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Saturday, April 18th, 2026
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Read the Bible

King James Version (1611 Edition)

Jeremiah 47:7

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.

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."
Contemporary English Version
But how can my sword rest, when I have commanded it to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast?
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.
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 The word of the Lord that came to Ieremiah the Prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. 2 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, waters rise vp out of the North, and shall be an ouerflowing flood, and shall ouerflow the land, and all that is therein, the citie, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall crie, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howle. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofes of his strong horses, at the rushing of his charets, and at the rumbling of his wheeles, the fathers shall not looke backe to their children for feeblenesse of handes. 4 Because of the day that commeth to spoile all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon euery helper that remaineth: for the Lord will spoile the Philistines, the remnant of the countrey of Caphtor. 5 Baldnesse is come vpon Gaza. Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thy selfe? 6 O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put vp thy selfe into thy scabberd, rest and be still. 7 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.

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
And Iacob came vnto Isaac his father vnto Mamre, vnto the citie of Arbah (which is Hebron) where Abraham and Isaac soiourned.
Genesis 47:10
And Iacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:23
Then Ioseph said vnto the people, Behold, I haue bought you this day, and your land for Pharaoh: Loe, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
Genesis 47:24
And it shall come to passe in the increase, that you shall giue the fift part vnto Pharaoh, and foure parts shall be your owne, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your litle ones.
Exodus 12:32
Also take your flockes and your heards, as ye haue said: and bee gone, and blesse me also.
Joshua 14:13
And Ioshua blessed him, and gaue vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance.
1 Samuel 2:20
And Eli blessed Elkanah, and his wife, and said, The Lord giue thee seed of this woman, for the loane which is lent to the Lord. And they went vnto their owne home.
2 Samuel 8:10
Then Toi sent Ioram his sonne vnto king Dauid to salute him, and to blesse him, because hee had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: (for Hadadezer had warres with Toi) and Ioram brought with him vessels of siluer, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brasse;
2 Samuel 14:22
And Ioab fell to the ground on his face, & bowed himselfe, and thanked the king: and Ioab said, To day thy seruant knoweth that I haue found grace in thy sight, my lord O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his seruant.
2 Samuel 19:39
And all the people went ouer Iordane: and when the king was come ouer, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him, and he returned vnto his owne place.

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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