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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Jeremiah 46:20 Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/46-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/24_Jer_46_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jeremiah 46:20 - The Judgment on Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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it cometh out of the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/46.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Egypt <i>is</i> a very pretty heifer, <i>But</i> destruction comes, it comes from the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/46.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Egypt is a pretty heifer, <i>But</i> a horsefly is coming from the north—it is coming!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/46.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Egypt is a pretty heifer, But a horsefly is coming from the north— it is coming!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/46.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Egypt is a pretty heifer, <i>But</i> a horsefly is coming from the north—it is coming!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/46.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Egypt is a pretty heifer, <i>But</i> a horsefly is coming from the north—it is coming!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/46.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Egypt is a very pretty heifer, But a horsefly (Babylonia) is coming [against her] out of the north!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/46.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is a beautiful young cow, but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/46.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is a beautiful young cow, but a horsefly from the north is coming against her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/46.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Egypt is a very fair heifer; but destruction out of the north is come, it is come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/46.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />An enemy from the north will attack you, beautiful Egypt, like a fly biting a cow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/46.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Egypt is a very fair heifer; but destruction out of the north is come, it is come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/46.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Egypt is like a beautiful cow, but a horsefly from the north will attack it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/46.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Egypt is like a splendid cow, attacked by a stinging fly from the north. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/46.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Egypt is a beautiful calf, but a horsefly from the north is surely coming.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/46.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/46.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is like a beautiful young cow. But northern armies will attack her like swarms of stinging flies. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/46.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/46.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/46.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; but destruction out of the north has come. It has come. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/46.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Egypt [is] a very beautiful heifer, "" Destruction comes into her from the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/46.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A heifer very fair is Egypt, Rending from the north doth come into her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/46.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Egypt a heifer, fair of mouth; destruction came; from the north it came.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/46.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is like a fair and beautiful heifer: there shall come from the north one that shall goad her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/46.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Egypt is like a stately and finely-formed calf. The one who will goad her will come from the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/46.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is a beautiful heifer, a horsefly from the north keeps coming. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/46.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />A beautiful heifer is Egypt— a gadfly from the north lights upon her.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/46.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Egypt is like a very fair and pampered heifer, but an army from the north has come against her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/46.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Egypt, a beautiful speckled heifer, an army from the North came upon her<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/46.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Egypt is a very fair heifer; But the gadfly out of the north is come, it is come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/46.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Egypt is a fair heifer, <i>but</i> destruction from the north is come upon her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=13976" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/46.htm">The Judgment on Egypt</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4714.htm" title="4714: miṣ·rā·yim (N-proper-fs) -- A son of Ham, also his desc. and their country in N.W. Africa. Dual of matsowr; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt.">Egypt</a> <a href="/hebrew/3304.htm" title="3304: yə·p̄êh- (Adj-fs) -- Pretty. From yaphah by reduplication; very beautiful."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3304.htm" title="3304: p̄î·yāh (Adj-fs) -- Pretty. From yaphah by reduplication; very beautiful.">is a beautiful</a> <a href="/hebrew/5697.htm" title="5697: ‘eḡ·lāh (N-fs) -- A heifer. Feminine of egel; a calf, especially one nearly grown.">heifer,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7171.htm" title="7171: qe·reṣ (N-ms) -- Perhaps nipping. From qarats; extirpation.">but a gadfly</a> <a href="/hebrew/6828.htm" title="6828: miṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn (Prep-m:: N-fs) -- North. Or tsaphon; from tsaphan; properly, hidden, i.e. Dark; used only of the north as a quarter.">from the north</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bā (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">is coming against her.</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: ḇā (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come."></a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>Even the mercenaries among her are like fattened calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee, they will not stand their ground, for the day of calamity is coming upon them—the time of their punishment.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-1.htm">Isaiah 19:1-4</a></span><br />This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them. / “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. / Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/29-1.htm">Ezekiel 29:1-16</a></span><br />In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. / Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/3-8.htm">Nahum 3:8-10</a></span><br />Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water? / Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies. / Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-7.htm">Isaiah 30:7</a></span><br />Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/30-1.htm">Ezekiel 30:1-9</a></span><br />Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Wail, ‘Alas for that day!’ / For the day is near, the Day of the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/31-1.htm">Isaiah 31:1-3</a></span><br />Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. / Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers. / But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/20-4.htm">Isaiah 20:4-6</a></span><br />so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. / Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. / And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/32-1.htm">Ezekiel 32:1-16</a></span><br />In the twelfth year, on the first day of the twelfth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will spread My net over you with a company of many peoples, and they will draw you up in My net. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-11.htm">Isaiah 19:11-15</a></span><br />The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? / Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. / The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-16.htm">Isaiah 19:16-17</a></span><br />In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble with fear beneath the uplifted hand of the LORD of Hosts, when He brandishes it against them. / The land of Judah will bring terror to Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble over what the LORD of Hosts has planned against it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-18.htm">Isaiah 19:18-22</a></span><br />In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun. / In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near her border. / It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-23.htm">Isaiah 19:23-25</a></span><br />In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. / In that day Israel will join a three-party alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing upon the earth. / The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/11-8.htm">Revelation 11:8</a></span><br />Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-22.htm">Acts 7:22</a></span><br />So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/2-13.htm">Matthew 2:13-15</a></span><br />When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction comes; it comes out of the north.</p><p class="hdg">a very</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/50-11.htm">Jeremiah 50:11</a></b></br> Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/10-11.htm">Hosea 10:11</a></b></br> And Ephraim <i>is as</i> an heifer <i>that is</i> taught, <i>and</i> loveth to tread out <i>the corn</i>; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, <i>and</i> Jacob shall break his clods.</p><p class="hdg">it cometh</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/46-6.htm">Jeremiah 46:6,10</a></b></br> Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/1-14.htm">Jeremiah 1:14</a></b></br> Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/25-9.htm">Jeremiah 25:9</a></b></br> Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/13-20.htm">Beautiful</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-30.htm">Biting</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-14.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-19.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/jeremiah/12-10.htm">Fair</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-8.htm">Insect</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-10.htm">North</a> <a href="/psalms/7-2.htm">Rending</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/48-17.htm">Beautiful</a> <a href="/ezekiel/17-4.htm">Biting</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-11.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-3.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-22.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-10.htm">Fair</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-34.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/hosea/5-12.htm">Insect</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-24.htm">North</a> <a href="/mark/14-63.htm">Rending</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-15.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 46</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/46-1.htm">Jeremiah prophesies the overthrow of Pharaoh's army at Euphrates</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/46-13.htm">and the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/46-27.htm">He comforts Jacob in his chastisement</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/46.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/46.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Egypt is a beautiful heifer</b><br>This phrase uses the imagery of a "beautiful heifer" to describe Egypt, symbolizing its prosperity, fertility, and attractiveness. In ancient times, Egypt was known for its wealth, fertile lands, and powerful civilization, much like a well-nourished and attractive heifer. The heifer is often used in biblical literature to represent nations or peoples (e.g., <a href="/hosea/10-11.htm">Hosea 10:11</a>). The metaphor highlights Egypt's allure and strength, but also its vulnerability to external threats. The heifer imagery may also evoke the Egyptian goddess Hathor, often depicted as a cow, symbolizing beauty and motherhood, further emphasizing Egypt's cultural and religious identity.<p><b>but a gadfly from the north is coming against her</b><br>The "gadfly" represents an irritant or a small but persistent threat, suggesting an impending invasion or attack. Historically, this refers to the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar, who came from the north to conquer Egypt. The north is often associated with danger and judgment in biblical prophecy (e.g., <a href="/jeremiah/1-14.htm">Jeremiah 1:14-15</a>). The gadfly's role as a persistent nuisance implies that Egypt's downfall will come from a relentless and determined adversary. This prophecy aligns with other biblical passages predicting Babylon's dominance over Egypt (e.g., <a href="/ezekiel/29-19.htm">Ezekiel 29:19</a>). The imagery of a gadfly also suggests that despite Egypt's strength and beauty, it is not immune to divine judgment and the consequences of its actions, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over nations.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>A significant nation in biblical history, often representing worldly power and opposition to God's people. In this context, Egypt is metaphorically described as a "beautiful heifer," symbolizing its wealth and attractiveness.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/heifer.htm">Heifer</a></b><br>A young female cow, often used in biblical imagery to represent fertility, beauty, and prosperity. Here, it symbolizes Egypt's allure and perceived strength.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/gadfly.htm">Gadfly</a></b><br>A metaphor for an impending threat or nuisance. In this passage, it represents the invading force from the north, likely referring to Babylon, which would bring judgment upon Egypt.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_north.htm">The North</a></b><br>In biblical prophecy, the north often symbolizes a place from which judgment or invasion comes. Historically, Babylon was located to the north of Egypt and Judah.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>The prophet who conveyed God's messages of warning and judgment to the nations, including Egypt. His role was to call people to repentance and to foretell the consequences of their actions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a></b><br>This passage reminds us that no nation, regardless of its power or beauty, is beyond God's reach. He can raise up and bring down according to His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_illusion_of_security.htm">The Illusion of Security</a></b><br>Egypt's beauty and strength are likened to a heifer, yet they are not enough to protect it from the coming judgment. We must not place our trust in worldly power or appearances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_certainty_of_divine_judgment.htm">The Certainty of Divine Judgment</a></b><br>Just as the gadfly from the north was certain to come against Egypt, God's judgments are sure. We must live in a way that aligns with His will to avoid His discipline.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_humility.htm">Repentance and Humility</a></b><br>The prophecy serves as a call to repentance, urging us to humble ourselves before God and seek His mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a></b><br>Jeremiah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers and heeding their warnings.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_46.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 46</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jer._46_13_conflict_with_history.htm">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?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_include_joseph's_kids_in_genesis_46_20.htm">Why does Genesis 46:20 include Joseph's Egyptian-born children in the lineage, and is there extrabiblical evidence for Joseph's high status in Egypt?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_jer._46_8's_nile_flood_literal_or_not.htm">Jeremiah 46:8 - Is the imagery of the Nile flooding over the land literal or metaphorical, and could it contradict natural constraints on river flooding known from geological studies?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_the_old_covenant_still_valid.htm">Is the Old Covenant still in effect? (Jeremiah 31:31-34 vs. Luke 16:17)</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/46.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Egypt is like a very fair heifer.</span>--The similitude points, like the "strong one" of <a href="/jeremiah/46-15.htm" title="Why are your valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.">Jeremiah 46:15</a>, to the Apis worship of Egypt. The nation is like its god. The figure is continued in the words that follow. There comes from the north (from the land of the Chaldees, as in <a href="/jeremiah/1-1.htm" title="The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:">Jeremiah 1:1</a>), not "destruction," but a <span class= "ital">gadfly </span>that shall sting the heifer into the madness of agony. So, in <a href="/isaiah/7-18.htm" title="And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.">Isaiah 7:18</a>, the "fly" of Egypt and the "bee" of Assyria are invited to work evil on Judah. The words find a striking parallel in the Greek legend of Io (probably to be identified with the Egyptian Isis) transformed into a heifer, and her gadfly tormentor, this also connected with the Apis or Mnevis deities of Egypt ('schyl. <span class= "ital">Prom. </span>v. 569). The word for "destruction" is not found elsewhere, but the etymology suggests the idea of "pinching" or "stinging," and the meaning "gadfly" is accepted by many recent scholars.<span class= "bld"><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/46.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 20-26.</span> - A figurative description of the dark future of Egypt. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - Like <span class="cmt_word">a very fair heifer.</span> (The insertion of "like" weakens the passage.) The well nourished heifer reminds of the prosperity of the fruitful Nile valley. But destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north; rather, <span class="accented">a gadfly from the north hath come upon her</span> (not, "hath come, hath come," as the received text has - a very slight change in one letter is required, supported by the versions). The figure is precisely analogous to that of the "bee in the land of Assyria" (<a href="/isaiah/7-18.htm">Isaiah 7:18</a>). St. Chrysostom renders "a gadfly" (see Field, 'Origen's Hexapla,' 2:708); and so virtually Aquila and Symmachus. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Egypt</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְרָ֑יִם</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·rā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4714.htm">Strong's 4714: </a> </span><span class="str2">Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is a beautiful</span><br /><span class="heb">פִיָּ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(p̄î·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3304.htm">Strong's 3304: </a> </span><span class="str2">Very beautiful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">heifer,</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶגְלָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘eḡ·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5697.htm">Strong's 5697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A, calf, one nearly grown</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but a gadfly</span><br /><span class="heb">קֶ֥רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(qe·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7171.htm">Strong's 7171: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps nipping</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the north</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצָּפ֖וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6828.htm">Strong's 6828: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is coming against her.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(bā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/46-20.htm">Jeremiah 46:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/46-20.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 46:20 Egypt is a very beautiful heifer (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/46-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 46:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 46:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/46-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 46:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 46:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>