Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, September 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Jeremiah 47:7

How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland."

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."
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 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

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. 2This is what the LORD says: "See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail 3at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp. 4For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every remaining ally. Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor. 5The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourself? 6'Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!' 7How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland."

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 returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.
Genesis 47:10
Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.
Genesis 47:23
Then Joseph said to the people, "Now that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh this day, here is seed for you to sow in the land.
Genesis 47:24
At harvest time, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and food for yourselves and your households and children."
Exodus 12:32
Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also."
Joshua 14:13
Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.
1 Samuel 2:20
And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD." Then they would go home.
2 Samuel 8:10
he sent his son Joram to greet King David and to bless him for fighting against Hadadezer and defeating him. For Toi and Hadadezer had been at war. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,
2 Samuel 14:22
Joab fell facedown in homage and blessed the king. "Today," said Joab, "your servant knows that he has found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request."
2 Samuel 19:39
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned 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.


 
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