What is the meaning of Jeremiah 47:6? Alas, O sword of the LORD • Jeremiah voices a heartfelt lament as he contemplates God’s coming judgment on the Philistines (Jeremiah 47:1–5). • The “sword” is a vivid picture of the LORD’s active, righteous disciplinary hand, as seen in other passages: “The sword of the LORD is filled with blood” (Isaiah 34:5), and “the sword of the LORD is whetted” (Ezekiel 21:3–5). • This lament reminds us that divine judgment is never cruel or arbitrary; it is the holy response to persistent rebellion (Jeremiah 46:10; Romans 2:5). how long until you rest? • The prophet longs for the day when God’s necessary judgment will be completed. • His question echoes other cries of the faithful: “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1) and “How long, Sovereign Lord… until You judge and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10). • God’s justice may appear delayed, but He “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish” (2 Peter 3:9). Yet His appointed hour always arrives. Return to your sheath • Jeremiah pleads for the sword to be re-sheathed, picturing the end of hostilities. A similar appeal is found when Abner cries to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever?… Put an end to it” (2 Samuel 2:26). • In Ezekiel 21:30 the LORD Himself commands, “Return it to its sheath,” after judgment has run its course. • The image assures us that God’s discipline is purposeful and temporary; He desires restoration, not perpetual destruction (Lamentations 3:31–33). cease and be still! • The ultimate goal is peace—“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). • When the sword is quieted, nations will “beat their swords into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4) and the good news of peace can go forth (Nahum 1:15). • The call to “be still” invites every listener today to lay down resistance and receive the peace secured through Christ, who bore judgment in our place (Colossians 1:20). summary Jeremiah 47:6 captures a prophet’s lament over God’s looming judgment, portraying the LORD’s sword as both righteous and temporary. The cry “how long?” reflects the ache for mercy, while the plea for the sword to return to its sheath underscores God’s intent to restore after chastening. Ultimately, the verse points ahead to the promised cessation of warfare and the stillness found in God’s completed work through Christ, assuring believers that divine judgment serves a redemptive purpose and will give way to lasting peace. |
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