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Sunday, August 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Jeremiah 46:21

Even the mercenaries among her are like fattened calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee; they will not stand their ground, for the day of their calamity is coming upon them-the time of their punishment.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Babylon;   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Day;   Visitation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ox, the;   Time;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Egypt;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Nebuchadnezzar;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Nebuchadnezzar;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Calf;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Hire, Hireling;   Manger;   Nebuchadrezzar;   Obadiah, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Egypt;   Jeremiah (2);   Smith Bible Dictionary - Nebuchadnez'zar,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bullock;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Calamity;   Calf;   Hire;   Visitation;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Cattle;   Nebuchadnezzar;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Even her mercenaries among herare like stall-fed calves.They too will turn back;together they will flee;they will not take their stand,for the day of their calamity is coming on them,the time of their punishment.
Hebrew Names Version
Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they didn't stand: for the day of their calamity is come on them, the time of their visitation.
King James Version
Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.
English Standard Version
Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves; yes, they have turned and fled together; they did not stand, for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
New American Standard Bible
"Also her mercenaries in her midst Are like fattened calves, For they too have turned away and have fled together; They did not stand their ground. For the day of their disaster has come upon them, The time of their punishment.
New Century Version
The hired soldiers in Egypt's army are like fat calves, because even they all turn and run away together; they do not stand strong against the attack. Their time of destruction is coming; they will soon be punished.
Amplified Bible
"Also her mercenaries in her army Are like fattened calves, For they too have turned back and have fled together; They did not stand [their ground], Because the day of their disaster has come upon them, The time of their punishment.
World English Bible
Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they didn't stand: for the day of their calamity is come on them, the time of their visitation.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also her hired men are in the middes of her like fat calues: they are also turned backe and fled away together: they could not stand, because the day of their destruction was come vpon them, and the time of their visitation.
Legacy Standard Bible
Also her mercenaries in her midstAre like fattened calves,For even they have turned back and have fled away together;They did not stand their ground.For the day of their disaster has come upon them,The time of their punishment.
Contemporary English Version
The foreign soldiers you hired will turn and run. But they are doomed, like well-fed calves being led to the butcher.
Complete Jewish Bible
Her mercenaries too, that she had with her, were like well-fed calves in a stable; but they too have withdrawn in retreat, they all ran away without standing their ground. For their day of disaster has come over them, the time for them to be punished.
Darby Translation
Also her hired men in the midst of her are like fatted bullocks; for they also have turned back, they have fled away together, they did not stand; for the day of their calamity is come upon them, the time of their visitation.
Easy-to-Read Version
The hired soldiers in Egypt's army are like fat calves. They will all turn and run away. They will not stand strong against the attack. Their time of destruction is coming. They will soon be punished.
George Lamsa Translation
Also her hired men in the midst of her are like fatted bullocks; for they have turned back and fled together; they did not stand, because the day of their defeat was come upon them and the time of their punishment.
Good News Translation
Even her hired soldiers are helpless as calves. They did not stand and fight; all of them turned and ran. The day of their doom had arrived, the time of their destruction.
Lexham English Bible
Even her mercenaries in her midst are like calves of fattening, for they also have turned away, they have fled together. They stand not, for the day of their calamity has come, the time of their punishment.
Literal Translation
Also her hired ones are in the midst of her like calves of the stall; for they also have turned back, fleeing together. They did not stand because the day of their calamity had come on them, the time of their punishment.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Hir wagied souldyers that be with her, are like fat calues. They also shall fle awaye together, and not abyde: for the daye off their slaughter and the tyme of their visitacion shall come vpon them.
American Standard Version
Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they did not stand: for the day of their calamity is come upon them, the time of their visitation.
Bible in Basic English
And those who were her fighters for payment are like fat oxen; for they are turned back, they have gone in flight together, they do not keep their place: for the day of their fate has come on them, the time of their punishment.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Also her mercenaries in the midst of her are like calves of the stall, for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they did not stand; for the day of their calamity is come upon them, the time of their visitation.
King James Version (1611)
Also her hired men are in the midst of her, like fatted bullocks, for they also are turned backe, and are fled away together; they did not stand, because the day of their calamitie was come vpon them, and the time of their visitation.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Her waged souldiers that be with her are lyke fat calues, they also shall flee away together and not abyde: for the day of their slaughter, and the tyme of their visitation shall come vpon them.
English Revised Version
Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they did not stand: for the day of their calamity is come upon them, the time of their visitation.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also the hirid men therof, that liueden as caluys maad fatte in the myddis therof, ben turned, and fledden togidere, and miyten not stonde; for the dai of sleynge of hem schal come on hem, the tyme of the visityng of hem.
Update Bible Version
Also her hired workers in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also have turned back, they have fled away together, they did not stand: for the day of their calamity has come on them, the time of their visitation.
Webster's Bible Translation
Also her hired men [are] in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also have turned back, [and] have fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity had come upon them, [and] the time of their visitation.
New English Translation
Even her mercenaries will prove to be like pampered, well-fed calves. For they too will turn and run away. They will not stand their ground when the time for them to be destroyed comes, the time for them to be punished.
New King James Version
Also her mercenaries are in her midst like fat bulls, For they also are turned back, They have fled away together. They did not stand, For the day of their calamity had come upon them, The time of their punishment.
New Living Translation
Egypt's mercenaries have become like fattened calves. They, too, will turn and run, for it is a day of great disaster for Egypt, a time of great punishment.
New Life Bible
Her hired soldiers among her are like calves, ready to eat. For they also have turned back and have run away together. They did not stay in their places. For the day of their trouble has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
New Revised Standard
Even her mercenaries in her midst are like fatted calves; they too have turned and fled together, they did not stand; for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Even her hirelings in her midst are like fatted calves, For, even they, have turned - have fled at once! have made no stand! For, their day of doom, hath come upon them, The time of their visitation.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Her hirelings also that lived in the midst of her, like fatted calves are turned back, and are fled away together, and they could not stand, for the day of their slaughter is come upon them, the time of their visitation.
Revised Standard Version
Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fatted calves; yea, they have turned and fled together, they did not stand; for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
Young's Literal Translation
Even her hired ones in her midst [are] as calves of the stall, For even they have turned, They have fled together, they have not stood, For the day of their calamity hath come on them, The time of their inspection.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Also her mercenaries in her midst Are like fattened calves, For even they too have turned back and have fled away together; They did not stand their ground. For the day of their calamity has come upon them, The time of their punishment.

Contextual Overview

12The nations have heard of your shame, and your outcry fills the earth, because warrior stumbles over warrior and both of them have fallen together." 13This is the word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt: 14"Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: 'Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.' 15Why have your warriors been laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down. 16They continue to stumble. Indeed, they have fallen over one another. They say, 'Get up! Let us return to our people and to the land of our birth, away from the sword of the oppressor.' 17There they will proclaim, 'Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise; he has let the appointed time pass him by.' 18As surely as I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, will come one like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea. 19Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited. 20Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her. 21Even the mercenaries among her are like fattened calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee; they will not stand their ground, for the day of their calamity is coming upon them-the time of their punishment.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

her hired: Jeremiah 46:9, Jeremiah 46:16, 2 Samuel 10:6, 2 Kings 7:6, Ezekiel 27:10, Ezekiel 27:11, Ezekiel 30:4-6

like: Jeremiah 50:11, Jeremiah 50:27, Isaiah 34:7

fatted bullocks: Heb. bullocks of the stall, Proverbs 15:17, Amos 6:4

they did: Jeremiah 46:5, Jeremiah 46:15, Jeremiah 46:16

the day: Jeremiah 18:17, Deuteronomy 32:15, Psalms 37:13, Isaiah 10:3, Ezekiel 35:5, Hosea 9:7, Obadiah 1:13, Micah 7:4

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 11:23 - the year Jeremiah 38:22 - they are Jeremiah 48:44 - the year Jeremiah 49:8 - for Jeremiah 51:9 - forsake Ezekiel 30:22 - I will

Cross-References

Genesis 46:1
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Genesis 46:6
They also took their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.
Genesis 46:7
He took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters-all his offspring.
Genesis 46:12
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Genesis 49:27
Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder."
Numbers 1:11
from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
Deuteronomy 33:12
Concerning Benjamin he said: "May the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him; God shields him all day long, and upon His shoulders he rests."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

All her hired men [are] in the midst of her like fatted bullocks,.... Or, "bullocks of the stall" k; soldiers of other countries, that were hired into the service of Egypt, and lived so deliciously there, that they were unfit for war, and were like fatted beasts prepared for the slaughter. The Targum and Jarchi interpret it, her princes l; who had the care of this heifer, and of the feeding of it; these themselves were like that, nourished for the day of slaughter:

for they also are turned back, [and] are fled away together; they turned their backs upon the enemy in battle, and fled in great confusion and precipitancy; see Jeremiah 46:15;

they did not stand; and face the enemy, and light him, but fell or fled before him:

because the day of their calamity was come upon them, [and] the time of their visitation; the time appointed by the Lord to visit and punish them, and bring destruction on them for their sins.

k כעגלי מרבק "velut vituli saginae", Montanus, Cocceius, l So R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 50. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather, “Also her hirelings in the midst of her are like calves of the stall.” The mercenaries of Egypt - Nubians, Moors, and Lydians Jeremiah 46:9 - were destroyed at the battle of Carchemish, and their place was taken by hirelings from Asia Minor, Carians, and Ionians, whom Hophra took into his pay to the number of 30,000 men. These he settled in the midst of Egypt, in the fertile lands above Bubastis, in the Delta, where, well paid and fed and with great privileges, they became as calves of the stall. Their mutiny cost Hophra his crown.

For they also are turned back ... - literally, “for they also have lurched the back, they flee together, they stand not: for the day of their destruction is come upon them, the time of their visitations.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 46:21. Are fled away together — Perhaps there is a reference here to the case of a cow stung with gnats. She runs hither and thither not knowing where to go; so shall it be with this scattered people.


 
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