Bible Strands
Jeremiah 43:12
I will kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples and take their gods as captives. So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself in his garment, and he will depart from there unscathed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks through Jeremiah to the Judean remnant who fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem. The oracle addresses their refusal to obey the command to remain in the land and warns of imminent military judgment.
The words — The Hebrew וְ/הִצַּ֣תִּי (ve./hi.Tza.ti) means "and I will kindle," paired with אֵ֗שׁ ('Esh) for "fire." The verb וְ/עָטָה֩ (ve./'a.Tah) denotes wrapping or covering, describing how the conqueror will envelop the land like a garment.
The thread — This judgment motif runs through Ezekiel 30:13, where God vows to destroy idols in Memphis, and aligns with Isaiah 19:1, which foretells the Lord's arrival to judge Egypt's gods. The garment imagery parallels Psalm 109:18's curse soaking into clothing.
Why it lands — The text states that divine judgment will execute through historical armies, reducing idolatrous nations to captivity and ruin. It requires the reader to acknowledge that human rebellion against divine command invites concrete, inescapable consequences.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 30:13 This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in Egypt, and I will instill fear in that land.
- Psalms 109:18 The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
- Isaiah 19:1 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.
- Isaiah 49:18 Lift up your eyes and look around. They all gather together; they come to you. As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “you will wear them all as jewelry and put them on like a bride.
- Jeremiah 46:25 The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh.
- Jeremiah 48:7 Because you trust in your works and treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials.
- Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
- 2 Samuel 5:21 There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.
- Esther 6:9 Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them array the man the king wants to honor and parade him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’”
- Job 40:10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.