Jeremiah 47:3
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
Original Language Analysis
לְרִכְבּ֔וֹ
of his chariots
H7393
לְרִכְבּ֔וֹ
of his chariots
Strong's:
H7393
Word #:
6 of 15
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
הֲמ֖וֹן
and at the rumbling
H1995
הֲמ֖וֹן
and at the rumbling
Strong's:
H1995
Word #:
7 of 15
a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth
גַּלְגִּלָּ֑יו
of his wheels
H1534
גַּלְגִּלָּ֑יו
of his wheels
Strong's:
H1534
Word #:
8 of 15
a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled)
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הִפְנ֤וּ
shall not look back
H6437
הִפְנ֤וּ
shall not look back
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
10 of 15
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
אָבוֹת֙
the fathers
H1
אָבוֹת֙
the fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
11 of 15
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
בָּנִ֔ים
to their children
H1121
בָּנִ֔ים
to their children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 15
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
Cross References
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.Judges 5:22Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
Historical Context
Babylonian military technology was superior, with heavy cavalry and sophisticated chariotry. The psychological impact of these forces terrified smaller nations. Archaeological evidence from Ashkelon shows destruction layers from this period, confirming the prophecy's fulfillment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the vivid sensory language (sound of hooves, wheels, chariots) make divine judgment tangible?
- What does the image of fathers abandoning children reveal about the totality of judgment's terror?
- How might "feebleness of hands" describe spiritual paralysis in the face of consequences we've long avoided?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels (מִקּוֹל שַׁעֲטַת פַּרְסוֹת אַבִּירָיו מֵרַעַשׁ לְרִכְבּוֹ הֲמוֹן גַּלְגִּלָּיו)—The triple auditory assault creates overwhelming sensory terror: shaatah (stamping), raash (rushing/rattling), and hamon (rumbling/tumult). Abbirim (strong ones/stallions) emphasizes elite cavalry. The alliterative Hebrew intensifies the cacophony of invasion.
The fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands (לֹא־הִפְנוּ אָבוֹת אֶל־בָּנִים מֵרִפְיוֹן יָדָיִם)—The shocking image of fathers abandoning children reverses natural parental instinct. Rifyon yadayim (slackness/feebleness of hands) denotes paralyzing terror, the same phrase used of Joshua's enemies (Joshua 2:11, 5:1). Panic dissolves the most basic human bonds.