Jeremiah 46:5
New International Version
What do I see? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are defeated. They flee in haste without looking back, and there is terror on every side,” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
But what do I see? The Egyptian army flees in terror. The bravest of its fighting men run without a backward glance. They are terrorized at every turn,” says the LORD.

English Standard Version
Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back— terror on every side! declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.

King James Bible
Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.

New King James Version
Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back? Their mighty ones are beaten down; They have speedily fled, And did not look back, For fear was all around,” says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“Why have I seen it? They are terrified, They are retreating, And their warriors are defeated And have taken refuge in flight, Without facing back. Terror is on every side!” Declares the LORD.

NASB 1995
“Why have I seen it? They are terrified, They are drawing back, And their mighty men are defeated And have taken refuge in flight, Without facing back; Terror is on every side!” Declares the LORD.

NASB 1977
“Why have I seen it? They are terrified, They are drawing back, And their mighty men are defeated And have taken refuge in flight, Without facing back; Terror is on every side!” Declares the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Why have I seen it? They are shattered; They are drawing back, And their mighty men are crushed And have fled to refuge, Without facing back; Terror is on every side!” Declares Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“Why have I seen it? They are terrified And have turned back, And their warriors are beaten down. They take flight in haste Without looking back; Terror is on every side!” Says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Why have I seen this? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are crushed, they flee headlong, they never look back, terror is on every side! This is the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why have I seen this? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are crushed, they flee headlong, they never look back, terror is on every side! This is the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
Wherefore have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: terror is on every side, saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
I can see the battle now--you are defeated and running away, never once looking back. Terror is all around.

English Revised Version
Wherefore have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: terror is on every side, saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"What do I see in them? They are terrified. They are retreating. Their warriors are defeated. They flee without looking back. Terror is all around them," declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
"But what do I see?" asks the LORD. "They are turning back in terror. Their soldiers are beaten back; overcome with fear, they run as fast as they can and do not look back.

International Standard Version
Why am I seeing this? They're terrified, they have turned back. Their warriors are crushed, and they take flight. They don't look back. Terror is on every side," declares the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!? declares the LORD.

NET Bible
What do I see?" says the LORD. "The soldiers are terrified. They are retreating. They have been defeated. They are overcome with terror; they desert quickly without looking back.

New Heart English Bible
Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled in haste, and do not look back: terror is on every side," says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Why have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and look not back: for fear was on all sides, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and are turned backward. Their mighty ones are beaten down, have fled in haste, and don’t look back. Terror is on every side,” says Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why have I seen them dismayed [and] turned backward? And their mighty ones are beaten down, "" And they have fled [to] a refuge, "" And did not turn their face, "" Fear [is] all around—a declaration of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore have I seen them dismayed -- They are turned backward, And their mighty ones are beaten down, And to a refuge they have fled, and not turned the face? Fear is round about -- an affirmation of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore did I see them terrified, drawing back behind? and their strong ones shall be broken, and they fled a flight, and they turned not: fear being round about, says Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
What then? I have seen them dismayed, and turning their backs, their valiant ones slain: they fled apace, and they looked not back: terror was round about, saith the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And what is next? I have seen them terrified, and turning their backs, their strong ones cut down. They have fled in disorder and have not looked back. Terror on every side, says the Lord.

New American Bible
What do I see? Are they panicking, falling apart? Their warriors are hammered back, They flee headlong never making a stand. Terror on every side— oracle of the LORD!

New Revised Standard Version
Why do I see them terrified? They have fallen back; their warriors are beaten down, and have fled in haste. They do not look back— terror is all around! says the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Because I have seen them defeated and retreating, and their mighty men are beaten down and are fled apace, and they look not back: for they were surrounded, says the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because I have seen that they are defeated and are turning their back, and their mighty men are beaten and have fled, and they have not returned, because of those who were surrounding them from their surroundings, says LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore do I see them dismayed and turned backward? And their mighty ones are beaten down, And they are fled apace, and look not back; Terror is on every side, saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Why do they fear, and turn back? even because their mighty men shall be slain: they have utterly fled, and being hemmed in they have not rallied, saith the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Egypt
4Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor! 5Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD. 6“The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.…

Cross References
Isaiah 19:16
In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble with fear beneath the uplifted hand of the LORD of Hosts, when He brandishes it against them.

Nahum 2:8-10
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back. / “Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing. / She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!

Ezekiel 30:9
On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of complacency. Anguish will come upon them on the day of Egypt’s doom. For it is indeed coming.

Isaiah 13:7-8
Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.

Isaiah 21:3-4
Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see. / My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight I desired has turned to horror.

Isaiah 22:4-5
Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.” / For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—of breaking down the walls and crying to the mountains.

Ezekiel 32:9-10
‘I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, in countries you do not know. / I will cause many peoples to be appalled over you, and their kings will shudder in horror because of you when I brandish My sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.’

Zephaniah 1:14-16
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Joel 2:6
Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale.

Amos 2:16
Even the bravest of mighty men will flee naked on that day,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 24:29-30
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 18:9-10
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Mark 13:24-26
But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; / the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.


Treasury of Scripture

Why have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, said the LORD.

and their

Revelation 6:15
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

beaten down [heb] fled a flight

Jeremiah 46:15
Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

Genesis 19:17
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

2 Kings 7:6,7
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us…

fear

Jeremiah 6:25
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

Jeremiah 20:3,4,10
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib…

Jeremiah 49:29
Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

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Apace Backward Beaten Declares Defeated Dismayed Drawing Facing Fear Fled Flee Flight Look Mighty Ones Overcome Refuge Round Side Sides Terrified Terror Turned Wherefore
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Apace Backward Beaten Declares Defeated Dismayed Drawing Facing Fear Fled Flee Flight Look Mighty Ones Overcome Refuge Round Side Sides Terrified Terror Turned Wherefore
Jeremiah 46
1. Jeremiah prophesies the overthrow of Pharaoh's army at Euphrates
13. and the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar
27. He comforts Jacob in his chastisement














What is this I see?
This phrase opens with a rhetorical question, indicating a sense of surprise or alarm. In the Hebrew text, the word for "see" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which means to perceive or understand. This suggests a sudden realization or revelation. The context here is God speaking through Jeremiah, observing the unexpected and chaotic retreat of the Egyptian army. This rhetorical question sets the tone for the divine perspective on the unfolding events, emphasizing God's omniscience and the futility of human plans against His will.

They are terrified
The Hebrew root for "terrified" is "חָתַת" (chatat), which conveys a sense of being shattered or dismayed. This word choice reflects the deep fear and panic that has gripped the Egyptian soldiers. Historically, this terror can be linked to the Battle of Carchemish, where the Egyptian forces were decisively defeated by the Babylonians. Theologically, it underscores the theme of divine judgment and the inevitable downfall of those who oppose God's purposes.

they are retreating
The phrase "they are retreating" captures the image of a disorganized withdrawal. The Hebrew verb "נָסוֹג" (nasog) implies a backward movement, often used in military contexts to describe a retreat. This retreat is not strategic but rather a response to overwhelming fear and defeat. It serves as a metaphor for the spiritual retreat of those who do not stand firm in faith, highlighting the consequences of relying on human strength rather than divine guidance.

their warriors are defeated
The term "warriors" in Hebrew is "גִּבּוֹרִים" (gibborim), which refers to mighty men or champions. These were the elite soldiers, the pride of Egypt's military might. Yet, despite their strength and training, they are "defeated," a word derived from "כָּשַׁל" (kashal), meaning to stumble or fall. This illustrates the biblical principle that no earthly power can withstand the judgment of God. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate sovereignty of God over nations and armies, reinforcing the message that true strength lies in obedience to Him.

They flee in haste
The phrase "flee in haste" conveys urgency and panic. The Hebrew verb "נָס" (nas) means to flee or escape quickly. This reflects the chaotic and desperate nature of the Egyptian retreat. Historically, this aligns with the swift and decisive nature of the Babylonian victory. Spiritually, it symbolizes the futility of fleeing from God's judgment and the importance of seeking refuge in Him instead.

without looking back
This phrase suggests a complete abandonment of hope and a focus solely on escape. The Hebrew idiom implies a lack of concern for what is left behind, indicating a total surrender to fear. In a broader biblical context, it echoes the account of Lot's wife, who looked back at Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). It serves as a warning against longing for or clinging to the past when God calls for forward movement in faith.

terror is on every side!
The phrase "terror is on every side" is a vivid depiction of the pervasive fear surrounding the Egyptians. The Hebrew "מִסָּבִיב" (missabib) means all around or encircling, emphasizing the inescapable nature of their dread. This phrase is often used by Jeremiah to describe the overwhelming presence of fear and judgment (Jeremiah 6:25, 20:3). It serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of opposing God's will and the peace that comes from trusting in His protection.

(5) Wherefore have I seen them dismayed . . .?--The prophet speaks as seeing already in his mind's eye the confusion of the defeated army, with no way to escape, driven back on the Euphrates. In the "fear round about" (Magor-missabib) we have one of his characteristic formulae (Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3; Jeremiah 20:10; Jeremiah 49:29).

Verse 5. - That so well equipped an army should flee seems incredible. Hence the astonished question, Wherefore have I seen, etc.? literally, Why do I see (that) they (are) dismayed, turning back? And look not back. With the object of rallying the scattered forces. For fear was round about. It is a pity that the Authorized Version has not kept one uniform rendering for this favourite expression of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 6:25 (see note) it is translated, "fear is on every side" (Hebrew, magor missabib).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
מַדּ֣וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

am I seeing this?
רָאִ֗יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

They
הֵ֣מָּה (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are terrified,
חַתִּים֮ (ḥat·tîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2844: Crushed, afraid, terror

they are retreating,
נְסֹגִ֣ים (nə·sō·ḡîm)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5472: To move away, backslide

their warriors
וְגִבּוֹרֵיהֶ֣ם (wə·ḡib·bō·w·rê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant

are defeated,
יֻכַּ֔תּוּ (yuk·kat·tū)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3807: To bruise, violently strike

they flee
וּמָנ֥וֹס (ū·mā·nō·ws)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4498: Flight, place of escape or refuge

in haste,
נָ֖סוּ (nā·sū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

they never
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

look back,
הִפְנ֑וּ (hip̄·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

terror
מָג֥וֹר (mā·ḡō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4032: Fear, terror

is on every side!
מִסָּבִ֖יב (mis·sā·ḇîḇ)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 46:5 Why have I seen it? They (Jer.)
Jeremiah 46:4
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