Jeremiah 8 16

Jeremiah 8:16 kjv

The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.

Jeremiah 8:16 nkjv

The snorting of His horses was heard from Dan. The whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of His strong ones; For they have come and devoured the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell in it."

Jeremiah 8:16 niv

The snorting of the enemy's horses is heard from Dan; at the neighing of their stallions the whole land trembles. They have come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who live there.

Jeremiah 8:16 esv

"The snorting of their horses is heard from Dan; at the sound of the neighing of their stallions the whole land quakes. They come and devour the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it.

Jeremiah 8:16 nlt

"The snorting of the enemies' warhorses can be heard
all the way from the land of Dan in the north!
The neighing of their stallions makes the whole land tremble.
They are coming to devour the land and everything in it ?
cities and people alike.

Jeremiah 8 verses

Jeremiah 8 16 Meaning

The verse declares that the divine enemy (often interpreted as God or the angelic hosts acting on His behalf) has indeed brought a swift and destructive plague upon the land of Judah and Jerusalem. This signifies a severe judgment from God due to their persistent sinfulness.

Jeremiah 8 16 Context

This verse is found within Jeremiah's prophecies against Judah, specifically during a period of impending Babylonian invasion. The nation had a long history of covenant unfaithfulness, idolatry, and injustice. God's judgment, portrayed here as an invasion from the north, was a consequence of their repeated rebellion. The mention of "Dan" locates the source or the advance warning of the enemy's approach from the northern part of Israel's territory, a region known for its historical connection to idolatry (1 Kings 12:29-30) and eventually the Northern Kingdom's demise. The immediate context highlights Judah's imminent destruction and their inability to stand against the encroaching enemy due to their spiritual and moral decay.

Jeremiah 8 16 Word Analysis

• "For" (Hebrew: כִּי, kî): Indicates the reason or explanation for the preceding statement, or a continuation of a thought.

• "from Dan" (Hebrew: מִדָּן, mid-Dān): Refers to the northernmost city of ancient Israel. This signifies the origin or a key point of the invading enemy's movement. Dan was a place associated with idolatry in Israel's history.

• "they hear" (Hebrew: שָׁמְעוּ, sham'û): Denotes receiving an auditory message or intelligence. It points to the impact of the enemy's approach as it is heard and perceived.

• "the snorting" (Hebrew: פְּרַשׁ, peraš): Refers to the neighing or stamping of horses, an auditory sign of a charging army, particularly cavalry. It conveys a sense of imminent danger and military might.

• "of his horses" (Hebrew: סוּסָיו, sūsāyw): Possessive form of "horses," belonging to the invading force. Horses were crucial for military advantage and represented power and speed in ancient warfare.

• "at the neighing" (Hebrew: מִפְּרָשׁוֹת, mi-perašôṯ): Further emphasizes the sounds of the approaching warhorses, creating a vivid auditory picture of impending doom. This repetition highlights the pervasive nature of the threat.

• "of his steeds" (Hebrew: סוּסָיו, sūsāyw): Another instance of "horses," possibly emphasizing different types of horses or the totality of the cavalry.

• Groups of words: "From Dan they hear the snorting of his horses" establishes the direction and terrifying sound of the approaching invasion. "At the neighing of his steeds" reinforces this auditory warning with an emphasis on the powerful mounts of the enemy.

Jeremiah 8 16 Bonus Section

The use of "Dan" in this verse is significant. While a geographically northern city, it was also notorious for being the site where the tribe of Dan established a sanctuary with an idol (Judges 18:30-31), becoming a center of syncretism and apostasy. This geographical and religious association likely amplified the theological message of judgment. The enemies approaching from this region were instruments of God's wrath against the very sin that had been practiced in that area. The prophecy acts as a stark reminder that God would hold them accountable for their transgressions, even those that had become ingrained in their history.

Jeremiah 8 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 8:16 vividly describes the palpable fear and impending doom that faced Judah. The sounds of warhorses from the distant north, originating from the territory historically associated with idolatry, served as a stark auditory warning. This was not just a geopolitical threat, but a divine consequence for their persistent sin and rejection of God's covenant. The overwhelming power and swiftness of the enemy's horses are conveyed through the strong auditory imagery, illustrating the thoroughness of the judgment that God would bring upon their unfaithful nation. Judah, weakened by spiritual decay, could only hear the approaching sounds of destruction.