The Sword Against the Philistines
Jeremiah 29
A brief oracle declares that a flood-like force from the north will sweep over the land of the Philistines, bringing terror and destruction upon Gaza, Ascalon, Tyre, and Sidon. The passage pictures the sword of the Lord being sent against these cities and questions how long it will be before that sword finds rest.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonThus saith the Lord: Behold, waters are coming from the north, and they shall become an overwhelming flood, and shall overwhelm the land and the fulness thereof-the cities and them who dwell therein: and the men shall utter the scream of distress, and all the inhabitants of the land, a doleful cry.
BrentonThus saith the Lord against the Philistines;
GreekἘΠΙ ΤΟΥΣ ἈΛΛΟΦΥΛΟΥΣ ΤΑΔΕ ΛΕΓΕΙ ΚΥΡΙΟΣ.
KJVThe word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
JPSThe word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
2
Thomson—
BrentonBehold, waters come up from the north, and shall become a sweeping torrent, and it shall sweep away the land, and its fulness; the city, and them that dwell in it: and men shall cry and all that dwell in the land shall howl,
GreekἸδοὺ ὕδατα ἀναβαίνει ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ ἔσται εἰς χειμάῤῥουν κατακλύζοντα, καὶ κατακλύσει γῆν καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, πόλιν καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ κεκράξονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καὶ ἀλαλάξουσιν ἅπαντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν γῆν,
KJVThus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
JPSThus saith the LORD: Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and they shall overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and them that dwell therein; and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.
3
ThomsonAt the sound of his impetuous onset; at the armour of his infantry; at the rushing of his chariots; the rumbling of his wheels; fathers looked not back on their children, by reason of the feebleness of their hands.
Brentonat the sound of his rushing, at the sound of his hoofs, and at the rattling of his chariots, at the noise of his wheels: the fathers turned not to their children because of the weakness of their hands,
Greekἀπὸ φωνῆς ὁρμῆς αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ τῶν ὅπλων τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ σεισμοῦ τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ, ἤχου τροχῶν αὐτοῦ· οὐκ ἐπέστρεψαν πατέρες ἐφʼ υἱοὺς αὐτῶν ἀπὸ ἐκλύσεως χειρῶν αὐτῶν
KJVAt the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
JPSAt the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers look not back to their children for feebleness of hands;
4
ThomsonIn the day which is coming to destroy all the Philistines I will destroy also Tyre and Sidon and all the residue of their help. (p) For the Lord will utterly destroy the remnants in the isles,
Brentonin the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines: and I will utterly destroy Tyre and Sidon, and all the rest of their allies: for the Lord will destroy the remaining inhabitants of the islands.
Greekἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἐπερχομένῃ τοῦ ἀπολέσαι πάντας τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους· καὶ ἀφανιῶ τὴν Τύρον, καὶ τὴν Σιδῶνα, καὶ πάντας τοὺς καταλοίπους τῆς βοηθείας αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἐξολοθρεύσει Κύριος τοὺς καταλοίπους τῶν νήσων.
KJV—
JPSBecause of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Zidon every helper that remaineth; for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor.
5
Thomsonbaldness is come upon Gaza: Askalon is overthrown and the remnant of Enakim.
BrentonBaldness is come upon Gaza; Ascalon is cast away, and the remnant of the Enakim.
GreekἭκει φαλάκρωμα ἐπὶ Γάζαν, ἀπεῤῥίφη Ἀσκάλων, καὶ οἱ κατάλοιποι Ἐνακίμ.
KJVBaldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
JPSBaldness is come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is brought to nought, the remnant of their valley; how long wilt thou cut thyself?
6
Thomson(c) How long wilt thou hew down, O sword of the Lord? How long will it be ere thou wilt rest? Return into thy scabbard, rest and be removed.
BrentonHow long wilt thou smite, O sword of the Lord? how long will it be ere thou art quiet? return into thy sheath, rest, and be removed.
GreekἝως τίνος κόψεις ἡ μάχαιρα τοῦ Κυρίου; ἕως τίνος οὐχ ἡσυχάσεις; ἀποκατάστηθι εἰς τὸν κολεόν σου, ἀνάπαυσαι, καὶ ἐπάρθητι.
KJVO thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
JPSO thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? Put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7
Thomson(p) How can it rest when the Lord hath given it a charge against Askalon and the cities on the sea coast and to be lifted up against them whom remain?
BrentonHow shall it be quiet, whereas the Lord has given it a commission against Ascalon, and against the regions on the sea-coast, to awake against the remaining countries!
GreekΠῶς ἡσυχάσει, καὶ Κύριος ἐνετείλατο αὐτῇ ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀσκάλωνα, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς παραθαλασσίους, ἐπὶ τὰς καταλοίπους ἐπεγερθῆναι;
KJVHow can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
JPSHow canst thou be quiet? For the LORD hath given it a charge; against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there hath He appointed it.