Jeremiah 47:2
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.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֣ה׀
H3541
כֹּ֣ה׀
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 22
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מַ֜יִם
Behold waters
H4325
מַ֜יִם
Behold waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
5 of 22
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
עֹלִ֤ים
rise up
H5927
עֹלִ֤ים
rise up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
6 of 22
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִצָּפוֹן֙
out of the north
H6828
מִצָּפוֹן֙
out of the north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
וְהָיוּ֙
H1961
וְהָיוּ֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
8 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְנַ֣חַל
flood
H5158
לְנַ֣חַל
flood
Strong's:
H5158
Word #:
9 of 22
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
וְיִשְׁטְפוּ֙
and shall be an overflowing
H7857
וְיִשְׁטְפוּ֙
and shall be an overflowing
Strong's:
H7857
Word #:
10 of 22
to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer
וְיִשְׁטְפוּ֙
and shall be an overflowing
H7857
וְיִשְׁטְפוּ֙
and shall be an overflowing
Strong's:
H7857
Word #:
11 of 22
to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer
וּמְלוֹאָ֔הּ
and all that is therein
H4393
וּמְלוֹאָ֔הּ
and all that is therein
Strong's:
H4393
Word #:
13 of 22
fulness (literally or figuratively)
עִ֖יר
the city
H5892
עִ֖יר
the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
14 of 22
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב
and all the inhabitants
H3427
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב
and all the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
15 of 22
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וְזָֽעֲקוּ֙
shall cry
H2199
וְזָֽעֲקוּ֙
shall cry
Strong's:
H2199
Word #:
17 of 22
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
הָֽאָדָ֔ם
therein then the men
H120
הָֽאָדָ֔ם
therein then the men
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
18 of 22
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְהֵילִ֕ל
shall howl
H3213
וְהֵילִ֕ל
shall howl
Strong's:
H3213
Word #:
19 of 22
to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Jeremiah 1:14Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.Jeremiah 46:20Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.Jeremiah 8:16The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
Historical Context
Mesopotamian armies were often compared to floods in ancient Near Eastern literature. The Babylonian Chronicle confirms Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns along the Mediterranean coast (c. 604-603 BC), fulfilling this prophecy. Philistine cities like Ashkelon were destroyed during these invasions.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Scripture use water imagery (usually associated with blessing) to describe judgment?
- How does the "north" consistently represent threat throughout Jeremiah's prophecies?
- What does universal crying and howling teach about the comprehensive nature of divine judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה הִנֵּה־מַיִם עֹלִים מִצָּפוֹן)—The mayim olim (rising waters) metaphor depicts Babylonian invasion as an unstoppable flood. And shall be an overflowing flood (וְהָיוּ לְנַחַל שׁוֹטֵף) uses nachal shotef (torrential stream), evoking the destructive power of flash floods in desert wadis. The imagery contrasts with the "north" motif—Babylon approaches from arid regions but comes like overwhelming waters.
Then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl (וְזָעֲקוּ הָאָדָם וְהֵילִל כֹּל־יוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ)—zaaq (cry out) and heilil (howl/wail) denote desperate lamentation. The comprehensive kol yoshev ha'arets (all inhabitants of the land) leaves no one untouched by judgment.