Jeremiah 46:4
Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
Original Language Analysis
אִסְר֣וּ
Harness
H631
אִסְר֣וּ
Harness
Strong's:
H631
Word #:
1 of 10
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
וַֽעֲלוּ֙
and get up
H5927
וַֽעֲלוּ֙
and get up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
3 of 10
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
הַפָּ֣רָשִׁ֔ים
ye horsemen
H6571
הַפָּ֣רָשִׁ֔ים
ye horsemen
Strong's:
H6571
Word #:
4 of 10
a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e., (collectively) cavalry
וְהִֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ
and stand forth
H3320
וְהִֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ
and stand forth
Strong's:
H3320
Word #:
5 of 10
to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue
מִרְקוּ֙
furbish
H4838
מִרְקוּ֙
furbish
Strong's:
H4838
Word #:
7 of 10
to polish; by implication, to sharpen; also to rinse
הָֽרְמָחִ֔ים
the spears
H7420
הָֽרְמָחִ֔ים
the spears
Strong's:
H7420
Word #:
8 of 10
a lance (as thrown); especially the iron point
Historical Context
Egyptian charioteers were elite military units, trained from youth. Archaeological evidence from Carchemish shows extensive chariot warfare preparation. The irony is devastating: Egypt's best technology, training, and equipment proved worthless against Babylon—the rod of God's anger (compare Assyria in Isaiah 10:5).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Scripture detail Egypt's military preparations so thoroughly before describing their defeat?
- How does reliance on superior technology and training become a false security apart from God?
- What modern equivalents to chariots and armor do people trust for security instead of divine providence?
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Analysis & Commentary
Harness the horses (אִסְרוּ הַסּוּסִים)—The imperative isru means 'bind' or 'yoke,' referring to hitching war horses to chariots. Egyptian chariot warfare was legendary, the dominant military technology of the Late Bronze Age. The rapid-fire commands create breathless urgency.
Furbish the spears (מִרְקוּ הָרְמָחִים)—The verb mirqu means 'polish' or 'scour,' ensuring weapons gleam and function perfectly. Put on the brigandines refers to scale armor (shiryon, שִׁרְיוֹן), overlapping metal plates providing maximum protection. Every detail emphasizes thorough military preparation—yet v. 5-6 reveal complete defeat. Human preparedness means nothing when God decrees judgment.