Jeremiah 2:18
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
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?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
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 Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
Read in contextJeremiah 2:36
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
Read in contextIsaiah 31:1
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Read in contextHosea 7:11
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
Read in context2 Chronicles 28:20–21
And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.
Read in contextJeremiah 37:5–10
Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
Read in contextHosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
Read in context2 Kings 16:7–9
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
Read in context