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Jeremiah 47
Expanded Bible
Jeremiah 47
Expanded Bible
A Message to the Philistines
47 Before the king of Egypt ·attacked [L struck] the city of Gaza, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is to the Philistine people [C to the west of Israel; Gen. 10:14; 21:32, 34].
2 This is what the Lord says:
“See, waters are rising from the north [C representing the overwhelming force of the Babylonians].
They will become like an overflowing ·stream [torrent]
and will cover the whole country ·like a flood [L and its fullness],
even the towns and the people living in them.
Everyone living in that country
will cry for help;
the people will ·cry painfully [wail].
3 They will hear the sound of the ·running horses [L hoofs of the chargers]
and the noisy chariots
and the rumbling chariot wheels.
·Parents [Fathers] will not ·help their children to safety [turn back for their children],
because ·they will be too weak to help [L their hands will be weak].
4 The ·time [L day] has come
to destroy all the Philistines.
It is time to ·destroy [L cut off] all who ·are left alive [survive]
who could help the cities of Tyre and Sidon [C the two most important Phoenician cities; the Philistines, Egypt’s allies, could no longer help them].
The Lord will soon destroy the Philistines,
·those left alive from the island of Crete [L the remnant of the coastline of Caphtor].
5 ·The people from the city of Gaza will be sad and shave their heads [L Baldness will come to Gaza].
The people from the city of Ashkelon will be made silent.
·Those left alive [Remnant] from the valley,
how long will you ·cut [gash] yourselves [C a mourning ritual]?
6 “·You cry [L Ah], ‘Sword of the Lord,
how long ·will you keep fighting [L before you rest]?
Return to your ·holder [sheath].
Stop and be still.’
7 But how can his sword rest
when the Lord has given it a command?
He has ·ordered [assigned] it
to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast.”
Jeremiah 47
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 47
English Standard Version
Judgment on the Philistines
47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet (A)concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down (B)Gaza.
2 “Thus says the Lord:
(C)Behold, waters are rising (D)out of the north,
(E)and shall become an overflowing torrent;
they shall overflow (F)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.
3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,
(G)at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,
the fathers (H)look not back to their children,
so feeble are their hands,
4 because of the day that is coming to destroy
all (I)the Philistines,
to cut off from (J)Tyre and Sidon
every helper that remains.
For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,
(K)the remnant of the coastland of (L)Caphtor.
5 (M)Baldness has come upon Gaza;
(N)Ashkelon has perished.
O remnant of their valley,
(O)how long will you gash yourselves?
6 (P)Ah, sword of the Lord!
How long till you are quiet?
Put yourself into your scabbard;
rest and be still!
7 How can it[a] be quiet
(Q)when the Lord has given it a charge?
Against (R)Ashkelon and against the seashore
(S)he has appointed it.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 47:7 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew you
Jeremiah 47
New International Version
Jeremiah 47
New International Version
A Message About the Philistines
47 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines(A) before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:(B)
2 This is what the Lord says:
“See how the waters are rising in the north;(C)
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(D)
3 at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,
at the noise of enemy chariots(E)
and the rumble of their wheels.
Parents will not turn to help their children;
their hands will hang limp.(F)
4 For the day has come
to destroy all the Philistines
and to remove all survivors
who could help Tyre(G) and Sidon.(H)
The Lord is about to destroy the Philistines,(I)
the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.[a](J)
5 Gaza will shave(K) her head in mourning;
Ashkelon(L) will be silenced.
You remnant on the plain,
how long will you cut(M) yourselves?
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 47:4 That is, Crete
Jeremiah 47
The Voice
Jeremiah 47
The Voice
Between Egypt and Babylon are several smaller nations whose futures hang in the balance. To whom will they submit in the coming years? The first of these smaller states to receive a word of judgment is Philistia. At one time a formidable foe of Israel, this nation has seen its power and influence slowly weakening for the last 400 years, since the time of the great King David. In these days of political intrigue, it is likely that the Philistines have entered into a treaty with the city-states of Tyre and Sidon to the north. These allies are among those considering standing up to Babylon (27:3). Perhaps it is this rebellion against God’s greater plan to use Babylon that is the reason for this judgment, or perhaps it is something else He sees in these people who live along the coastal plains of the Mediterranean. Whatever the case, it is God, the mighty warrior, who now moves against the Philistines.
47 The word of the Eternal came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza, one of Philistia’s five major cities.
2 Eternal One: Do you see how the waters are rising in the north?
They will become an overwhelming flood.
They will flow across the land, covering everything—
including the towns and the people who live there.
Those people will cry out;
those who live in that land will weep loudly,
3 For they will hear the pounding hooves of the charging horses,
the clatter of enemy chariots, and the rumbling of their wheels.
Fathers will panic and abandon their children,
their hands limp with fear.
4 For the time will come
to destroy all the Philistines.
She will find no help in Tyre and Sidon—
these allies, too, will be cut off.
The Eternal will destroy the Philistines,
this remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.
5 The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning,
for Ashkelon is no more.
You who remain in the valley,
how long will you cut yourselves in grief?
6 You cry out, “O sword of the Eternal, when will you stop?
Return to your sheath, rest from your destruction, and be still!”
7 But how can His sword be still
when the Eternal has given it a direct order?
For Ashkelon and those along the coast will be no more!
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.