Jeremiah 47:6
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This chapter reads the Philistines their doom, as the former read the Egyptians theirs and by the same hand, that of Nebuchadnezzar. It is short, but terrible; and Tyre and Zidon, though they lay at some distance from them, come in sharers with them in the destruction here threatened. I. It is foretold that the forces of the northern crowns should come upon them, to their great terror (Jer 47:1-5). II. That the war should continue long, and their endeavours to put an end to it should be in vain (Jer 47:6-7).
Open source ↗47:6 O sword of the Lord: God used the Babylonians to enact his justice. This request might have come from the Philistine cities being attacked by the Babylonians. The people were eager for the attacks against them to stop.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace.
Return the sword to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,
How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.
“Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, because of the sword I will send among you.’
Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”
Then the LORD spoke to the angel, who put his sword back into its sheath.