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Contemporary English Version

Jeremiah 47:7

But how can my sword rest, when I have commanded it to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ashkelon;   War;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prophets;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Philistines;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ashkelon;   Philistia, philistines;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ashkelon;   Prophecy;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ashkelon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Obadiah, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ashkelon, Askelon ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ashkelon;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ashkelon;   Haven;   Jeremiah (2);   Shore;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
How can it restwhen the Lord has given it a command?He has assigned itagainst Ashkelon and the shore of the sea.
Hebrew Names Version
How can you be quiet, seeing the LORD has given you a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there has he appointed it.
King James Version
How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
English Standard Version
How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it."
New American Standard Bible
"How can it be quiet, When the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the sea shore— There He has summoned it."
New Century Version
But how can his sword rest when the Lord has given it a command? He has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast."
Amplified Bible
"How can His sword be quiet When the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the [whole Philistine] seashore There He has assigned it."
World English Bible
How can you be quiet, seeing Yahweh has given you a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there has he appointed it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Howe can it cease, seeing the Lorde hath giuen it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea banke? euen there hath he appointed it.
Legacy Standard Bible
How can it be quiet?Yahweh has given it a command;Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast—There He has assigned it."
Berean Standard Bible
How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland."
Complete Jewish Bible
But how can you be still? For Adonai has given it orders against Ashkelon, against the seacoast; he has assigned it its task there.
Darby Translation
How shouldest thou be quiet?—For Jehovah hath given it a charge: against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore, there hath he appointed it.
Easy-to-Read Version
But how can the sword of the Lord rest? The Lord gave it a command. He commanded it to attack the city of Ashkelon and the seacoast."
George Lamsa Translation
How can it be quiet, when the LORD has given it a charge against Ashkalon and against the coastal cities? For against these places he has decreed punishment.
Good News Translation
But how can it rest, when I have given it work to do? I have commanded it to attack Ashkelon and the people who live on the coast."
Lexham English Bible
How can you be quiet when Yahweh has given an order to it? Against Ashkelon and against the shore of the sea, there he has appointed it."
Literal Translation
How can you be quiet, since Jehovah has given it a command? He has set it there against Ashkelon, and against the seashore.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But how can it ceasse, when the LORDE himselff hath geuen it a charge agaynst Ascalon, and raysed it vp agaynst the cities off the see coast?
American Standard Version
How canst thou be quiet, seeing Jehovah hath given thee a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there hath he appointed it.
Bible in Basic English
How is it possible for it to be quiet, seeing that the Lord has given it orders? against Ashkelon and against the sea-land he has given it directions.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
How canst thou be quiet? for the LORD hath given it a charge; against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there hath He appointed it.
King James Version (1611)
How can it bee quiet, seeing the Lord hath giuen it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shoare? there hath he appointed it.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But how can it ceasse, when the Lord him selfe hath geuen it a charge against Ascalon, and raysed it vp against the cities of the sea coast?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And all the leaders of the host that was in the country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Godolias governor in the land, and they committed to him the men and their wives, whom Nabuchodonosor had not removed to Babylon.
English Revised Version
How canst thou be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given thee a charge? against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore, there hath he appointed it.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Hou schal it reste, whanne the Lord comaundide to it ayens Ascalon, and ayens the see coostis therof, and there hath seide to it?
Update Bible Version
How can you be quiet, seeing Yahweh has given you a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there he has appointed it.
Webster's Bible Translation
How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
New English Translation
But how can it rest when I, the Lord , have given it orders? I have ordered it to attack the people of Ashkelon and the seacoast.
New King James Version
How can it be quiet, Seeing the LORD has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it."
New Living Translation
"But how can it be still when the Lord has sent it on a mission? For the city of Ashkelon and the people living along the sea must be destroyed."
New Life Bible
How can it be quiet, when the Lord has given it work to do? He has sent it against Ashkelon and against the land by the sea."
New Revised Standard
How can it be quiet, when the Lord has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore— there he has appointed it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How, can it be quiet, when, Yahweh, hath given it a charge, - against Ashkelon and against the shore of the sea? There, hath he appointed it!
Douay-Rheims Bible
How shall it be quiet, when the Lord hath given it a charge against Ascalon, and against the countries thereof by the sea side, and there hath made an appointment for it?
Revised Standard Version
How can it be quiet, when the LORD has given it a charge? Against Ash'kelon and against the seashore he has appointed it."
Young's Literal Translation
How shall it be quiet, And Jehovah hath given a charge to it, Against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? There hath He appointed it!'
THE MESSAGE
"But how can it quit when I, God , command the action? I've ordered it to cut down Ashkelon and the seacoast."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"How can it be quiet, When the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast— There He has assigned it."

Contextual Overview

1 Before the king of Egypt attacked the town of Gaza, the Lord told me to say to the Philistines: 2 I, the Lord , tell you that your land will be flooded with an army from the north. It will destroy your towns and sweep you away, moaning and screaming. 3 When you hear the thunder of horses and chariots, your courage will vanish, and parents will abandon their own children. 4 You refugees from Crete, your time has now come, and I will destroy you. None of you will be left to help the cities of Tyre and Sidon. 5 The Anakim who survive in Gaza and Ashkelon will mourn for you by shaving their heads and sitting in silence. 6 You ask how long will I continue to attack you with my sword, then you tell me to put it away and leave you alone. 7 But how can my sword rest, when I have commanded it to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

can it: Heb. canst not

the Lord: 1 Samuel 15:3, Isaiah 10:6, Isaiah 13:3, Isaiah 37:26, Isaiah 45:1-3, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11, Ezekiel 14:17, Amos 3:6

the sea: Ezekiel 25:16, Zephaniah 2:6, Zephaniah 2:7

hath he: Micah 6:9

Reciprocal: Psalms 114:5 - General Isaiah 23:9 - Lord Isaiah 23:11 - the Lord Jeremiah 25:27 - because Jeremiah 34:17 - to the sword Ezekiel 21:3 - will draw Ezekiel 21:30 - Shall I cause it to return Ezekiel 33:2 - When I bring the sword upon a land Zephaniah 2:5 - Cherethites Zephaniah 2:12 - my Matthew 8:9 - Go

Cross-References

Genesis 35:27
Jacob went to his father Isaac at Hebron, also called Mamre or Kiriath-Arba, where Isaac's father Abraham had lived as a foreigner.
Genesis 47:10
Then Jacob gave the king his blessing once again and left.
Genesis 47:23
Then Joseph said to the people, "You and your land now belong to the king. I'm giving you seed to plant,
Genesis 47:24
but one-fifth of your crops must go to the king. You can keep the rest as seed or as food for your families."
Exodus 12:32
Take your sheep, goats, and cattle, and get out. But ask your God to be kind to me."
Joshua 14:13
Joshua prayed that God would help Caleb, then he gave Hebron to Caleb and his descendants.
1 Samuel 2:20
Eli would always bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "Samuel was born in answer to your prayers. Now you have given him to the Lord . I pray that the Lord will bless you with more children to take his place." After Eli had blessed them, Elkanah and Hannah would return home.
2 Samuel 14:22
Joab bowed very low and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for giving your permission. It shows that you approve of me."
2 Samuel 19:39
David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai good-by and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but
1 Kings 1:47
And listen to this! David's officials told him, "We pray that your God will help Solomon to be an even greater king!" David was in his bed at the time, but he bowed

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How can it be quiet,.... There is no reason to believe it will, nor can it be expected that it should; to stop it is impossible, and to request that it might be stopped is in vain:

seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the seashore? for it had a commission from the Lord to destroy the inhabitants of Ashkelon, and other places, which lay still more towards the sea, as Joppa and Jamne; and indeed all Palestine lay on the coast of the Mediterranean sea:

there hath he appointed it; by an irreversible decree of his, in righteousness to punish the inhabitants of these places for their sins.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 47:7. How can it be quiet — This is the answer of the Sword. I am the officer of God's judgments, and he has given me a commission against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore; all the coast where the Philistines have their territories. The measure of their iniquities is full; and these God hath appointed this sword to ravage. The Philistines were ever the implacable enemies of the Jews, and the basest and worst of all idolaters. On these accounts the sword of the Lord had its commission against them; and it did its office most fearfully and effectually by the hand of the Chaldeans.


 
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