Lexical Summary yepheh-phiyyah: Beautiful of speech; eloquent Original Word: יְפֵה־פִיָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance very fair From yaphah by reduplication; very beautiful -- very fair. see HEBREW yaphah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yaphah Definition pretty NASB Translation pretty (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְפֵהפִֿיָּה, read יְפֵהפִיָּה, or better יְפֵיפִיָּה (Ol§ 188 a Gr Gie; reduplicated, with the force of a diminutive, Sta§ 156; compare אֲדַמְדָּם, יְרַקְרַק), adjective feminine pretty, עֶנְלָה יְפֵהפִֿיָּה מִצְרַיִם Jeremiah 46:20 Egypt is a pretty heifer (ᵐ5 κεκαλλωπισμένη). יְפִי see יֳפִי. below Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Jeremiah 46:20 presents the sole appearance of יְפֵה־פִיָּה. Through Jeremiah, the LORD declares: “Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her” (Berean Standard Bible). The phrase describes Egypt’s outward attractiveness and apparent vigor immediately before divine judgment. Historical Background Jeremiah 46 addresses Egypt’s defeat by Nebuchadnezzar following the battle of Carchemish (circa 605 BC). Egypt, though rich, fertile, and proud, is portrayed as a prize heifer—well-fed by the Nile’s abundance—yet vulnerable to the Babylonian invader likened to a stinging gadfly. The prophetic image exposes the fragility of Egypt’s political alliances and military confidence when measured against the sovereignty of God. Literary Function 1. Rhetorical Contrast: “Beautiful heifer” versus “gadfly from the north” heightens the sudden reversal from prosperity to humiliation. Symbolic Resonance • Heifer imagery evokes fertility, agricultural plenty, and idolatrous associations (Exodus 32; Hosea 10:5-6). Egypt’s “beauty” recalls her ancient wealth and pantheon (e.g., the Apis bull cult), underscoring her misplaced trust in creation rather than the Creator. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Nations (Jeremiah 46:25-26; Daniel 2:21). Intertextual Parallels • Nations as livestock awaiting judgment: “Moab has been at ease from his youth…” (Jeremiah 48:11). Ministry Applications • Warn against trusting in cultural attractiveness, economic might, or political alliances; true security resides in covenant faithfulness (Psalm 20:7). Summary יְפֵה־פִיָּה captures in a single, vivid epithet the paradox of Egypt’s glory and downfall. The lone occurrence in Jeremiah 46:20 distills a timeless lesson: no matter how impressive human strength appears, it cannot withstand the righteous judgments of the Lord of hosts. Forms and Transliterations פִיָּ֖ה פיה fiYah p̄î·yāh p̄îyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 46:20 HEB: עֶגְלָ֥ה יְפֵֽה־ פִיָּ֖ה מִצְרָ֑יִם קֶ֥רֶץ NAS: Egypt is a pretty heifer, KJV: Egypt [is like] a very fair heifer, INT: heifer pretty Egypt a horsefly 1 Occurrence |