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Jeremiah 47:6

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 47:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “O thou sword of Jehovah, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard; rest, and be still.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

O thou sword of Jehovah, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard; rest, and be still.
Jeremiah 47:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 47

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers look not back to their children for feebleness of hands;
4because of the day that cometh to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remaineth: for Jehovah will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor.
5Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nought, the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
6O thou sword of Jehovah, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard; rest, and be still.
7How canst thou be quiet, seeing Jehovah hath given thee a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there hath he appointed it.
← Jeremiah 47:5Jeremiah 47:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“O thou sword of the Lord, etc.] For though it was the sword of the Chaldeans, yet being appointed and sent by the Lord, and having a commission from him, and being ordered and directed in his providence to do his will, it is called his sword: how long [will it be] ere thou be quiet? and cease from destroying men; wilt thou not cease till thou hast no more to destroy? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still; and make no more havoc among the people: these are either the words of the Philistines, entreating a stop might be put to the ravages of the sword, and that the war might cease, and the desolations of it; or rather of the prophet, commiserating their state as a man, though…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Jeremiah, in the person of the Philistines afflicting themselves (Jer 47:5), apostrophizes the "sword of the Lord," entreating mercy (compare Deu 32:41; Eze 21:3-5, Eze 21:9-10). up thyself--Hebrew, "Gather thyself," that is, retire or return.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“O thou sword - Perhaps they are the words of the prophet, lamenting the havock which he made among the Philistines by the Chaldeans. Jeremiah 47:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“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.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou sword: Jer 12:12, Jer 15:3, Jer 25:27, Jer 51:20-23; Deu 32:41, Deu 32:42; Psa 17:13; Isa 10:5, Isa 10:15; Eze 14:17, Eze 21:3-5 how long: Jer 4:21, Jer 12:4; Sa2 2:26 put up thyself: Heb. gather thyself into: Ch1 21:27; Eze 21:30; Joh 18:11 Jeremiah 47:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification