Jeremiah 47:1-7 - Compare All Versions

Jeremiah 47:1-7 NIV (New International Version)

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza: This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising in the north; 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 at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds, at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp. For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to remove all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon. The LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. Gaza will shave her head in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. You remnant on the plain, how long will you cut yourselves? “ ‘Alas, sword of the LORD, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’ But how can it rest when the LORD has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. “Thus says the LORD: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow 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. At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the LORD is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves? Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still! How can it be quiet when the LORD has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it.”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 NLT (New Living Translation)

This is the LORD’s message to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines of Gaza, before it was captured by the Egyptian army. This is what the LORD says: “A flood is coming from the north to overflow the land. It will destroy the land and everything in it— cities and people alike. People will scream in terror, and everyone in the land will wail. Hear the clatter of stallions’ hooves and the rumble of wheels as the chariots rush by. Terrified fathers run madly, without a backward glance at their helpless children. “The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed, along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon. Yes, the LORD is destroying the remnant of the Philistines, those colonists from the island of Crete. Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald; Ashkelon will lie silent. You remnant from the Mediterranean coast, how long will you cut yourselves in mourning? “Now, O sword of the LORD, when will you be at rest again? Go back into your sheath; rest and be still. “But how can it be still when the LORD has sent it on a mission? For the city of Ashkelon and the people living along the sea must be destroyed.”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

This is the word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines  before Pharaoh defeated Gaza.  This is what the LORD says: Look, water is rising from the north  and becoming an overflowing wadi. It will overflow the land and everything in it,  the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and every inhabitant of the land will wail. At the sound of the stomping hooves of his stallions,  the rumbling of his chariots, and the clatter of their wheels,  fathers will not turn back for their sons. They will be utterly helpless  on account of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every remaining ally.  Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.  , Baldness  is coming to Gaza; Ashkelon will become silent.  Remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourself? Oh, sword of the  LORD!  How long will you be restless? Go back to your sheath; be still; be silent! How can it  rest when the LORD has given it a command?  He has assigned it  against Ashkelon and the shore of the sea.

Jeremiah 47:1-7 KJV (King James Version)

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands; because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

Jeremiah 47:1-7 NKJV (New King James Version)

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, At the rushing of his chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage, Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the LORD shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? “O you sword of the LORD, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still! How can it be quiet, Seeing the LORD has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 MSG (The Message)

GOD’s Message to the prophet Jeremiah regarding the Philistines just before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. This is what GOD says: “Look out! Water will rise in the north country, swelling like a river in flood. The torrent will flood the land, washing away city and citizen. Men and women will scream in terror, wails from every door and window, As the thunder from the hooves of the horses will be heard, the clatter of chariots, the banging of wheels. Fathers, paralyzed by fear, won’t even grab up their babies Because it will be doomsday for Philistines, one and all, no hope of help for Tyre and Sidon. GOD will finish off the Philistines, what’s left of those from the island of Crete. Gaza will be shaved bald as an egg, Ashkelon struck dumb as a post. You’re on your last legs. How long will you keep flailing? “Oh, Sword of GOD, how long will you keep this up? Return to your scabbard. Haven’t you had enough? Can’t you call it quits? “But how can it quit when I, GOD, command the action? I’ve ordered it to cut down Ashkelon and the seacoast.”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. This is what the LORD says: “Behold, waters are going to rise from the north And become an overflowing torrent, And overflow the land and everything that is in it, The city and those who live in it; And the people will cry out, And every inhabitant of the land will wail. “Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions, The roar of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers have not turned back for their children, Because of the debility of their hands, Because of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To eliminate from Tyre and Sidon Every surviving ally; For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor. “Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has been destroyed. Remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourself? “Ah, sword of the LORD, How long will you not be quiet? Withdraw into your sheath; Rest and stay still. “How can it be quiet, When the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the sea shore— There He has summoned it.”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 AMP (Amplified Bible)

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked and conquered [the Philistine city of] Gaza. [Is 14:29-31; Ezek 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph 2:4-7; Zech 9:5-7] Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters are going to rise out of the north (Babylonia) And become an overflowing stream And overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who live in it. Then the people will cry out, And all the inhabitants of the land [of Philistia] will wail. “Because of the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of the war-horses [of the Babylonian king], The rattling of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers have not looked and turned back for their children, So weak are their hands [with terror] Because of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines And to cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally who remains. For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant [still surviving] of the coastland of Caphtor. [Amos 9:7] “Baldness [as a sign of mourning] will come on Gaza; Ashkelon will be cut off and ruined. O remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourselves [as a sign of mourning]? “O you sword of the LORD, How long will it be before you are quiet? Put yourself into your sheath; Rest and be still. “How can His sword be quiet When the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the [whole Philistine] seashore There He has assigned it.”

Jeremiah 47:1-7 NET (New English Translation)

The LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. “Look! Enemies are gathering in the north like water rising in a river. They will be like an overflowing stream. They will overwhelm the whole country and everything in it like a flood. They will overwhelm the cities and their inhabitants. People will cry out in alarm. Everyone living in the country will cry out in pain. Fathers will hear the hoofbeats of the enemies’ horses, the clatter of their chariots and the rumbling of their wheels. They will not turn back to save their children because they will be paralyzed with fear. For the time has come to destroy all the Philistines. The time has come to destroy all the help that remains for Tyre and Sidon. For I, the LORD, will destroy the Philistines, that remnant that came from the island of Crete. The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning. The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb. How long will you gash yourselves to show your sorrow, you who remain of Philistia’s power? How long will you cry out, ‘Oh, sword of the LORD, how long will it be before you stop killing? Go back into your sheath! Stay there and rest!’ But how can it rest when I, the LORD, have given it orders? I have ordered it to attack the people of Ashkelon and the seacoast.