Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah 46:17
What does Jeremiah 46:17 mean?
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Jeremiah 46:17
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The verse isn't just saying Pharaoh is noisy; it's assigning him a symbolic, prophetic name that reveals his true nature: an "empty sound" or "tumult" that accomplishes nothing. Furthermore, the phrase "lets the hour go by" implies not just a missed appointment, but a squandering of God's patient allowance for repentance, signifying that judgment is now inevitable.
Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet is vividly describing the imminent defeat of Egypt's powerful army by the Babylonians. Following Pharaoh's boastful pronouncements and promises of support, his foreign mercenaries and even his own people will mock him. They will declare that Pharaoh, despite his grand pronouncements, is merely a hollow "noise," and he has squandered the divinely appointed time for action, leaving them all vulnerable.
Why would God's prophet call Pharaoh 'Noisy One' or 'Empty Sound'? This wasn't just a nickname; it was a prophetic judgment.
Jeremiah 46:17 is a powerful example of prophetic naming, where God assigns a descriptive title that reveals the true character and fate of a person or nation.
An Empty Boast
The name "Noisy One" (or "Tumult," "Crash," "Desolation" in different translations) isn't about Pharaoh being loud, but about his actions being all sound and no substance. He made big threats and promises, but when the moment of truth arrived against the Babylonians, he was powerless.
Judgment in a Name
This wasn't just a human insult; it was God declaring Pharaoh's worthlessness. It's like giving a title that screams, 'This is what you really are!' The name strips away his perceived power and exposes his emptiness before his enemies and before God.
What does it mean to 'let the hour go by'? This phrase points to more than just a missed appointment; it's about squandered chances.
The second part of Pharaoh's prophetic name, 'who lets the hour go by,' speaks volumes about missed opportunities and the arrogance of delaying action until it's too late.
The Appointed Time
This "appointed time" could refer to a specific moment Pharaoh had planned to confront the Babylonians, or more broadly, the period of God's patience and grace. Pharaoh, blinded by pride, failed to act decisively when he should have, or perhaps failed to repent when God offered him a chance.
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The Consequence of Delay
When leaders, or even nations, ignore the critical moments, they often find themselves facing ruin. The time for effective preparation, for decisive action, or for repentance passes, leaving them vulnerable and exposed. God's judgment, like Pharaoh's defeat, often comes after a prolonged period of inaction or defiance.
Understand the original words
Paroh · Hebrew Noun
The title of the Egyptian monarch, serving as a symbol of worldly power, pride, and human authority that stands in opposition to the kingdom of God. In Scripture, it often represents a false refuge or an oppressor of God's people.
This verse critiques Pharaoh Hophra's leadership, likening him to a noisy, ineffective force that has missed its opportunity to act decisively. Jeremiah uses this 'symbolic name' to highlight Egypt's diminished power and the missed moments for effective action, especially in light of Babylon's ascendant might.
c. 609 BC
Battle of Carchemish
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, decisively defeated the Egyptian forces led by Pharaoh Necho II. This marked the end of Egyptian dominance in the region and paved the way for Babylonian expansion.
c. 605-604 BC
Babylonian Campaign in Syria
Following their victory at Carchemish, the Babylonians campaigned further, solidifying their control over Syria and pushing back against any remaining Egyptian influence. This established Babylon as the dominant power in the Near East.
c. 595-570 BC— this verse
Reign of Pharaoh Hophra (Apries)
Pharaoh Hophra, grandson of Necho II, reigned during a period of significant geopolitical tension. He attempted to reassert Egyptian influence and challenged Babylonian power, often with limited success.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, exiling many Judeans. Jeremiah's prophecies often addressed the political maneuvering of Egypt and its role in the fate of Judah.
c. 570-567 BC
Egyptian Military Setbacks
Pharaoh Hophra faced internal revolts and military failures, particularly in his campaigns against the Greek city of Cyrene and later against Nebuchadnezzar's forces. These failures weakened his rule and diminished Egypt's prestige.
This passage also illustrates the prophetic practice of giving symbolic, often negative, names to people and places as a sign of God's judgment.
Isaiah 8:3Similar to Jeremiah 46:17, this verse describes calling a child a prophetic name ('Hasten the Spoil, Speed the Prey') that signifies coming judgment and disaster.
1 Corinthians 13:1This New Testament passage uses the metaphor of 'sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal' to describe someone or something that makes a lot of noise but lacks true substance or meaning, paralleling the 'noise' attributed to Pharaoh.
Romans 13:11This verse speaks of salvation being 'nearer now than when we first believed,' suggesting that there is an appointed time for action and judgment, and that failure to act within that time can have dire consequences, mirroring Pharaoh missing his 'appointed time'.
barnesJeremiah 46:17: "They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed."
Translate it with the versions: "They have called (or, Call ye) the name of Pharaoh king of Egypt - A noise: he hath overstepped the appointed time." For this custom of giving prophetic names see Jeremiah 20:3 ; Isaiah 8:3 , ... The words mean that Pharaoh is a mere empty sound, and that he has allowed the years of prosperity, which he enjoyed at the beginning of his reign, to pass by;…
pooleJeremiah 46:17: "They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed."
That is, the Ethiopians and Lubims that should come to help the king of Egypt should cry, or the Chaldeans or the Egyptians themselves should cry, Pharaoh is but a noise, that is, hath made a great noise, but it cometh to nothing: others make the sense, Pharaoh is a man of noise, or tumult. that hath made a great deal of disturbance to himself and us. He hath passed the time appointed;…
The verse isn't just saying Pharaoh is noisy; it's assigning him a symbolic, prophetic name that reveals his true nature: an "empty sound" or "tumult" that accomplishes nothing. Furthermore, the phrase "lets the hour go by" implies not just a missed appointment, but a squandering of God's patient allowance for repentance, signifying that judgment is now inevitable.
The prophet is vividly describing the imminent defeat of Egypt's powerful army by the Babylonians. Following Pharaoh's boastful pronouncements and promises of support, his foreign mercenaries and even his own people will mock him. They will declare that Pharaoh, despite his grand pronouncements, is merely a hollow "noise," and he has squandered the divinely appointed time for action, leaving them all vulnerable.
The prophet is vividly describing the imminent defeat of Egypt's powerful army by the Babylonians. Following Pharaoh's boastful pronouncements and promises of support, his foreign mercenaries and even his own people will mock him. They will declare that Pharaoh, despite his grand pronouncements, is merely a hollow "noise," and he has squandered the divinely appointed time for action, leaving them all vulnerable.
"Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’" — The verse isn't just saying Pharaoh is noisy; it's assigning him a symbolic, prophetic name that reveals his true nature: an "empty sound" or "tumult" that accomplishes nothing. Furthermore, the phra…
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Last reviewed October 2026