Lectionary Calendar
Friday, January 2nd, 2026
the Second Friday after Christmas
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Jeremiah 47:7

"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."

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.
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 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 This is the Lord 's message to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines of Gaza, before it was captured by the Egyptian army. 2 This is what the Lord says: "A flood is coming from the north to overflow the land. It will destroy the land and everything in it— cities and people alike. People will scream in terror, and everyone in the land will wail. 3 Hear the clatter of stallions' hooves and the rumble of wheels as the chariots rush by. Terrified fathers run madly, without a backward glance at their helpless children. 4 "The time has come for the Philistines to be destroyed, along with their allies from Tyre and Sidon. Yes, the Lord is destroying the remnant of the Philistines, those colonists from the island of Crete. 5 Gaza will be humiliated, its head shaved bald; Ashkelon will lie silent. You remnant from the Mediterranean coast, how long will you cut yourselves in mourning? 6 "Now, O sword of the Lord , when will you be at rest again? Go back into your sheath; rest and be still. 7 "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."

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
So Jacob returned to his father, Isaac, in Mamre, which is near Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had both lived as foreigners.
Genesis 47:10
Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.
Genesis 47:23
Then Joseph said to the people, "Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields.
Genesis 47:24
Then when you harvest it, one-fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones."
Exodus 12:32
Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave."
Joshua 14:13
So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.
1 Samuel 2:20
Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May the Lord give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the Lord ."
2 Samuel 8:10
he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
2 Samuel 14:22
Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, "At last I know that I have gained your approval, my lord the king, for you have granted me this request!"
2 Samuel 19:39
So all the people crossed the Jordan with the king. After David had blessed Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile