King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 46:25 Mean?

Jeremiah 46:25 in the King James Version says “The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with the... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 46 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him: multitude: or, nourisher: Heb. Amon

Jeremiah 46:25 · KJV


Context

23

They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable .

24

The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

25

The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him: multitude: or, nourisher: Heb. Amon

26

And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

27

But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר הִנְנִי פוֹקֵד אֶל־אֲמוֹן מִנֹּא)—YHWH Tsevaot (LORD of armies) emphasizes divine military supremacy. Amon mi-No refers to the god Amon-Re worshiped at No (Thebes), Egypt's religious capital. The verb foqed (punish/visit) is the same root as pequddah (visitation) in v.21, denoting divine reckoning.

And Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings—the comprehensive list targets every level of Egyptian society and spirituality. The phrase all them that trust in him (הַבֹּטְחִים בּוֹ) indicts both Egyptians and Judahites who relied on Egyptian alliance (cf. Isaiah 30:1-7, 31:1-3) rather than Yahweh.

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Historical & Cultural Context

No (Thebes) was Egypt's southern capital and primary worship center for Amon-Re, king of Egypt's gods. The city's destruction by Assyria in 663 BC (mentioned in Nahum 3:8-10) preceded Jeremiah's prophecy, yet it had partially recovered. Multiple pharaohs ruled during this period, creating political instability.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God specifically target Egypt's gods alongside its political leaders?
  2. How does trusting in political alliances become a form of idolatry?
  3. What modern equivalents of "trusting in Pharaoh" tempt believers to rely on worldly power rather than God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
אָמַר֩1 of 23

saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֨ה2 of 23

The LORD

H3068

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

צְבָא֜וֹת3 of 23

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

אֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ4 of 23

the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל5 of 23

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

הִנְנִ֤י6 of 23
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

פוֹקֵד֙7 of 23

Behold I will punish

H6485

to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc

אֶל8 of 23
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אָמ֣וֹן9 of 23

the multitude

H527

a throng of people

מִנֹּ֔א10 of 23

of No

H4996

no (i.e., thebes), the capital of upper egypt

וְעַל11 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פַּרְעֹ֔ה12 of 23

and Pharaoh

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

וְעַל13 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מִצְרַ֔יִם14 of 23

and Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְעַל15 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ16 of 23

the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וְעַל17 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מְלָכֶ֑יהָ18 of 23

and their kings

H4428

a king

וְעַ֨ל19 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פַּרְעֹ֔ה20 of 23

and Pharaoh

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

וְעַ֥ל21 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים22 of 23

and all them that trust

H982

properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

בּֽוֹ׃23 of 23
H0

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 46:25 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 46:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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