Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “While the Jews are watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. New Living Translation “While the people of Judah are watching, take some large rocks and bury them under the pavement stones at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace here in Tahpanhes. English Standard Version “Take in your hands large stones and hide them in the mortar in the pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, Berean Standard Bible “In the sight of the Jews, pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. Berean Literal Bible “Take in your hand large stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick that is at the entrance to house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the men of the Jews. King James Bible Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; New King James Version “Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the sight of the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes; New American Standard Bible “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews; NASB 1995 “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews; NASB 1977 “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews; Legacy Standard Bible “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews; Amplified Bible “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brickwork [of the terrace] which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the men of Judah; Berean Annotated Bible “In the sight of the Jews, pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s (great house) palace at Tahpanhes (You will fill hands with pity). Christian Standard Bible “Pick up some large stones and set them in the mortar of the brick pavement that is at the opening of Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. Do this in the sight of the Judean men Holman Christian Standard Bible “Pick up some large stones and set them in the mortar of the brick pavement that is at the opening of Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. Do this in the sight of the Judean men American Standard Version Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in mortar in the brickwork, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; Contemporary English Version Jeremiah, carry some large stones to the entrance of the government building in Tahpanhes. Bury the stones underneath the brick pavement and be sure the Jews are watching. English Revised Version Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in mortar in the brickwork, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; GOD'S WORD® Translation "Take some large stones, and bury them under the brick pavement at the entrance to the Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes. Do this while the people of Judah watch you. Good News Translation "Get some large stones and bury them in the mortar of the pavement in front of the entrance to the government building here in the city, and let some of the Israelites see you do it. International Standard Version "Take large stones in your hands, and, in the sight of the men of Judah, bury them in the mortar of the brickwork at the entrance of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes. NET Bible "Take some large stones and bury them in the mortar of the clay pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh's residence here in Tahpanhes. Do it while the people of Judah present there are watching. New Heart English Bible "Take great stones in your hand, and hide them in mortar in the brick work, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; Webster's Bible Translation Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in the clay in the brick-kiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“In the sight of the Jews, pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. World English Bible “Take great stones in your hand and hide them in mortar in the brick work which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“Take great stones in your hand, and you have hidden them in the clay in the brick-kiln, that [is] at the opening of the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the men of Judah, Berean Literal Bible “Take in your hand large stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick that is at the entrance to house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the men of the Jews. Young's Literal Translation Take in thy hand great stones, and thou hast hidden them, in the clay, in the brick-kiln, that is at the opening of the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the men of Judah, Smith's Literal Translation Take in thy hand great stones, and hide them in the mortar in the brick kiln, which is in the entrance of the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the men of Judah, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTake great stones in thy hand, and thou shalt hide them in the vault that is under the brick wall at the gate of Pharao's house in Taphnis: in the sight of the men of Juda. Catholic Public Domain Version “Take great stones in your hand, and you shall conceal them in the crypt which is under the brick wall at the gate of the house of Pharaoh at Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah. New American Bible Take some large stones in your hand and set them in mortar in the terrace at the entrance to the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, while the Judahites watch. New Revised Standard Version Take some large stones in your hands, and bury them in the clay pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. Let the Judeans see you do it, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTake large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brickkiln which is at the entrance of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “Take into your hand great stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick kiln in the gate of the house of Pharaoh, in Takhpis, before the eyes of the men of Judea OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in the mortar in the framework, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; Brenton Septuagint Translation Take thee great stones, and hide them in the entrance, at the gate of the house of Pharao in Taphnas, in the sight of the men of Juda: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jeremiah Taken to Egypt…8Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes: 9“In the sight of the Jews, pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. 10Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones that I have embedded, and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.… Cross References In the sight of the Jews, Ezekiel 12:3-7 Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. / Bring out your baggage for exile by day, as they watch. Then in the evening, as they watch, go out like those who go into exile. / As they watch, dig through the wall and carry your belongings out through it. … Jeremiah 19:10-11 Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you, / and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them. Jeremiah 32:10-12 I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. / Then I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy with its terms and conditions, as well as the open copy— / and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who were signing the purchase agreement and all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard. pick up some large stones Joshua 4:1-9 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, / “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, / and command them: ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.’” … Genesis 31:45-52 So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar, / and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate. / Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. … 1 Samuel 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement Exodus 1:13-14 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly / and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh. Exodus 5:6-8 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: / “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. / But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Genesis 11:3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar. at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace Genesis 47:7-10 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. / “How many years have you lived?” Pharaoh asked. / “My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.” … Genesis 41:14-15 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh. / Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Genesis 45:16-17 When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. / Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. at Tahpanhes. Jeremiah 44:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis—and in the land of Pathros: Ezekiel 30:18 The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity. Jeremiah 2:16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. Jeremiah 19:1-2 This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests, / and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you, Treasury of Scripture Take great stones in your hand, and hide them in the clay in the brick kiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; great Jeremiah 13:1 Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water. Jeremiah 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Jeremiah 19:1 Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests; in the brick-kiln Exodus 1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. Nahum 3:14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. Jump to Previous Brick Brickkiln Brick-Kiln Clay Entrance Entry Framework Great Hand Hands Hide House Jews Judah Large Mortar Palace Paste Pavement Pharaoh's Safe Sight Stones Tahpanhes Tah'panhes Watching Way WorkJump to Next Brick Brickkiln Brick-Kiln Clay Entrance Entry Framework Great Hand Hands Hide House Jews Judah Large Mortar Palace Paste Pavement Pharaoh's Safe Sight Stones Tahpanhes Tah'panhes Watching Way WorkJeremiah 43 1. Johanan, discrediting Jeremiah's prophecy, carries him and the rest in Egypt.8. Jeremiah prophesies by a type the conquest of Egypt by the Babylonians. In the sight of the Jews This phrase indicates a public act meant to be witnessed by the Jewish exiles in Egypt. Jeremiah's actions were often symbolic, serving as visual prophecies. The presence of the Jews highlights their continued disobedience and lack of faith, as they had fled to Egypt against God's command (Jeremiah 42:19-22). pick up some large stones and bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. Known for his warnings of impending judgment and calls for repentance. 2. Tahpanhes An ancient city in Egypt where the remnant of Judah fled after the fall of Jerusalem. It was a significant location for the Jewish exiles. 3. Pharaoh’s Palace The royal residence in Tahpanhes, symbolizing Egyptian power and influence. It serves as the backdrop for Jeremiah's prophetic action. 4. Men of Judah The remnant of the Jewish people who fled to Egypt, seeking refuge from Babylonian conquest, despite God's warnings against doing so. 5. Prophetic Action Jeremiah's act of burying stones symbolizes the coming of Nebuchadnezzar's throne to Egypt, indicating God's sovereignty and the futility of seeking refuge in Egypt. Teaching Points God's SovereigntyGod's plans will prevail regardless of human actions. Jeremiah's symbolic act in Egypt demonstrates that God's will cannot be thwarted by seeking refuge in worldly powers. Obedience to God The remnant's decision to flee to Egypt against God's command serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of obedience and trust in God's guidance. Symbolic Actions in Prophecy Jeremiah's use of symbolic actions to convey God's message highlights the importance of understanding and interpreting prophetic symbols in Scripture. The Futility of Trusting in Human Strength The remnant's reliance on Egypt reflects a broader biblical theme of the futility of trusting in human strength and alliances instead of God. God's Faithfulness in Judgment and Restoration Even in judgment, God remains faithful to His promises, using events to bring about His ultimate plan for restoration. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 43:9?2. How does Jeremiah 43:9 demonstrate God's sovereignty over nations and leaders? 3. What significance do the "large stones" hold in Jeremiah 43:9's prophetic message? 4. How can we discern God's guidance in our lives, as seen in Jeremiah 43:9? 5. How does Jeremiah 43:9 connect with God's promises in Jeremiah 1:10? 6. How can we apply Jeremiah's obedience in Jeremiah 43:9 to our daily walk? 7. What is the significance of the stones in Jeremiah 43:9? 8. How does Jeremiah 43:9 relate to God's sovereignty over nations? 9. Why did God instruct Jeremiah to hide stones in Jeremiah 43:9? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 43? 11. What are Vessels of Wrath? 12. Does historical or archaeological evidence verify Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Egypt (Jer 43:8-13)? 13. How can we reconcile Jeremiah's presence in Egypt with traditions that he remained in Judah (Jer 43:6-7)? 14. What was the cause of Jeremiah's death? What Does Jeremiah 43:9 Mean In the sight of the Jews- The command is public, not private. Jeremiah must act “before the eyes of the men of Judah who have come to Egypt” (Jeremiah 43:8–9). - God is addressing a community that has rejected His word (Jeremiah 42:19–22). A visible sign presses home accountability, much like Ezekiel’s street-side object lessons (Ezekiel 4:1–3). - Public signs underscore that neither ignorance nor secrecy can shield disobedience (Numbers 32:23; Luke 12:2-3). pick up some large stones - Physical objects often anchor prophetic symbolism (Exodus 12:3-11; Hosea 1:2). - “Large stones” suggest permanence and weight—fitting emblems of a throne foundation (cf. 1 Kings 7:9-10). - The prophet’s own hands lift the stones, indicating personal involvement by God’s messenger (Jeremiah 27:2). - The act reveals divine initiative: what Jeremiah lifts, God will later set beneath Nebuchadnezzar’s feet (Jeremiah 43:10). and bury them in the clay - Clay is malleable; once the stones are hidden within it, the setting hardens. The image speaks of God fixing future events in place (Isaiah 14:24; Psalm 33:11). - Burying, not merely placing, hides the stones from casual view, echoing how judgment can develop unseen until suddenly exposed (Habakkuk 2:3). - The action hints at graves and burial, foreshadowing Egypt’s coming ruin (Jeremiah 46:25-26). of the brick pavement - A brick courtyard evokes Egypt’s famous brickmaking (Exodus 5:7-14), reminding Judah of former bondage and signaling they have run back to the wrong refuge (Isaiah 30:1-3). - Bricks also recall human attempts to build security apart from God (Genesis 11:3-4). - God plants His sign right in the heart of man-made grandeur, asserting dominion over earthly power centers (Psalm 2:1-6). at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace - The gateway is where rulings are announced (Esther 5:13). Planting stones there declares that God is installing His own “throne” of judgment inside Egypt’s royal domain (Jeremiah 43:10). - Pharaoh’s palace, emblem of worldly might, will become a stage for Babylon’s victory, fulfilling earlier warnings that trusting Egypt is futile (Jeremiah 37:5-10; Isaiah 31:1). - The placement proclaims that no earthly king can bar the advance of God’s decreed events (Daniel 4:35). at Tahpanhes - Tahpanhes (Daphnae) sat on Egypt’s northeast frontier—the very entry point Judah thought safest (Jeremiah 43:7). - The city had a military garrison; God targets the place of Judah’s chosen protection (Jeremiah 2:36-37). - Historical records (Herodotus 2.30) confirm extensive fortifications here, aligning with the text’s literal accuracy. - By marking Tahpanhes, God signals that judgment will begin where His people settled in compromise (1 Peter 4:17). summary Jeremiah’s enacted sign uses visible stones, buried in Egypt’s royal courtyard, to declare that the Babylonian king will establish his throne precisely where Judah sought safety. Every detail—public setting, heavy stones, hidden burial, brick pavement, palace gate, and the city of Tahpanhes—underscores the certainty of God’s word, exposes the folly of trusting human power, and affirms that the Lord directs history down to its geographic coordinates. (9) Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln.--Better, in the mortar on the platform. There seems something incongruous in the idea of a brickkiln, or a place for baking bricks, at the entrance of a royal palace; nor is it easy to see why Nebuchadrezzar should have chosen it as a place for his throne. It seems better, with Hitzig, Furst, and others, to take the Hebrew word, which occurs only here and in 2Samuel 12:31 and Nahum 3:14, as meaning a structure of brick, a dais or raised pavement, like the Gabbatha or Pavement on which Pilate sat (John 19:13), in front of the entrance of the palace, on which the king naturally placed his throne when he sat in judgment or received petitions. Assyrian and Babylonian monuments present many instances of kings thus seated. As making his prediction more vivid, the prophet places stones in the mortar or cement (not "clay") with which the mass was covered, and conceals them apparently with a fresh coat of mortar. There they were to remain till his prediction should be fulfilled. The symbolic act was of the same type as the breaking of the potter's vessel in Jeremiah 19:10, and the yoke worn on the prophet's shoulders (Jeremiah 27:2), and Ezekiel's digging through the wall (Ezekiel 12:7). It may be noted that our version follows Luther in translating "brickkiln." The LXX. evades the difficulty by taking refuge in vague terms" in the vestibule (???????), in the gate of the house," and the Vulgate gives "in the crypt which is under the brick walls." . . . Verse 9. - Take great stones, etc. A strange symbolic act of Jeremiah's is here described. "We must not suppose, arguing from our Western and precise notions, that he would be at all necessarily interfered with. In fact, he would have a twofold security, as a prophet of God to those who acknowledged him as such, and in the opinion of others as insane, and, according to Eastern ideas, thus especially under Divine promptings in his acts" (Streane). He is directed to take great stones and embed them in the mortar (not "clay") in the brick pavement at the entry of the palace. When the events predicted came to pass, these stones would testify that Jeremiah had predicted them. The word rendered "brick pavement" is of doubtful meaning. In Nahum 3:14 it signifies "brick kiln."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “In the sightלְעֵינֵ֖י (lə·‘ê·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - cdc Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain [of the] Jews, יְהוּדִֽים׃ (yə·hū·ḏîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish pick up קַ֣ח (qaḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take some large גְּדֹל֗וֹת (gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent stones אֲבָנִ֣ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 68: A stone and bury them וּטְמַנְתָּ֤ם (ū·ṭə·man·tām) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 2934: To hide, conceal in the clay בַּמֶּ֙לֶט֙ (bam·me·leṭ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4423: Mortar -- cement of the brick pavement בַּמַּלְבֵּ֔ן (bam·mal·bên) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4404: A brick mold, quadrangle at the entrance בְּפֶ֥תַח (bə·p̄e·ṯaḥ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6607: An opening, door, entrance way to Pharaoh’s פַּרְעֹ֖ה (par·‘ōh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings palace בֵּית־ (bêṯ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house at Tahpanhes. בְּתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑ס (bə·ṯaḥ·pan·ḥês) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 8471: Tahpanhes -- a city in Egypt Links Jeremiah 43:9 NIVJeremiah 43:9 NLT Jeremiah 43:9 ESV Jeremiah 43:9 NASB Jeremiah 43:9 KJV Jeremiah 43:9 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 43:9 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 43:9 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 43:9 French Bible Jeremiah 43:9 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 43:9 Take great stones in your hand (Jer.) |
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