Jeremiah 46:23
They shall cut down her forest, declares the LORD, though it is impenetrable, because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just say the enemy is numerous, but that they are more than locusts because they are innumerable. This isn't just a description of the enemy's might, but a divine declaration that their sheer, uncountable numbers will make even Egypt's "impenetrable" defenses (likened to a dense forest) utterly vulnerable. It highlights how God can bring overwhelming forces against even the most seemingly secure nations when He wills it.
Jeremiah is vividly portraying the impending invasion of Egypt, comparing its impenetrable defenses and numerous cities to a dense forest. This description emphasizes how overwhelming and unstoppable the Babylonian army will be, likened to countless locusts that consume everything in their path. The prophet declares that despite Egypt's perceived security, it will be utterly destroyed by this numerically superior enemy.
Egypt is often described as a mighty and secure nation. But here, God compares it to a forest that will be cut down. What makes it so formidable, and why is it vulnerable?
A Nation Like a Forest
The prophet Jeremiah uses the metaphor of a dense, impenetrable forest to describe Egypt. This imagery speaks to several aspects of Egypt's strength and perceived security:
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This metaphor highlights how nations, like natural landscapes, can appear formidable, their strength masking underlying vulnerabilities that God alone can expose.
When God’s judgment comes, it’s not a subtle force. This verse vividly describes the sheer number of the enemy, likening them to a natural disaster.
The Locust Army
The reason this seemingly impenetrable 'forest' will be cut down is the overwhelming nature of the attacking force. God compares them to locusts:
Jeremiah's prophecy describes the Babylonian invasion of Egypt under Nebuchadnezzar, likening the overwhelming enemy force to countless locusts devouring a dense forest, symbolizing Egypt's cities and people.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar, crown prince at the time, decisively defeats the Egyptians and their allies at the Battle of Carchemish, establishing Babylonian dominance in the region.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling many Judeans. This event is a major backdrop for Jeremiah's prophecies regarding God's judgment on nations.
c. 568-567 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's Egyptian Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar launches a major military campaign into Egypt, the target of Jeremiah's prophecy here. This invasion fulfills the prophecy of Egypt's destruction.
550-539 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great founds the Persian Empire, which will eventually conquer Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian period.
This passage also uses the imagery of a forest being cut down to describe the downfall of a powerful oppressor, similar to how Egypt is depicted as an impenetrable forest.
Joel 1:4This verse describes the devastating plague of locusts, a powerful image of overwhelming numbers and destruction, which directly parallels the description of the enemy in Jeremiah 46:23.
Judges 6:5This passage also likens an invading army to locusts in their countless numbers, highlighting the overwhelming nature of their approach, much like the enemy described against Egypt.
Ezekiel 29:18This prophecy directly addresses Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt, providing historical context for the destruction described in Jeremiah 46:23 and showing the fulfillment of God's judgment.
pulpitJeremiah 46:23: "They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable."
Verse 23. - They shall cut down; better, they cut down. The prophet is describing a picture which passes before his inner eye. Though it cannot be searched; rather, for it cannot be searched out. The subject of the verb is uncertain. De Dieu's explanation is, "Because the forest is so dense, so intricate, it is necessary to clear a pat…
clarkeJeremiah 46:23: "They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable."
They shall cut down her forest - Supposed to mean her cities, of which Egypt had no fewer than one thousand and twenty.
The verse doesn't just say the enemy is numerous, but that they are more than locusts because they are innumerable. This isn't just a description of the enemy's might, but a divine declaration that their sheer, uncountable numbers will make even Egypt's "impenetrable" defenses (likened to a dense forest) utterly vulnerable. It highlights how God can bring overwhelming forces against even the most seemingly secure nations when He wills it.
Jeremiah is vividly portraying the impending invasion of Egypt, comparing its impenetrable defenses and numerous cities to a dense forest. This description emphasizes how overwhelming and unstoppable the Babylonian army will be, likened to countless locusts that consume everything in their path. The prophet declares that despite Egypt's perceived security, it will be utterly destroyed by this numerically superior enemy.
Jeremiah is vividly portraying the impending invasion of Egypt, comparing its impenetrable defenses and numerous cities to a dense forest. This description emphasizes how overwhelming and unstoppable the Babylonian army will be, likened to countless locusts that consume everything in their path. The prophet declares that despite Egypt's perceived security, it will be utterly destroyed by this numerically superior enemy.
"They shall cut down her forest, declares the LORD, though it is impenetrable, because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number." — The verse doesn't just say the enemy is numerous, but that they are more than locusts because they are innumerable. This isn't just a description of the enemy's might, but a divine declaration that…
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