Jeremiah 46:21
Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.
Original Language Analysis
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 20
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
שְׂכִרֶ֤יהָ
Also her hired men
H7916
שְׂכִרֶ֤יהָ
Also her hired men
Strong's:
H7916
Word #:
2 of 20
a man who is hired by the day or year
בְקִרְבָּהּ֙
are in the midst
H7130
בְקִרְבָּהּ֙
are in the midst
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
3 of 20
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
כְּעֶגְלֵ֣י
bullocks
H5695
כְּעֶגְלֵ֣י
bullocks
Strong's:
H5695
Word #:
4 of 20
a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e., a steer)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
6 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
גַם
H1571
גַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הִפְנ֛וּ
for they also are turned back
H6437
הִפְנ֛וּ
for they also are turned back
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
9 of 20
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
נָ֥סוּ
and are fled away
H5127
נָ֥סוּ
and are fled away
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
10 of 20
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עָמָ֑דוּ
they did not stand
H5975
עָמָ֑דוּ
they did not stand
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
13 of 20
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
14 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
י֥וֹם
because the day
H3117
י֥וֹם
because the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
15 of 20
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֵידָ֛ם
of their calamity
H343
אֵידָ֛ם
of their calamity
Strong's:
H343
Word #:
16 of 20
oppression; by implication misfortune, ruin
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Jeremiah 46:5Wherefore 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.2 Kings 7:6For 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.Isaiah 34:7And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.Psalms 37:13The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.Jeremiah 50:27Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.Amos 6:4That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;Hosea 9:7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.2 Samuel 10:6And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.Micah 7:4The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.Obadiah 1:13Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
Historical Context
Egypt regularly employed foreign mercenaries, especially Greek, Libyan, and Nubian soldiers. These professional troops were expensive but considered elite forces. The metaphor of fattened calves would resonate with an agricultural society familiar with livestock management and sacrifice.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways do we rely on "hired help"—external securities—rather than trusting God's protection?
- How does the image of pampered livestock for slaughter illustrate the temporary nature of worldly strength?
- What does the phrase "day of their calamity" teach about divine appointments we cannot escape or postpone?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks (גַּם־שְׂכִרֶיהָ בְקִרְבָּהּ כְּעֶגְלֵי מַרְבֵּק)—Egypt's mercenaries (sekireyha) are compared to egley marbeq (calves of the stall), pampered livestock raised for slaughter. The irony is devastating: soldiers hired for strength prove as helpless as penned animals. They did not stand (לֹא עָמָדוּ)—the verb amad means to take a stand in battle.
The day of their calamity (יוֹם אֵידָם) and the time of their visitation (עֵת פְּקֻדָּתָם) employ legal terminology—eyd (calamity) and pequddah (reckoning/visitation) denote God's appointed moment of judgment. No amount of military preparation can withstand divine decree.