So they entered the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, and they went as far as Tahpanhes.
Parallel translations
- WEB and they came into the land of Egypt; for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice: and they came to Tahpanhes.
- KJV So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
- NKJV So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they went as far as Tahpanhes.
- NASB and they entered the land of Egypt (for they did not obey the voice of the Lord) and went in as far as Tahpanhes.
- NLT The people refused to obey the voice of the Lord and went to Egypt, going as far as the city of Tahpanhes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The remnant enters Egypt, disobeying God's voice, and arrives at Tahpanhes. Their settling in Egypt completes their rebellion against the Lord's command.
Overview
Returning to Egypt reverses the exodus salvation God had once given Israel, symbolizing a return to bondage. The repeated note that 'they didn't obey Yahweh's voice' frames their journey as deliberate sin, not mere misfortune. Tahpanhes, an Egyptian frontier city, becomes the setting where God will yet pursue them with His word, showing that no place lies beyond His reach or His call to repentance through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Jer 2:16The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
- Jer 44:1This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis—and in the land of Pathros:
- Isa 30:4For though their princes are at Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
- Jer 46:14“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.’
- Ezek 30:18The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
- 2 Chr 25:16While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 43:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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