Jeremiah 47 5

Jeremiah 47:5 kjv

Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

Jeremiah 47:5 nkjv

Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself?

Jeremiah 47:5 niv

Gaza will shave her head in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. You remnant on the plain, how long will you cut yourselves?

Jeremiah 47:5 esv

Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?

Jeremiah 47:5 nlt

Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald;
Ashkelon will lie silent.
You remnant from the Mediterranean coast,
how long will you cut yourselves in mourning?

Jeremiah 47 verses

Jeremiah 47 5 meaning

Jeremiah 47:5 graphically portrays the utter destruction awaiting the Philistine nation. The prophecy opens by declaring "baldness has come upon Gaza," a profound ancient Near Eastern symbol of deep mourning, grief, humiliation, and utter desolation, indicating a city stripped bare of its pride and power. The fate of Ashkelon is equally definitive: it "has been cut off," signifying its complete destruction and silencing, signaling the end of its influence and presence. This comprehensive judgment extends even to "the remnant of their valley," meaning that any surviving population or the remaining territory of Philistia will also suffer the same inescapable doom. The verse concludes with a poignant rhetorical question, "How long will you gash yourself?" which serves as a sarcastic or lamenting address to the Philistines, referencing their pagan mourning rituals of self-mutilation as a futile response to divinely ordained judgment.

Jeremiah 47 5 Context

Jeremiah 47 is an oracle of judgment specifically directed against the Philistines, one of several "oracles against the nations" found in Jeremiah chapters 46-51. This section demonstrates God's sovereignty not only over Judah but also over surrounding nations, indicating His universal jurisdiction and power to execute judgment. Historically, the Philistines were ancient, long-standing adversaries of Israel, inhabiting the coastal plain southwest of Judah. Chapter 47 details their impending destruction, explicitly stating that "waters are rising out of the north" (Jer 47:2), referring to the mighty Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar. The judgment depicted in verse 5 — the desolation of key cities like Gaza and Ashkelon – serves as a clear declaration that their power and way of life are about to be completely eradicated, making a powerful statement about God's righteousness and the consequences of unrepentant sin and idolatry.

Jeremiah 47 5 Word analysis

• Baldness (קָרְחָה, qorchah): This term literally refers to a shaved or bald head. In the ancient Near East, baldness caused by shaving was a potent visual symbol of intense grief, mourning, extreme humiliation, or profound distress. It signified a complete loss of honor and a stripping away of former glory, indicating utter desolation rather than a mere setback. This was a common mourning rite among many ancient peoples, though forbidden for Israelites (Deut 14:1) and especially priests (Lev 21:5), marking it often as a pagan practice.
• has come upon Gaza ('al 'Azzah): The Hebrew verb "ba'ah" (בָּאָה) means "has come" or "came." This emphasizes the certain and imminent arrival of the specified calamity upon Gaza. Gaza was one of the five major Philistine city-states, highly strategic due to its location on major trade routes. Its inclusion highlights the broad reach of the judgment targeting primary centers of Philistine power.
• Ashkelon (אַשְׁקְלוֹן, Ashqelon): Another principal Philistine city-state situated on the Mediterranean coast. Its specific mention alongside Gaza indicates that the entire Philistine confederation and its leading cities are targets of this destruction, not just isolated settlements.
• has been cut off (נִדְמְתָה, nidmetah): From the root "damam" (דָּמַם), meaning "to be silent," "to be cut off," or "to be destroyed." In the Nifal perfect, it conveys that Ashkelon's active existence, its voice, and its prominent role are definitively brought to an end, implying utter annihilation and permanent cessation rather than mere defeat.
• remnant of their valley (שְׁאֵרִית עִמְקָם, she'erit 'imqam): "She'erit" (שְׁאֵרִית) means "remainder" or "what is left." "Imqam" (עִמְקָם) refers to their geographical territory, specifically the Philistine coastal plain. This phrase signifies that not only the major cities, but also any surviving populations or the remaining smaller territories within the entire Philistine plain, will be included in this comprehensive destruction. It highlights the total scope of the judgment, leaving nothing untouched.
• How long (עַד-מָתַי, 'ad-matay): An interrogative phrase used to express impatience, exasperation, or lament. Here, it likely conveys a sense of divine weariness with their futile actions, or the prophet's exasperation at their desperate, unavailing efforts in the face of inevitable destruction. It questions the utility and endlessness of their suffering or their self-harming responses.
• will you gash yourself (תִּתְגֹּדָֽדִי, titgoddadi): From the root "gadad" (גָּדַד), meaning "to cut" or "to gash." The Hithpael imperfect conjugation indicates a reflexive and repeated action, "to gash oneself." This practice of self-mutilation was a pagan ritual, often performed in extreme mourning or during fervent worship to elicit a response from their gods (e.g., 1 Kgs 18:28). It was strictly forbidden for Israelites (Lev 19:28). The question serves as a direct polemic against the Philistines' desperate and idolatrous mourning rituals, emphasizing their futility against God's decree. The "you" refers to the personified Philistine nation.

Jeremiah 47 5 Bonus section

• The divine instrument for this destruction, though unnamed in this specific verse, is clearly indicated in Jer 47:2 as "waters rising out of the north"—a well-established prophetic motif for the Babylonian empire. This situates the prophecy firmly within the historical context of Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns.
• The selection of Gaza and Ashkelon is significant because these were major Philistine centers, acting as key fortresses and commercial hubs. Their fall signals the collapse of the entire Philistine geopolitical entity.
• Unlike prophecies concerning Israel's "remnant" which often carry a promise of restoration, the "remnant of their valley" here points to the very last parts of a condemned people or territory, meant for total destruction, emphasizing the finality of their judgment.
• The "you" in "How long will you gash yourself?" employs a common prophetic literary device of personification, addressing the collective Philistine people or the land itself as if it were an individual woman in extreme distress. This adds a visceral layer to the depicted suffering and desperation.
• This oracle contributes to Jeremiah's broader message that Yahweh is not merely the God of Israel but the sovereign Lord over all nations, judging righteousness and wickedness across the globe, thereby refuting any notion of national deities or limited divine power.
• The juxtaposition of Philistine pagan mourning with the divinely ordained, inescapable destruction reinforces a polemical message: their false gods and desperate rituals are utterly ineffective against the true God's purposes.

Jeremiah 47 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 47:5 offers a stark and powerful portrayal of God's unyielding judgment against the Philistine nation. Through the vivid imagery of "baldness" and being "cut off," the prophet declares a complete stripping away of their power, identity, and very existence. Gaza, once a symbol of strength and commercial prowess, is prophesied to experience utter humiliation and profound sorrow. Ashkelon's destiny is a cessation, a complete silencing, indicating that its influence and physical presence will be irrevocably obliterated. The judgment's thoroughness is emphasized by extending it even to the "remnant of their valley," assuring that no vestige of Philistine dominion or survival within their ancestral lands will escape this divine decree.

The concluding rhetorical question, "How long will you gash yourself?" serves as a powerful and sorrowful critique. It targets the Philistines' desperate, self-mutilating mourning rites—a characteristic of pagan despair and an act explicitly forbidden by God for Israel. This question not only exposes the futility of such rituals against God's omnipotent decree but also highlights the deep spiritual blindness of the Philistines, who resort to these actions rather than turning to the true God. The verse is a testament to God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations, showcasing that His judgment is both comprehensive and righteous, revealing the tragic end of those who remain stubbornly opposed to Him and His ways.