Jeremiah 46:7-8
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The prophet uses a specific word for "flood" that almost exclusively refers to the Nile River, immediately signaling that this unstoppable force rising up is Egypt itself. The comparison to surging rivers also points to the Nile's many branches, highlighting the vastness and overwhelming nature of Egypt's military might.
“Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge? Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah, speaking God's word, has just warned Egypt about an impending invasion. This verse expresses astonishment at the immense Egyptian army, comparing its unstoppable advance to the powerful, overflowing Nile River and its many branches surging across the land. The ensuing verses reveal this mighty force is doomed to defeat at Carchemish, despite their arrogant confidence.
Why would the prophet compare a powerful army to a flood from the Nile River? What does this imagery reveal about how ancient Egyptians saw themselves and their nation?
The prophet Jeremiah uses powerful imagery to describe the approaching Egyptian army. He compares their advance to 'the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge.' The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt. Its annual flood brought fertility and sustenance to the land, and its sheer power was undeniable.
For the Egyptians, the Nile wasn't just a river; it was a symbol of divine power and their nation's invincibility. When the prophet compares the Egyptian army to this mighty flood, he's tapping into their own understanding of power. He's saying, 'This force you see coming is like the greatest force you know – your own life-giving, powerful river.' This comparison highlights the immense military might that Egypt possessed and the awe it inspired.
The surging river imagery isn't just about power; it's also about a dangerous kind of confidence. What happens when human power, however great, forgets who is truly in charge?
While the comparison to the Nile emphasizes Egypt's military strength, it also carries a warning. The scholars point out that this image of a surging, uncontrollable flood can represent arrogance and the intention to overwhelm and destroy everything in its path. Egypt, like this flood, intended to 'cover the land' and 'destroy the city and all who dwell in it,' as if they were a force of nature beyond any opposition.
However, Jeremiah's prophecy is given in the context of God's judgment. This 'flood' of Egyptian power, so terrifying to human eyes, is ultimately a tool in God's hand. The prophet's question, 'Who is this?' isn't just asking for identification; it's a rhetorical challenge, implying that this power, though vast, is ultimately subject to God's sovereign will. The divine message is clear: no human power, no matter how overwhelming, can ultimately stand against the judgments of the Almighty.
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Understand the original words
ye'or · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, it often refers to the supreme power or force of nature used as a metaphor for the unstoppable, encroaching judgment of God or the prideful expansion of a nation.
This prophecy vividly captures the immense power and arrogance of the Egyptian army under Pharaoh Necho as it marched north. The imagery of the surging Nile, a symbol of Egypt's lifeblood and power, highlights the perceived invincibility of the Egyptian military might, a might that was soon to be broken at Carchemish.
609 BC
Battle of Carchemish
The Babylonian army, led by Nebuchadnezzar, decisively defeated the Egyptian forces and their allies, the remnants of the Assyrian army. This marked the end of Egyptian dominance in the region and shifted the balance of power.
c. 605 BC— this verse
Pharaoh Necho's Campaigns
Prior to the decisive Battle of Carchemish, Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt led his army north, engaging in campaigns that extended Egyptian influence and power in the region. This verse describes the immense Egyptian force as it marched, evoking the imagery of the Nile.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportations
Following their victory at Carchemish, the Babylonians began deporting skilled individuals and elites from conquered territories, including Judah, to Babylon. This event was part of Nebuchadnezzar's strategy to consolidate his empire.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, exiling a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event for the people of Judah.
This passage also uses the imagery of a mighty river, the Euphrates, to describe an invading army, paralleling Jeremiah's comparison of Egypt to the surging Nile.
Daniel 11:22This verse speaks of a prince of Egypt being overthrown, directly referencing the defeat of Egyptian forces and echoing the prophetic judgment on Egypt in Jeremiah.
Exodus 7:19This passage describes the Nile turning to blood, showcasing the intense connection Egyptians had with their river and serving as a powerful, albeit different, divine intervention related to the Nile.
Jeremiah 47:2This verse uses the same powerful imagery of waters flooding from the north to describe the Philistines' invasion, showing a consistent prophetic pattern of using powerful natural forces to depict divine judgment.
clarkeJeremiah 46:7: "Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?"
Who is this that cometh up as a flood - The vast concourse of people is here represented as a river: for instance, the Jordan, suddenly swollen with the rains in harvest, rolling its waters along, and overflowing the whole country. A fine image to represent the incursions of vast armies carrying all before them. Such was the army of Pharaoh-necho in its march to Carchemish.
calvinJeremiah 46:7-8: "Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?"
- Aegyptus tanquam lacus ascendit (ascendet, ad verbum, sed significat continuum actum,) et tanquam fluvii sese movent aquae: dixit enim, Ascendam et operiam terram; perdam urbem et qui habitant in ea.
The Prophet again meets those doubts which might have possessed the minds of the godly, so as to prevent them to receive this prophecy in faith and with due reverence: for we have said, that when our…
The prophet uses a specific word for "flood" that almost exclusively refers to the Nile River, immediately signaling that this unstoppable force rising up is Egypt itself. The comparison to surging rivers also points to the Nile's many branches, highlighting the vastness and overwhelming nature of Egypt's military might.
The prophet Jeremiah, speaking God's word, has just warned Egypt about an impending invasion. This verse expresses astonishment at the immense Egyptian army, comparing its unstoppable advance to the powerful, overflowing Nile River and its many branches surging across the land. The ensuing verses reveal this mighty force is doomed to defeat at Carchemish, despite their arrogant confidence.
The prophet Jeremiah, speaking God's word, has just warned Egypt about an impending invasion. This verse expresses astonishment at the immense Egyptian army, comparing its unstoppable advance to the powerful, overflowing Nile River and its many branches surging across the land. The ensuing verses reveal this mighty force is doomed to defeat at Carchemish, despite their arrogant confidence.
"“Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge? Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhab…" — The prophet uses a specific word for "flood" that almost exclusively refers to the Nile River, immediately signaling that this unstoppable force rising up is Egypt itself. The comparison to surging r…
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Last reviewed October 2026
