There they will cry out:This phrase indicates a public declaration or lamentation. In the context of
Jeremiah 46, it refers to the aftermath of a significant defeat. The setting is likely the battle of Carchemish, where the Egyptian forces were decisively defeated by the Babylonians in 605 BC. The "cry" suggests a recognition of failure and a communal expression of despair or realization.
‘Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise;
Pharaoh Necho II, the ruler of Egypt during this period, is the subject here. The phrase "all noise" implies boastfulness without substance. Historically, Pharaoh Necho attempted to assert Egyptian dominance in the region, but his efforts were thwarted by the Babylonians. This critique of Pharaoh echoes the biblical theme of God humbling the proud, as seen in other scriptures likeIsaiah 14:13-15, where the pride of Babylon is similarly addressed.
he has let the appointed time pass him by.’
The "appointed time" suggests a divinely ordained moment or opportunity that Pharaoh failed to seize. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over nations and leaders, as seen inDaniel 2:21, where God changes times and seasons and deposes kings. Pharaoh's failure to act at the right time underscores the futility of human plans against divine will. This can also be seen as a type of Christ, where Jesus fulfills the appointed times perfectly, unlike earthly rulers who often fail.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
PharaohThe ruler of Egypt, often seen as a symbol of earthly power and pride. In this context, Pharaoh represents the futility of relying on human strength and wisdom instead of God.
2.
EgyptA powerful nation in biblical times, often depicted as a place of refuge and temptation for Israel, but also as a symbol of worldly power that stands in opposition to God's plans.
3.
JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah and the surrounding nations, including Egypt.
4.
The Appointed TimeRefers to God's sovereign timing and plans, which cannot be thwarted by human actions or delays.
5.
The CryThe lament or realization of Egypt's failure, acknowledging that Pharaoh's power was ultimately ineffective against God's purposes.
Teaching Points
The Futility of Human PridePharaoh's failure serves as a reminder that human pride and power are ultimately futile against God's sovereign plans. We must guard against pride and self-reliance in our own lives.
God's Sovereign TimingThe "appointed time" underscores the importance of aligning our lives with God's timing and purposes. We should seek God's guidance and be patient for His timing in our decisions.
The Danger of Misplaced TrustJust as Egypt was an unreliable ally for Israel, we must be cautious about placing our trust in worldly powers or resources instead of God.
The Call to RepentanceThe cry of realization in Egypt can be seen as a call to repentance. We should be quick to recognize our failures and turn back to God.
The Assurance of God's VictoryDespite the noise and chaos of the world, God's plans will prevail. We can find peace and assurance in His ultimate victory.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Jeremiah 46:17?
2.How does Jeremiah 46:17 illustrate God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and nations?
3.What lessons can we learn from Pharaoh's failure in Jeremiah 46:17?
4.How does Jeremiah 46:17 connect to God's judgment themes in other scriptures?
5.How can we apply the message of Jeremiah 46:17 to modern leadership?
6.What does "Pharaoh king of Egypt" symbolize in our spiritual battles today?
7.What does Jeremiah 46:17 reveal about God's judgment on Egypt's leaders?
8.How does Jeremiah 46:17 reflect God's sovereignty over nations?
9.Why is Pharaoh Hophra called "a noise" in Jeremiah 46:17?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 46?
11.Is there any credible record of Johanan and others forcing Jeremiah and Baruch into Egypt (Jer 43:1-7)?
12.Jeremiah 46:13 - Why does this prophecy about Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Egypt seemingly conflict with reports of the extent of Babylonian control in some historical sources?
13.Jeremiah 46:2 - How do we reconcile the timing and details of Pharaoh Necho's defeat with known Egyptian records, which do not fully match this account?
14.Jeremiah 46:25-26 - How can we harmonize Jehovah's pronouncement of destruction on Egypt with other Scriptures that portray God's relationship with nations differently?What Does Jeremiah 46:17 Mean
There they will cry out• “There” points to the battlefield where Egypt collapses, most likely at Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2).
• The cry is a loud lament born of panic and realization that their might cannot stand against the Lord’s decree, echoing earlier national wails such asExodus 12:30.
• God foretells the scene to show His sovereign foreknowledge; nothing about the coming defeat is accidental (Jeremiah 46:10;Isaiah 46:9–10).
Pharaoh king of Egypt• The title singles out Pharaoh Necho II, but also represents every earthly ruler who trusts in horses and chariots instead of the living God (2 Kings 23:29–35;Isaiah 31:3).
• Scripture often personalizes a nation’s sin in its monarch, making the judgment unmistakably personal (Ezekiel 29:2–6;Psalm 2:2).
• By naming him, the Lord shows that no throne is beyond His reach; rulers answer to a higher King (Proverbs 21:1).
Was all noise• “All noise” exposes Pharaoh’s empty boasting: impressive speeches, massive armies—no real help when God rises up (Isaiah 30:7;1 Samuel 2:9).
• Egypt’s history of bragging (Ezekiel 32:2) is contrasted with God’s quiet but unstoppable plan (Psalm 33:10–11).
• The verse invites us to measure power not by volume but by alignment with the Almighty.
He has let the appointed time pass him by• God set a specific “appointed time” for Egypt to act or repent; Pharaoh missed it, proving human delay cannot stall divine deadlines (Habakkuk 2:3;Ezekiel 30:9–10).
• The phrase underlines accountability: opportunities granted by God are real yet not limitless (Luke 19:41–44).
• History shows the Lord’s timetable is precise—just as the “fullness of time” brought Christ (Galatians 4:4), so the fullness of Egypt’s sin brings judgment.
summaryJeremiah 46:17 pictures a battlefield lament where Egypt at last admits its mighty Pharaoh was all talk and no deliverer. His swagger evaporates because he ignored the schedule God Himself set. The verse reminds us that nations and individuals alike must heed God’s warnings while time remains; boasting without obedience only amplifies defeat when the divinely appointed moment arrives.
(17)
They did cry there . . .--Better, Th
ere they cry . . . The difficulty of the verse has led to very various renderings. The meaning of the English version is that the exiles returning to their own land would say that Pharaoh with all his haughty boasts was but an empty noise, that he had passed the limit of God's long-suffering, and that the day of retribution had come. A slight change in the Hebrew words, however, gives,
They have called the name of Pharaoh king of Egypt, A Noise; he hath passed(
or lost)
the appointed season--
i.e.,the time allowed by the long-suffering of God. This is supported by some of the ancient versions, and may be accepted as the best rendering. The LXX. and Vulg. agree in taking the opening words as an imperative, "Call ye the name of Pharaoh
. . .;" but the former, as if despairing of the meaning, simply reproduces the Hebrew words that follow in Greek letters, while the latter translates,
Tumultum adduxit tempus("Time, the appointed time, has brought the noise"--
i.e.,of war and destruction), as if it were, like
Magor-missabib,a new
nomen et omengiven to the Egyptian king. Luther, giving another meaning to the words translated "appointed time," renders "Pharaoh king of Egypt lies prostrate, he has left his tent." Ewald, following the line of the Vulgate, renders the name by which Pharaoh is spoken of as "tumult, which a sign or 'moment' disperses," the "tumult" being his boastful clamour, the "sign" the token of Jehovah's will. Hitzig agrees more closely with the English version in the latter clause, and it may be accepted as having on the whole most in its favour.
Verse 17. -
They did cry there, etc.; rather,
they cry there, viz. the following words. But why should attention be called to the place where the cry is made? and why should the mercenaries (the subject of the preceding verb, and therefore presumably of this verb) have their exclamation recorded? Alter the vowel points (which merely represent an early but not infallible exegetical tradition), and all becomes clear. We then get a renewal of the summons in ver. 14 to make a proclamation respecting the war. The persons addressed are, not foreigners, but the children of the soil, and the summons runs thus: "Call ye the name of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, Desolation." No longer "Pharaoh," honoured by titles indicating that he, like Apis, is a Divine incarnation (
neb,
i.e. lord, and
nuter, i.e. god), but
Shaon, the Hebrew for Desolation, is the fittest name for the fallen monarch. The custom of changing names with a symbolic meaning is no strange one to readers of the prophecies. We have met with it in this very book (see
Jeremiah 20:3); and Isaiah contains a parallel as exact as could be desired, in the famous passage in which the prophetic name (itself symbolic) of Egypt (
Rahab,
i.e. boisterousness, arrogance) is changed into "Rahabhem-shebheth" (
i.e. "Rahab! they are utter indolence"). In behalf of this view we may claim the authority of a tradition still older than that preserved in the vowel points, for the Septuagint (followed substantially by the Peshito and the Vulgate) has,
Καλέσατε τὸ ὄνομα Φαραὼ Νεχαὼ βασιλέωςΑἰγύπτου Σαών.
He hath passed the time appointed. A difficult clause, and variously interpreted. One thing is clear, that "passed" cannot be correct, as the verb is in the Hifil or causative conjugation. We must, at any rate, render, "He hath let the time appointed pass by." This is, in fact, the simplest and most natural explanation. There was a time within which repentance might have averted the judgment of God; but this "accepted time" has been foolishly let slip.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Thereשָׁ֑ם(šām)Adverb
Strong's 8033:There, then, thitherthey will proclaim,קָרְא֖וּ(qā·rə·’ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, read‘Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֤ה(par·‘ōh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547:Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kingskingמֶֽלֶךְ־(me·leḵ-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428:A kingof Egyptמִצְרַ֙יִם֙(miṣ·ra·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714:Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africawas all noise;שָׁא֔וֹן(šā·’ō·wn)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7588:A roar (of waters, etcetera), din, crash, uproarhe has let the appointed timeהַמּוֹעֵֽד׃(ham·mō·w·‘êḏ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150:Appointed time, place, or meetingpass him by.’הֶעֱבִ֖יר(he·‘ĕ·ḇîr)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674:To pass over, through, or by, pass on
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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 46:17 They cried there Pharaoh king of Egypt (Jer.) 
