Jeremiah 2:18

16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

17 Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?

Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile ? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates ?

19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile ? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates ?
KJV
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?
WEB
Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
ASV
And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
DARBY
And now, what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
BLB
And now, what [is] unto you in the way of Egypt—to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what [is] unto you in the way of Assyria—to drink the waters of the River?
ÅB
Og nå, hvorfor tar du veien til Egypt for å drikke Sikors[^4] vann? Og hvorfor tar du veien til Assyria for å drikke elvens[^5] vann?
OTB
Hvorfor går du nå til Egypt for å drikke Nilens vann? Og hvorfor går du til Assyria for å drikke Eufrats vann?
B1930
Og nu, hvorfor tar du veien til Egypten for å drikke Sikors vann? Og hvorfor tar du veien til Assyria for å drikke elvens vann? / < d.e. Nilens.> / < d.e. Eufrats.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 13:3

    from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;

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  • Jeremiah 2:36

    How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.

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  • Isaiah 31:1

    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.

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  • Hosea 7:11

    So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove— calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

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  • 2 Chronicles 28:20–21

    Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz but afflicted him rather than strengthening him.

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  • Jeremiah 37:5–10

    Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

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  • Hosea 5:13

    When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

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  • 2 Kings 16:7–9

    So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hands of the kings of Aram and Israel, who are rising up against me.”

    Read in context