The big picture
Jeremiah 47 opens in verse 1 with “The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 4 with “Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus…”, and closes in verse 7 with “How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, land. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 7Jeremiah 47:1-7
1–7: The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the…
Jeremiah 47:1–7 opens with “The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that…” and reaches “How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 47 develops its own movement around LORD, Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, land, with particular weight carried by LORD, Philistines, Ashkelon.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.” Naming Gaza and Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thus saith the LORD ; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 47:1-7
King James Version1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
2Thus 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.
3At 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;
4Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
5Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
6O thou sword of the LORD , how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 47:1 begins with “The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 47:5 forms a natural hinge: “Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?”
The final note
Jeremiah 47:7 leaves the reader with “How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, land, long help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Jacob describe his life to Pharaoh?
As a pilgrimage, with years he calls few and difficult compared with his ancestors.
What tension does the famine policy create?
People survive, while land and economic dependence increasingly belong to Pharaoh.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.