King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 46:18 Mean?

Jeremiah 46:18 in the King James Version says “As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 46 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.”

Jeremiah 46:18 · KJV

Context

16

He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword. made: Heb. multiplied the faller

17

They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

18

As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

19

O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity : for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant. furnish: Heb. make thee instruments of captivity

20

Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

Read Jeremiah 46 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts—This divine oath begins with khai-ani (חַי־אָנִי, "as I live"), God's most solemn form of oath, swearing by His own eternal life since there is none greater (Hebrews 6:13). The title ha-melekh (הַמֶּלֶךְ, "the King") contrasts sharply with Pharaoh, the false king who is "but a noise." YHWH Tseva'ot (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, "LORD of hosts") emphasizes sovereignty over angelic and earthly armies—the true commander of heaven's hosts speaks against earthly pretenders.

The comparison: Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come. Mount Tabor (תָּבוֹר, 1,843 feet), rising dramatically from the Jezreel Valley, and Mount Carmel (כַּרְמֶל), jutting prominently into the Mediterranean, symbolize unmistakable, towering presence. The conquering king (Nebuchadnezzar as God's instrument) will come as obviously and inevitably as these geographic landmarks dominate their landscapes. No one questions whether Tabor stands among mountains or Carmel by the sea—equally certain is Babylon's coming judgment. The imagery assures prophecy's complete fulfillment, anchored in God's unchangeable oath.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel were familiar landmarks to Jeremiah's audience—Tabor stood isolated and majestic, visible for miles; Carmel dominated the coastal plain, both unmistakable in their prominence. This prophecy's fulfillment came in Nebuchadnezzar's Egyptian campaign (568 BC), when Babylon's forces indeed came as inevitably as these mountains stand. The divine oath guaranteed certainty—when God swears by His own life and name, fulfillment is absolute. This served to warn Egypt and comfort Judah: God's word will not fail, whether in judgment or promise.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God swearing by His own life reveal about the absolute certainty of His word?
  2. How does contrasting God as 'the King' with Pharaoh as 'but a noise' affect our understanding of true authority?
  3. In what ways does the inevitability of Tabor and Carmel illustrate the certainty of God's prophetic word?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
חַי1 of 13

“As I live”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

אָ֙נִי֙2 of 13
H589

i

נְאֻם3 of 13

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ4 of 13

“the King”

H4428

a king

יְהוָ֥ה5 of 13

“is the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָא֖וֹת6 of 13

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

שְׁמ֑וֹ7 of 13

“whose name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

כִּ֚י8 of 13
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

כְּתָב֣וֹר9 of 13

“Surely as Tabor”

H8396

tabor, a mountain in palestine, also a city adjacent

בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים10 of 13

“is among the mountains”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

וּכְכַרְמֶ֖ל11 of 13

“and as Carmel”

H3760

karmel, the name of a hill and of a town in palestine

בַּיָּ֥ם12 of 13

“by the sea”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

יָבֽוֹא׃13 of 13

“so shall he come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 46:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 46:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 48:15Joshua 19:22Judges 4:6Isaiah 47:4Psalms 89:12Isaiah 48:2

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
Mount CarmelMountain · Modern: Mount Carmel · 32.67°N, 35.02°E18 verses across 9 books
Mount TaborMountain · Modern: Jebel et Tur · 32.69°N, 35.39°E9 verses across 5 books
View all places in Jeremiah 46 →

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