Jeremiah 46:5

³ “Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle!

⁴ Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor!

Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.

⁶ “The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.

⁷ Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn?

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: Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.
KJV: Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.
WEB: Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and are turned backward. Their mighty ones are beaten down, have fled in haste, and don’t look back. Terror is on every side,” says the LORD.
ASV: Wherefore have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: terror is on every side, saith Jehovah.
DARBY: Why do I see them dismayed, turned away back? And their mighty ones are beaten down, and take to flight, and look not back? Terror [is] on every side, saith Jehovah.
BLB: Why have I seen [it]? They are terrified; they are turning back, and their mighty ones are crushed, and [in] haste they have fled; not even did they turn; fear [was] all around!” A declaration of YHWH.

ÅB: Hvorfor ser jeg dem forferdet vike tilbake? Og deres kjemper blir slått og tar flukten uten å vende seg om; redsel er det rundt omkring, sier Herren.
OTB: Hvorfor ser jeg dem skrekkslagne, i retrett, med sine krigere beseiret? De flykter i hast uten å se seg tilbake, og det er frykt på alle kanter," erklærer Herren.
B1930: Hvorfor ser jeg dem forferdet vike tilbake? Og deres kjemper blir slått og tar flukten uten å vende sig om; redsel er det rundt omkring, sier Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 49:29
They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:25
Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
Read in context
Jeremiah 46:21
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.
Read in context
Jeremiah 46:15
Why have your warriors been laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down.
Read in context
Jeremiah 20:3–4
The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.
Read in context
Nahum 2:8
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
Read in context
Revelation 6:15–17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
Read in context
Isaiah 19:16
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.
Read in context