Jeremiah 49:4

Contemporary English Version

You rebellious Ammonites trust your wealth and ask, "Who could attack us?" But I warn you not to boast when your strength is fading.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Why do you boast about your valleys,your flowing valley,you faithless daughter—you who trust in your treasuresand say, “Who can attack me?”

Hebrew Names Version
Why glory you in the valleys, your flowing valley, backsliding daughter? who trusted in her treasures, [saying], Who shall come to me?

King James Version
Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?

English Standard Version
Why do you boast of your valleys, O faithless daughter, who trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?'

New American Standard Bible
"How you boast about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, You backsliding daughter Who trusts in her treasures, saying, 'Who can come against me?'

New Century Version
You brag about your valleys and about the fruit in your valleys. You are like an unfaithful child who believes his treasures will save him. You think, ‘Who would attack me?'

Amplified Bible
"Why do you boast of your valleys? Your valley is flowing away, [O Ammon] rebellious and faithless daughter Who trusts in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come against me?'

World English Bible
Why glory you in the valleys, your flowing valley, backsliding daughter? who trusted in her treasures, [saying], Who shall come to me?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleis? thy valley floweth away, O rebellious daughter: she trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come vnto me?

Legacy Standard Bible
How boastful you are about the valleys!Your valley is flowing away,O faithless daughterWho trusts in her treasures, saying,‘Who will come against me?'

Berean Standard Bible
Why do you boast of your valleys, your valleys so fruitful, O faithless daughter? You trust in your riches and say, 'Who can come against me?'

Complete Jewish Bible
Why do you take such pride in the valleys, your well-watered valleys, rebellious daughter? You trusted in your riches and thought, ‘Who can attack me?'

Darby Translation
Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys? Thy valley shall flow down, O backsliding daughter, that trusteth in her treasures, [saying,] Who shall come against me?

Easy-to-Read Version
You brag about your strength, but you are losing your strength. You trust in your wealth to save you. You think no one would even think of attacking you."

George Lamsa Translation
Why do you glory in your valleys and trust in your broad plains, O beloved daughter who trusts in her treasures, saying, Who shall come against me?

Good News Translation
Why do you unfaithful people boast? Your strength is failing. Why do you trust in your power and say that no one would dare attack you?

Lexham English Bible
Why do you boast in your valleys? Your valleys are ebbing. O unfaithful daughter, who trusted in her treasures, who said, ‘Who will come against me?'

Literal Translation
Why do you glory in your valleys, your flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? She trusted in her treasures, saying , Who shall come to me?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore trustest thou in the water streames, that flowe to and fro, o thou fearce doughter: and thynkest thou art so safe (by reason off thy treasure) that no man shal come to the?

American Standard Version
Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?

Bible in Basic English
Why are you lifted up in pride on account of your valleys, your flowing valley, O daughter ever turning away? who puts her faith in her wealth, saying, Who will come against me?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that didst trust in thy treasures: 'Who shall come unto me?'

King James Version (1611)
Wherfore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? That trusted in her treasures, saying; Who shall come vnto mee?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore gloriest thou in the valley? thy valley hath flowed away O thou rebellious daughter, and thinkest thou that thou art so safe by reason of thy treasure, that no man shall come to thee?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Jeremias said to them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray for you to the Lord our God, according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever word the Lord God shall answer, I will declare it to you; I will not hide anything from you.

English Revised Version
Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What hast thou glorie in valeis? Thi valeis fleet awei, thou delicat douyter, that haddist trist in thi tresours, and seidist, Who schal come to me?

Update Bible Version
Why do you glory in the valleys, your flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, [saying], Who shall come to me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, [saying], Who shall come to me?

New English Translation
Why do you brag about your great power? Your power is ebbing away, you rebellious people of Ammon, who trust in your riches and say, ‘Who would dare to attack us?'

New King James Version
Why do you boast in the valleys, Your flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? Who trusted in her treasures, saying, "Who will come against me?'

New Living Translation
You are proud of your fertile valleys, but they will soon be ruined. You trusted in your wealth, you rebellious daughter, and thought no one could ever harm you.

New Life Bible
How you speak in pride about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O daughter without faith who trusts in her riches, saying, ‘Who will come against me?'

New Revised Standard
Why do you boast in your strength? Your strength is ebbing, O faithless daughter. You trusted in your treasures, saying, "Who will attack me?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Why shouldst thou glory in the vales, The flowing of thy vale O apostate daughter? She who is trusting in her treasures, saying, Who shall invade, me?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Why gloriest thou in the valleys? thy valley hath flowed away, O delicate daughter, that hast trusted in thy treasures, and hast said: Who shall come to me?

Revised Standard Version
Why do you boast of your valleys, O faithless daughter, who trusted in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come against me?'

Young's Literal Translation
What -- dost thou boast thyself in valleys? Flowed hath thy valley, O backsliding daughter, Who is trusting in her treasures: Who doth come in unto me?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"How boastful you are about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O backsliding daughter Who trusts in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come against me?'

Contextual Overview

¹ The Lord has this to say about the nation of Ammon: The people of Israel have plenty of children to inherit their lands. So why have you worshipers of the god Milcom taken over towns and land belonging to the Gad tribe? ² Someday I will send an army to attack you in Rabbah, your capital city. It will be left in ruins, and the surrounding villages will lie in ashes. You took some of Israel's land, but on that day Israel will take yours! ³ Cry, people of Heshbon; your town will become a pile of rubble. You will turn here and there, but your path will be blocked. Put on sackcloth and mourn, you citizens of Rabbah, because the idol you worship will be taken to a foreign country, along with its priests and temple officials. ⁴ You rebellious Ammonites trust your wealth and ask, "Who could attack us?" But I warn you not to boast when your strength is fading. ⁵ I, the Lord All-Powerful, will send neighboring nations to strike you with terror. You will be scattered, with no one to care for your refugees. ⁶ Yet someday, I will bring your people back home. I, the Lord , have spoken.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

gloriest: Jeremiah 9:23, Isaiah 28:1-4, Isaiah 47:7, Isaiah 47:8, Revelation 18:7

thy flowing valley: or, they valley floweth away

O backsliding: Jeremiah 3:14, Jeremiah 7:24, Hosea 4:16

trusted: Jeremiah 48:7, Psalms 49:6, Psalms 52:7, Psalms 62:10, Proverbs 10:15, Ezekiel 28:4-7, 1 Timothy 6:17

Who: Jeremiah 49:16, Jeremiah 21:13, Obadiah 1:4, Obadiah 1:5

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 31:22 - backsliding Obadiah 1:3 - saith

Cross-References

Genesis 35:22
During their time there, Jacob's oldest son Reuben slept with Bilhah, who was one of Jacob's other wives. And Jacob found out about it.

Genesis 46:8
When Jacob went to Egypt, his children who were born in northern Syria also went along with their families. Jacob and his wife Leah had a total of thirty-three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but two of their grandchildren had died in Canaan. Their oldest son Reuben took his sons Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Their son Simeon took his sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, whose mother was a Canaanite. Their son Levi took his sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Their son Judah took his sons Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. Judah's sons Er and Onan had died in Canaan. Judah's son Perez took his sons Hezron and Hamul. Their son Issachar took his sons Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron. Their son Zebulun took his sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. Their daughter Dinah also went.

Genesis 49:1
Jacob called his sons together and said: My sons, I am Jacob, your father Israel.

Genesis 49:6
I never want to take part in your plans or deeds. You slaughtered people in your anger, and you crippled cattle for no reason.

Genesis 49:8
Judah, you will be praised by your brothers; they will bow down to you, as you defeat your enemies.

Deuteronomy 5:21
Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don't want anyone's wife or husband, house, land, slaves, oxen, donkeys, or anything else.

Deuteronomy 33:6
Tribe of Reuben, you will live, even though your tribe will always be small.

1 Chronicles 5:1
Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob, but he lost his rights as the first-born son because he slept with one of his father's wives. The honor of the first-born son was then given to Joseph, even though it was the Judah tribe that became the most powerful and produced a leader. Reuben had four sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The descendants of Joel included Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei, Micah, Reaiah, Baal, and Beerah, a leader of the Reuben tribe. Later, King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria took Beerah away as prisoner. The family records also include Jeiel, who was a clan leader, Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz and grandson of Shema of the Joel clan. They lived in the territory around the town of Aroer, as far north as Nebo and Baal-Meon, and as far east as the desert just west of the Euphrates River. They needed this much land because they owned too many cattle to keep them all in Gilead. When Saul was king, the Reuben tribe attacked and defeated the Hagrites, then took over their land east of Gilead. The tribe of Gad lived in the region of Bashan, north of the Reuben tribe. Gad's territory extended all the way to the town of Salecah. Some of the clan leaders were Joel, Shapham, Janai, and Shaphat. Their relatives included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. They were all descendants of Abihail, whose family line went back through Huri, Jaroah, Gilead, Michael, Jeshishai, Jahdo, and Buz. Ahi, the son of Abdiel and the grandson of Guni, was the leader of their clan. The people of Gad lived in the towns in the regions of Bashan and Gilead, as well as in the pastureland of Sharon. Their family records were written when Jotham was king of Judah and Jeroboam was king of Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh had 44,760 soldiers trained to fight in battle with shields, swords, bows, and arrows. They fought against the Hagrites and the tribes of Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. Whenever these soldiers went to war against their enemies, they prayed to God and trusted him to help. That's why the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh defeated the Hagrites and their allies. These Israelite tribes captured fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep, two thousand donkeys, and one hundred thousand people. Many of the Hagrites died in battle, because God was fighting this battle against them. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh lived in that territory until they were taken as prisoners to Assyria. East Manasseh was a large tribe, so its people settled in the northern region of Bashan, as far north as Baal-Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel were their clan leaders; they were well-known leaders and brave soldiers. The people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh were unfaithful to the God their ancestors had worshiped, and they started worshiping the gods of the nations that God had forced out of Canaan. So God sent King Tiglath Pileser of Assyria to attack these Israelite tribes. The king led them away as prisoners to Assyria, and from then on, he forced them to live in Halah, Habor, Hara, and near the Gozan River.

1 Corinthians 5:1
I have heard terrible things about some of you. In fact, you are behaving worse than the Gentiles. A man is even sleeping with his own stepmother.

2 Peter 2:14
All they think about is having sex with someone else's husband or wife. There is no end to their wicked deeds. They trick people who are easily fooled, and their minds are filled with greedy thoughts. But they are headed for trouble!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys,.... Of which there were many in the country of Ammon, fruitful and well watered, which were situated by the rivers of Arnon and Jabbok, the borders of this country, and in which was the plain of the vineyards; see

Judges 11:13; and indeed the whole country was a vale. For, as Josephus c says, the country both of the Moabites and Ammonites were in the valley of Syria, or Coelesyria; that is, hollow Syria, so called from its lying low, or in a valley; for this country lay between the mountains Libanus and Antilibanus, as Strabo d says, and brought forth a large increase; in this they gloried, in the produce of these valleys, in the grass, corn, and vines, that grew upon them, and the flocks that fed there; but now should have no occasion to glory, all being swept away by the enemy:

thy flowing valley, or, "thy valley flows" e; is overflowed with water, through abundance of rain, which destroyed the fruits of it, so Jarchi; or rather flowed with the blood of the slain, as Kimchi, Ben Melech, and Abarbinel; the enemy having entered it, and made so great a slaughter of men in it:

O backsliding daughter? the Targum is, O foolish kingdom; the whole kingdom of Ammon is meant, or the people of it; who, descending from righteous Lot, may be called backsliders; and, being also idolaters, have this character; for such revolt from the true God, to worship idols: it may be rendered, "refractory", "rebellious" f; as all such persons are:

that trusteth in her treasures, [saying], who shall come unto me? dwelling in valleys encompassed with mountains, and in fortified cities, and abounding in wealth and riches, whereby they were able to procure men and arms to defend themselves; thought they were safe from any enemy, and that none could come nigh them, and so dwelt at ease, and in great security.

c Ibid. (Antiqu.) l. 1. c. 11. sect. 5. d Geograph. l. 16. p. 519, 520. e זב עמקך "defluxit vallis tua", V. L. Schmidt; "fluxit", Pagninus, Montanus; "fluit", Cocceius. f הבת השובבה "O filia pervesa", Schmidt; "pervicax" vel "temeraria", Grotius; "rebellis", Pagninus, Calvin; "refractaria", Montanus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thy flowing valley - The (fertile) valley in which Rabbah was situated. The Septuagint again has: “in the valleys of the Anakim,” as in Jeremiah 47:5 (see the note).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 49:4. Wherefore gloriest thou — Though thy valleys be fruitful, yet glory not in them. Though thou have much political and military power, do not trust in them, nor in the multitude of thy cities; a stronger than thou is coming against thee.