Bible Strands
Jeremiah 46:15
Why have your warriors been laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the Egyptian command structure, questioning the sudden collapse of their army just as they are ordered to mobilize against the advancing Babylonian forces.
The words — The Hebrew מַדּ֖וּעַ (ma.Du.a') poses the stark question "why?" regarding the fallen warriors, while הֲדָפֽ/וֹ (ha.da.F/o) literally renders "he will thrust them down," explicitly naming Yahweh as the force behind their inability to stand.
The thread — This pattern of divine routing recurs in Psalms 68:2 and Psalms 18:14, where God drives out enemies like smoke or scatters them with lightning, and aligns with Isaiah 66:15's depiction of the Lord executing fury through fiery chariots.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to stop attributing military defeat to tactical failure and instead recognize it as a direct, sovereign act of Yahweh, demanding a recalibration of how worldly power is assessed.
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
Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the Lord did drive them.
Cross-references
- Psalms 68:2 As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
- Isaiah 66:15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.
- Psalms 18:14 He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- Psalms 18:39 You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.
- Jeremiah 46:5 Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.
- Exodus 6:1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
- Deuteronomy 11:23 then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and stronger than you.
- Judges 5:20 From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.
- Psalms 44:2 With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out.
- Psalms 114:2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel His dominion.