as instruments of His judgment, dissolving the false sense of security Philistia might have had in its geographical position or deities.