What does Jeremiah 2:18 mean?
"And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?" - Jeremiah 2:18
Jeremiah 2:18 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?"
This verse is part of a longer passage in the book of Jeremiah in which the prophet rebukes the people of Judah for their unfaithfulness to God. The imagery of drinking the waters of Egypt and Assyria is a metaphor for trusting in foreign powers instead of relying on God. In this verse, Jeremiah is admonishing the people for turning to other nations for security and sustenance instead of trusting in God.
To understand the full meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to consider the historical and cultural context in which it was written. The book of Jeremiah was written during a time of great upheaval in the ancient kingdom of Judah. The nation had been divided and conquered by foreign powers, and the people were struggling to maintain their identity and faith in the midst of political and social turmoil.
In this verse, Egypt and Assyria are used as symbols of worldly power and influence. Both nations were major players in the ancient Near East, and they were often seen as threats to the independence and wellbeing of smaller kingdoms like Judah. By pointing to these nations, Jeremiah is highlighting the danger of placing trust in human strength and worldly alliances instead of relying on the steadfastness of God.
The imagery of drinking water is also significant in this verse. In the ancient Near East, water was a precious and essential resource, and it was often used as a symbol of life, sustenance, and prosperity. By speaking of drinking the waters of Egypt and Assyria, Jeremiah is making a powerful statement about the people's misplaced priorities and allegiances. Instead of turning to God, who is the true source of life and sustenance, they have turned to foreign powers for their security and wellbeing.
This verse also reflects a recurring theme in the prophetic literature of the Bible, namely the danger of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from God. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets repeatedly warned the people of Israel and Judah about the spiritual and moral dangers of straying from their covenant with God. In this verse, Jeremiah is carrying on this tradition by calling the people to repentance and urging them to turn back to God.
The imagery of drinking the waters of Egypt and Assyria can also be seen as a symbol of spiritual adultery. Throughout the Bible, the relationship between God and his people is often compared to a marriage, and idolatry is often depicted as a form of infidelity. By turning to other nations for their security and sustenance, the people of Judah are essentially abandoning their covenant with God and betraying their true source of hope and salvation.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 2:18 is a powerful and evocative verse that speaks to the timeless themes of faithfulness, trust, and spiritual devotion. In the context of the book of Jeremiah, it serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of turning away from God and placing our trust in worldly powers. It is a call to repentance and a summons to return to the source of true life and sustenance. This verse continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the importance of placing our trust in God and remaining faithful to our spiritual covenant.
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Jeremiah 2:18 Artwork
Jeremiah 2:18 - "And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?"
Jeremiah 2:18 And now why take the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the River?
"And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?" - Jeremiah 2:18
Jeremiah 18:2 - "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words."
Jeremiah 18:1 - "The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
Jeremiah 32:18
Jeremiah 23:18
2 Kings 24:18 - "Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah."
"Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words." - Jeremiah 18:2
Jeremiah 18:5 - "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,"
"The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying," - Jeremiah 18:1
Jeremiah 18:18 - "¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."
Jeremiah 51:18 - "They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish."
Jeremiah 37:18 - "Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?"
Jeremiah 18:19 - "Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me."
Jeremiah 6:18 - "¶ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them."
Jeremiah 18:3 - "Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels."
Jeremiah 5:18 - "Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you."
Jeremiah 18:9 - "And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;"
Jeremiah 8:18 - "¶ When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me."
Jeremiah 11:18 - "¶ And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings."
"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying," - Jeremiah 18:5
Jeremiah 52:18 - "The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away."
Jeremiah 18:7 - "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;"
Jeremiah 18:16 - "To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head."
Jeremiah 18:17 - "I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity."
Jeremiah 20:18 - "Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?"
Jeremiah 25:18 - "To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;"
Jeremiah 10:18 - "For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so."
Jeremiah 46:18 (KJVA) 18 As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.