Jeremiah 46:20
Jeremiah 46:20 in Multiple Translations
Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.
Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.
Egypt is a very fair heifer; but destruction out of the north is come, it is come.
Egypt is a fair young cow; but a biting insect has come on her out of the north.
Egypt is a beautiful young cow, but a stinging insect from the north is coming to attack her.
Egypt is like a faire calfe, but destruction commeth: out of the North it commeth.
A heifer very fair [is] Egypt, Rending from the north doth come into her.
“Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; but destruction out of the north has come. It has come.
Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.
Egypt is like a fair and beautiful heifer: there shall come from the north one that shall goad her.
Egypt is like [SIM] a beautiful young cow, but the army of a powerful king from the northeast will come to attack it like a horsefly [MET] bites a cow.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 46:20
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 46:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עֶגְלָ֥ה
יְפֵֽה
פִיָּ֖ה
מִצְרָ֑יִם
קֶ֥רֶץ
מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן
בָּ֥א
בָֽא
עֶגְלָ֥ה
ʻeglâh
H5697
heifer
N-fs
יְפֵֽה
yᵉphêh-phîyâh
H3304
pretty
Adj
פִיָּ֖ה
yᵉphêh-phîyâh
H3304
pretty
Adj
מִצְרָ֑יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
Egypt
N-proper
קֶ֥רֶץ
qerets
H7171
stinging fly
N-ms
מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן
tsâphôwn
H6828
Zaphon
Prep | N-fs
בָּ֥א
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
בָֽא
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 46:20
עֶגְלָ֥ה
ʻeglâh
H5697
"heifer"
N-fs
This word refers to a young female calf, nearly grown into a heifer. It is also the name of a place near Zoar and south of Moab. The word is often translated as 'calf', 'cow', or 'heifer'.
Definition: heifer
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: calf, cow, heifer. See also: Genesis 15:9; Isaiah 7:21; Isaiah 15:5.
יְפֵֽה
yᵉphêh-phîyâh
H3304
"pretty"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means very beautiful, describing something pleasing to the eye. It first appears in Genesis 24:16 to describe Rebekah. The word is used to convey a sense of attractiveness.
Definition: 1) pretty (reduplication with the force of the diminutive) 1a) fair of mouth (lit.) 2) (CLBL) very beautiful
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: very fair. See also: Jeremiah 46:20.
פִיָּ֖ה
yᵉphêh-phîyâh
H3304
"pretty"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means very beautiful, describing something pleasing to the eye. It first appears in Genesis 24:16 to describe Rebekah. The word is used to convey a sense of attractiveness.
Definition: 1) pretty (reduplication with the force of the diminutive) 1a) fair of mouth (lit.) 2) (CLBL) very beautiful
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: very fair. See also: Jeremiah 46:20.
מִצְרָ֑יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
"Egypt"
N-proper
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Definition: § Egypt = "land of the Copts" a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows Egyptians = "double straits" adj 2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 569 OT verses. KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. See also: Genesis 10:6; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 34:18.
קֶ֥רֶץ
qerets
H7171
"stinging fly"
N-ms
This word refers to a stinging insect, like a gadfly, or something that causes destruction. It's used to describe things that bite or harm, and can also mean extirpation or complete removal.
Definition: 1) nipping, nipper, stinger 1a) nipping or stinging insect, gadfly
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: destruction. See also: Jeremiah 46:20.
מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן
tsâphôwn
H6828
"Zaphon"
Prep | N-fs
This word means 'north' and is used to describe a direction or location. In the Bible, it is often translated as 'north' or 'northern side'.
Definition: This name means north Also named: tsa.phon (צָפוֹן "Zaphon" H6829)
Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: north(-ern, side, -ward, wind). See also: Genesis 13:14; Jeremiah 6:22; Psalms 48:3.
בָּ֥א
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
בָֽא
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 46:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 46:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 46:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 46:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 46:20
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 46:20
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
- Sermons on Jeremiah 46:20
Context — Judgment on Egypt
18As surely as I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.
19Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited.
20Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.
21Even the mercenaries among her are like fattened calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee, they will not stand their ground, for the day of calamity is coming upon them— the time of their punishment. 22Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent, for the enemy will advance in force; with axes they will come against her like woodsmen cutting down trees.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosea 10:11 | Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 47:2 | This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail |
| 3 | Jeremiah 1:14 | Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 46:6 | “The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 50:11 | “Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph— you who plunder My inheritance— because you frolic like a heifer treading grain and neigh like stallions, |
| 6 | Jeremiah 46:24 | The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame; she will be delivered into the hands of the people of the north.” |
| 7 | Jeremiah 25:9 | behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 46:10 | For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. |
Jeremiah 46:20 Summary
In Jeremiah 46:20, God compares Egypt to a beautiful heifer, but says that a gadfly from the north is coming to bother it. This means that even though Egypt is strong and attractive, it is about to face a big problem from an enemy that will come from the north, much like how a gadfly bothers an animal. This is a reminder that no matter how strong or secure we may feel, we are always subject to God's sovereignty and judgment, as seen in Psalm 135:6 and Romans 9:20-21. We should be humble and recognize God's power, and turn to Him for protection and guidance, as encouraged in Psalm 91:1-2 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the comparison of Egypt to a beautiful heifer mean?
The comparison of Egypt to a beautiful heifer in Jeremiah 46:20 suggests that Egypt is a strong and attractive nation, but it is about to be threatened by an enemy from the north, much like how a gadfly bothers an animal, as seen in the prophecy of Jeremiah 46:20 and supported by Jeremiah 1:14-15 where God warns of a threat from the north.
Who is the gadfly from the north that is coming against Egypt?
The identity of the gadfly from the north is not explicitly stated in Jeremiah 46:20, but based on the context of Jeremiah 46 and other prophecies in the book of Jeremiah, such as Jeremiah 1:14-15 and Jeremiah 4:6-7, it is likely referring to the Babylonian empire under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, who would eventually conquer Egypt as prophesied in Ezekiel 29:19 and Ezekiel 30:10.
What is the significance of the direction 'from the north' in this verse?
The direction 'from the north' in Jeremiah 46:20 is significant because it was from this direction that many of the major empires and powers that threatened Israel and other nations in the ancient Near East originated, including the Babylonian empire, as seen in Jeremiah 1:14-15 and Jeremiah 4:6-7, where God warns of a threat from the north.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of the book of Jeremiah?
This verse is part of a larger collection of prophecies in the book of Jeremiah that warn of God's judgment on various nations, including Egypt, for their sins and idolatry, as seen in Jeremiah 25:15-38, and it serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations, as stated in Jeremiah 18:7-10 and Daniel 4:17.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which we, like Egypt, can be deceived by our own strength and beauty, and what are the potential consequences of such pride, as warned in Proverbs 16:18 and 1 Peter 5:6-7?
- How can we apply the principle of humility and recognition of God's sovereignty, as seen in Jeremiah 46:20, to our own lives and circumstances, as encouraged in Psalm 51:17 and Micah 6:8?
- What does this verse teach us about the nature of God's judgment and how it can come upon nations or individuals suddenly and unexpectedly, as seen in Jeremiah 46:20 and supported by 1 Thessalonians 5:3 and 2 Peter 3:10?
- In what ways can we, as believers, be a source of encouragement and warning to others, like the prophet Jeremiah, to turn to God and avoid the consequences of sin, as commanded in Ezekiel 3:17-21 and 2 Corinthians 5:20?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 46:20
Egypt [is like] a very fair heifer,.... Like a heifer that has never been under a yoke, it having never been conquered, and brought under the power of another; and like a beautiful, fat, and well fed
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 46:20
Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north. Egypt is like as very fair heifer - wanton, like a fat untamed heifer (Hosea 10:11).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
That is, Egypt is now in a thriving, prosperous condition, having not used to be under any yoke, like a heifer that is fair and fat; but she will not be so long, she is but as a beast fatted for the slaughter, and there are slaughtermen coming out of Chaldea that will kill this fair heifer, and make her a sacrifice to the justice of God.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
Jeremiah 46:20 Egypt [is like] a very fair heifer, [but] destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.Ver. 20. Egypt is like a very fair heifer.] Vitula elegans, a trim bullock; worshipping Apis the bull and Mnevis the cow, and unaccustomed to the yoke of subjection, but I shall bring her to it. Destruction cometh.] Or, Excision from the north cometh, cometh, certo, cito, penitus venit There come those that shall cut up this fair heifer or fat calf. Iuvenca petulca.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
(20) Egypt is like a very fair heifer.—The similitude points, like the “strong one” of Jeremiah 46:15, to the Apis worship of Egypt. The nation is like its god. The figure is continued in the words that follow. There comes from the north (from the land of the Chaldees, as in Jeremiah 1:1), not “destruction,” but a gadfly that shall sting the heifer into the madness of agony. So, in Isaiah 7:18, the “fly” of Egypt and the “bee” of Assyria are invited to work evil on Judah. The words find a striking parallel in the Greek legend of Io (probably to be identified with the Egyptian Isis) transformed into a heifer, and her gadfly tormentor, this also connected with the Apis or Mnevis deities of Egypt (Æschyl. Prom. v. 569). The word for “destruction” is not found elsewhere, but the etymology suggests the idea of “pinching” or “stinging,” and the meaning “gadfly” is accepted by many recent scholars.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
Verse 20. Egypt is like a very fair heifer] Fruitful and useful; but destruction cometh out of the north, from Chaldea. It may be that there is an allusion here to Isis, worshipped in Egypt under the form of a beautiful cow.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 46:20
20. This simile for Egypt may be suggested by Apis the bull god. See on Jeremiah 5:16. but destruction out of the north is come] better, as mg. the gadfly. This rendering of the word (not found elsewhere) is in all probability right, though not universally accepted. Egypt is driven to flight by the stings inflicted by her foe. it is come] mg. obtains by a very slight change in the Hebrew upon her. This has the support of LXX, Syr., Targ., Vulg. But for MT. we may cp. Psalms 96:13.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 46:20
Is like - Or, is. Her god was the steer Apis Jeremiah 46:15, and she is the spouse.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 46:20
20. Heifer — A figure suggested by, and answering to, her god, the bull Apis. Destruction cometh — The original word for “destruction” occurs here only. Many meanings have been given to it, most of which are mere guesses.
Sermons on Jeremiah 46:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Epistle 65 by George Fox | George Fox preaches about the importance of dwelling in the light of Christ to comprehend the world's ways and bring others to salvation. He emphasizes the need to yoke the oxen, b |
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Epistle 278 by George Fox | George Fox preaches about the importance of apprentices serving faithfully according to covenant, emphasizing the need for order and discipline to prevent youth from falling into d |
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A Prophecy - Wall of Fire by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson shares a prophetic vision of a 'Wall of Fire' that God will create to protect His people amidst the moral decay and increasing evil in society. He reflects on the d |