Jeremiah 46:3
New International Version
“Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle!

New Living Translation
“Prepare your shields, and advance into battle!

English Standard Version
“Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!

Berean Standard Bible
“Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle!

King James Bible
Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

New King James Version
“Order the buckler and shield, And draw near to battle!

New American Standard Bible
“Set up the buckler and shield, And advance to the battle!

NASB 1995
“Line up the shield and buckler, And draw near for the battle!

NASB 1977
“Line up the shield and buckler, And draw near for the battle!

Legacy Standard Bible
“Arrange the shield and large shield, And draw near for the battle!

Amplified Bible
“Line up the buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, And advance for battle!

Christian Standard Bible
Deploy small shields and large; approach for battle!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Deploy small shields and large; draw near for battle!

American Standard Version
Prepare ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Contemporary English Version
It's time to go into battle! So grab your shields,

English Revised Version
Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Get your large and small shields ready; advance into battle.

Good News Translation
"The Egyptian officers shout, 'Get your shields ready and march into battle!

International Standard Version
"Prepare buckler and shield, and advance into the battle!

Majority Standard Bible
“Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle!

NET Bible
"Fall into ranks with your shields ready! Prepare to march into battle!

New Heart English Bible
"Prepare the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Webster's Bible Translation
Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

World English Bible
“Prepare the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Set shield and buckler in array, "" And draw near to battle.

Young's Literal Translation
'Set ye in array shield and buckler, And draw nigh to battle.

Smith's Literal Translation
Prepare the covering and the shield, and approach to the war.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Prepare ye the shield and buckler, and go forth to battle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“ ‘Prepare the heavy and the light shield, and advance to war!

New American Bible
Prepare buckler and shield! move forward to battle!

New Revised Standard Version
Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take up the buckler and shield and draw near to battle.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, God of Israel: take a supply of arms and a shield and approach the battle
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Make ready buckler and shield, And draw near to battle.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take up arms and spears, and draw nigh to battle;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Egypt
2concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah: 3“Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle! 4Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor!…

Cross References
Exodus 15:9
The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’

Isaiah 8:9-10
Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! / Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

Ezekiel 38:4
I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords.

Nahum 2:3-4
The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished. / The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.

Joel 3:9-10
Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! / Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’

Isaiah 31:4-5
For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights. / Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will shield it and deliver it; He will pass over it and preserve it.”

Ezekiel 21:21-22
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. / In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.

2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Isaiah 13:4-5
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war. / They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens—the LORD and the weapons of His wrath—to destroy the whole country.

Ezekiel 23:23-24
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses. / They will come against you with a host of peoples, with weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will array themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will punish you according to their own standards.

Revelation 19:19
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.

1 Corinthians 14:8
Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

Ephesians 6:11-13
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. / Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. / The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Revelation 16:14
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.


Treasury of Scripture

Order you the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Jeremiah 51:11,12
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple…

Isaiah 8:9,10
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces…

Isaiah 21:5
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

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Jeremiah 46
1. Jeremiah prophesies the overthrow of Pharaoh's army at Euphrates
13. and the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar
27. He comforts Jacob in his chastisement














Deploy your shields
This phrase calls the warriors to prepare for battle, emphasizing the urgency and readiness required in the face of impending conflict. The Hebrew word for "deploy" (עָרַךְ, 'arak) conveys the idea of setting in order or arranging, often used in military contexts. Shields were crucial in ancient warfare, serving as both a defensive and offensive tool. Historically, shields were made of wood, leather, or metal, and their deployment signified the readiness to engage in combat. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call to Christians to prepare themselves with the armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:10-18, to stand firm against spiritual battles.

O horsemen
The mention of horsemen highlights the cavalry, a significant component of ancient armies known for their speed and power. Horses in biblical times were symbols of strength and might, often associated with royal and military power. The Hebrew term for horsemen (פָּרָשׁ, parash) indicates those who ride horses, emphasizing their role in warfare. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a reminder of the swiftness and strength required in spiritual warfare, urging believers to be vigilant and prepared.

Take your positions
This phrase underscores the importance of strategic placement in battle. The Hebrew root (יָצַב, yatsab) means to set or station oneself, indicating a deliberate and purposeful action. In military terms, taking positions was crucial for defense and attack, ensuring that each soldier was in the right place to maximize effectiveness. Spiritually, this can be interpreted as a call for Christians to stand firm in their faith, knowing their place in God's plan and being ready to act according to His will.

and put on your helmets
Helmets were essential for protection in battle, safeguarding the head from injury. The Hebrew word for helmet (קוֹבַע, qova) refers to a protective headgear, often made of metal or leather. In the context of spiritual warfare, as described in Ephesians 6:17, the helmet represents salvation, protecting the mind and thoughts of believers. This phrase serves as a reminder to guard one's mind with the assurance of salvation and the truth of God's Word.

Polish your spears
The act of polishing spears indicates preparation and readiness for battle. Spears were common weapons in ancient warfare, used for both throwing and thrusting. The Hebrew word for spear (רֹמַח, romach) signifies a long, pointed weapon. Polishing them would ensure they were sharp and effective. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call to sharpen one's spiritual tools, such as prayer and the Word of God, to be effective in spiritual battles.

and put on armor!
Armor was vital for protection in battle, covering the body to prevent injury. The Hebrew term for armor (שִׁרְיוֹן, shiryon) refers to a protective covering, often made of metal or leather. In a spiritual context, this aligns with the call in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God, equipping believers with truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation. This phrase serves as an exhortation to be fully prepared and protected in the spiritual battles of life, relying on God's strength and provision.

(3, 4) Order ye the buckler and shield . . .--The poem opens with a summons to the hosts of Nebuchadnezzar to prepare for their victory. First the foot-soldiers are called, then the horse, lastly the light-armed troops.

Put on the brigandines.--The history of the word is not without interest. Light-armed skirmishers were known in Italian as "brigands" (briganti--literally, "quarrellers"); the light coat of mail worn by them was accordingly known as a "brigandine." When the Italian word became synonymous with robbers by land or sea, the ship used by them was called a brigantino, and from this is derived our English "brig" (W. A. Wright: Bible Word Book). The word "brigandine" is accordingly used by writers of the sixteenth century in both senses: by Spenser, for a ship--

"Like as a warlike brigandine applied

To fight;"

and by Milton--

"Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet

And brigandine or brass"

(Sams. Agonist., 1120)--in the same sense as here and in Jeremiah 51:3.

Verse 3. - Order ye, etc. The leaders of the Egyptians are heard summoning their men to make ready their armour, and set themselves in array (comp. ver. 9). The buckler (Hebrew, magen) is the small shield; the shield (Hebrew, cinnah) is the large one (scutum), which covered the whole body (comp. 2 Chronicles 9:15, 16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Deploy
עִרְכ֤וּ (‘ir·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order

your shields, small
מָגֵן֙ (mā·ḡên)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

and large,
וְצִנָּ֔ה (wə·ṣin·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6793: A hook, a, shield, cold

and advance
וּגְשׁ֖וּ (ū·ḡə·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

for battle!
לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (lam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 46:3 Prepare you the buckler and shield (Jer.)
Jeremiah 46:2
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