Jeremiah – Chapter 47

Old Testament7 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 47 of Jeremiah begins: "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza." The chapter centers on Jeremiah and Pharaoh. Its 7 verses return again and again to family and covenant relationships. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza.

2Thus saith the Lord: Behold there come up waters out of the north, and they shall be as an overflowing torrent, and they shall cover the land, and all that is therein, the city and the inhabitants thereof: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl,

3At the noise of the marching of arms, and of his soldiers, at the rushing of his chariots, and the multitude of his wheels. The fathers have not looked back to the children, for feebleness of hands,

4Because of the coming of the day, in which all the Philistines shall be laid waste, and Tyre and Sidon shall be destroyed, with all the rest of their helpers. For the Lord hath wasted the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Cappadocia.

5Baldness is come upon Gaza: Ascalon hath held her peace with the remnant of their valley: how long shalt thou cut thyself?

6O thou sword of the Lord, how long wilt thou not be quiet? Go into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

7How 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?

Important Verses in Jeremiah 47

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza.

Jeremiah 47:1

Because of the coming of the day, in which all the Philistines shall be laid waste, and Tyre and Sidon shall be destroyed, with all the rest of their helpers. For the Lord hath wasted the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Cappadocia.

Jeremiah 47:4

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?

Jeremiah 47:7

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Jeremiah was written with judah on the brink of destruction, called to repentance in view. Chapter 47 of 52 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 7 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Jeremiah and Pharaoh, the principal figures named in this chapter. The passage starts with these words: "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza." The chapter ends with: "How shall it be quiet, when the Lord hath given it a charge against Ascalon, and against the countries thereof by the…" The wider setting of Jeremiah is this: Jeremiah prophesied through Judah's final decades, warning of Babylon's coming judgment while priests and false prophets promised peace. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch

When It Was Written

Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 1: "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Jeremiah 47 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). St. Gregory the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1362).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God writes His law on our hearts. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Jeremiah 47 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

People in This Chapter

Jeremiah1 mentionPharaoh1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Jeremiah Chapter 47 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Leo the Great and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). The passage calls believers to grasp that God writes His law on our hearts.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 1814) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jeremiah Chapter 47 about?

Jeremiah 47 contains 7 verses. It opens with "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza." and closes with "How shall it be quiet, when the Lord hath given it a charge against Ascalon, and against the countries thereof by the…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles, biography, and laments.

What is a key verse in Jeremiah 47?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Jeremiah Chapter 47?

This chapter mentions Jeremiah, Pharaoh.

Who wrote Jeremiah and when?

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch. Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

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