Jeremiah 37:5
New International Version
Pharaoh’s army had marched out of Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

New Living Translation
At this time the army of Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt appeared at the southern border of Judah. When the Babylonian army heard about it, they withdrew from their siege of Jerusalem.

English Standard Version
The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Berean Literal Bible
And the army of Pharaoh had come up from Egypt, and the Chaldeans laying siege on Jerusalem heard news of them, and they went up from Jerusalem.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then Pharaoh’s army came up from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who had been besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

NASB 1995
Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who had been besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they lifted the siege from Jerusalem.

NASB 1977
Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who had been besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they lifted the siege from Jerusalem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s military force had come out from Egypt; and the Chaldeans who had been besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them. So they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Amplified Bible
Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Berean Annotated Bible
Pharaoh’s (great house) army had left Egypt (land of bondage), and when the Chaldeans (the Babylonians) who were besieging Jerusalem (city of peace) heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans, who were besieging Jerusalem, heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans, who were besieging Jerusalem, heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

American Standard Version
And Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans that were besieging Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they brake up from Jerusalem.

English Revised Version
And Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they brake up from Jerusalem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pharaoh's army had come from Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were blockading Jerusalem heard this news, they retreated from Jerusalem.

Good News Translation
The Babylonian army had been besieging Jerusalem, but when they heard that the Egyptian army had crossed the Egyptian border, they retreated.

International Standard Version
Pharaoh's army had come out of Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

NET Bible
At that time the Babylonian forces had temporarily given up their siege against Jerusalem. They had had it under siege, but withdrew when they heard that the army of Pharaoh had set out from Egypt.)

New Heart English Bible
Pharaoh's army had come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Pharaoh's army had come from Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

World English Bible
Pharaoh’s army had come out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the force of Pharaoh has come out of Egypt, and the Chaldeans who are laying siege against Jerusalem hear their report, and go up from off Jerusalem.

Berean Literal Bible
And the army of Pharaoh had come up from Egypt, and the Chaldeans laying siege on Jerusalem heard news of them, and they went up from Jerusalem.

Young's Literal Translation
and the force of Pharaoh hath come out of Egypt, and the Chaldeans, who are laying siege against Jerusalem, hear their report, and go up from off Jerusalem.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pharaoh's army came forth out of Egypt; and the Chaldeans pressing upon Jerusalem will hear their report, and they will come up from Jerusalem.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the army of Pharao was come out of Egypt: and the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem, hearing these tidings, departed from Jerusalem.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And then the army of Pharaoh went forth from Egypt. And hearing this, the Chaldeans, who were besieging Jerusalem, withdrew from Jerusalem.

New American Bible
Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard this report, they withdrew from the city.

New Revised Standard Version
Meanwhile, the army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Pharaoh's army came forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they departed from Jerusalem.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the army of Pharaoh went out from Egypt and heard the report of the Chaldeans who surround Jerusalem, and they removed themselves from Jerusalem
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the host of Pharao was come forth out of Egypt; and the Chaldeans heard the report of them, and they went up from Jerusalem.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah
4Now Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people, for they had not yet put him in prison. 5Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem. 6Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet:…

Cross References
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt,

2 Kings 23:29-30
During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo. / From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

2 Chronicles 35:20-24
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him. / But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!” / Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo. …

Jeremiah 46:2
concerning 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:
and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem

2 Kings 25:1-2
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

Jeremiah 52:4-5
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

2 Chronicles 36:17
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,
heard the report,

2 Kings 19:7
Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”

Isaiah 37:7
Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”

2 Kings 7:6
For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.”
they withdrew from Jerusalem.

2 Kings 19:35-36
And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

2 Chronicles 32:21-22
and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword. / So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hands of King Sennacherib of Assyria and all others, and He gave them rest on every side.

2 Kings 7:7
Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.
2 Kings 24:7
Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

Jeremiah 34:21
And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.

Ezekiel 17:15-18
But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’ / ‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. / Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. …

Isaiah 31:1-3
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. / Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers. / But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Pharaoh's.

Ezekiel 17:15
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

Ezekiel 17:7
There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

2 Kings 24:7
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

Ezekiel 17:15
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

they.

Jeremiah 37:11
And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,

Jeremiah 34:21
And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you.

Jump to Previous
Army Attacking Babylonians Besieged Besieging Brake Broke Chaldaeans Chaldeans Chalde'ans Departed Egypt Force Forth Hear Heard Jerusalem Lifted Marched Meanwhile News Pharaoh Pharaoh's Report Siege Tidings
Jump to Next
Army Attacking Babylonians Besieged Besieging Brake Broke Chaldaeans Chaldeans Chalde'ans Departed Egypt Force Forth Hear Heard Jerusalem Lifted Marched Meanwhile News Pharaoh Pharaoh's Report Siege Tidings
Jeremiah 37
1. The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans,
3. king Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to pray for the people.
6. Jeremiah prophesies the Chaldeans' certain return and victory.
11. He is taken for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison.
16. He assures Zedekiah of the captivity.
18. Entreating for his liberty, he obtains some favor.












Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt
This phrase refers to the Egyptian military force under Pharaoh Hophra, who reigned from 589 to 570 BC. Historically, Egypt and Judah had a complex relationship, often marked by alliances against common enemies like Babylon. The departure of Pharaoh's army from Egypt signifies a strategic move to support Judah against the Babylonian siege. This aligns with the political dynamics of the time, where smaller nations sought alliances with powerful neighbors to counteract threats from empires like Babylon.

and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem
The Chaldeans, synonymous with the Babylonians, were led by King Nebuchadnezzar II. The siege of Jerusalem was part of a larger campaign to subdue rebellious vassal states. This siege is historically placed around 588-586 BC, during the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. The Chaldeans were known for their military prowess and strategic sieges, which were often lengthy and devastating, leading to severe famine and hardship within the besieged city.

heard the report
The report refers to the news of the Egyptian army's advance. In ancient warfare, intelligence and communication were crucial, and the movement of a significant force like Egypt's would have been quickly relayed to the besieging Chaldeans. This report would have caused concern for the Babylonians, as it threatened their control over the siege and potentially their broader campaign in the region.

they withdrew from Jerusalem
The withdrawal of the Chaldeans was a temporary strategic retreat in response to the Egyptian threat. This momentary relief for Jerusalem is significant in the biblical narrative, as it provided a brief respite for the city. However, it was not a permanent solution, as the Babylonians would later return to complete the siege and ultimately destroy Jerusalem in 586 BC. This event is a reminder of the temporary nature of human alliances and the ultimate fulfillment of God's prophetic word, as seen in Jeremiah's prophecies regarding the fall of Jerusalem.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Pharaoh's Army
The Egyptian military force led by Pharaoh, which temporarily relieved the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.

2. Chaldeans
Another name for the Babylonians, who were besieging Jerusalem as part of their campaign to dominate the region.

3. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, under siege by the Babylonians during this period.

4. Egypt
The nation from which Pharaoh's army marched, historically a significant power in the region and often involved in the affairs of Israel and Judah.

5. Siege of Jerusalem
A critical event where the Babylonians surrounded Jerusalem, aiming to conquer it, which was temporarily interrupted by the Egyptian intervention.
Teaching Points
Reliance on God vs. Human Alliances
The temporary relief provided by Pharaoh's army illustrates the danger of relying on human alliances rather than trusting in God's sovereignty and plan.

The Illusion of Security
The withdrawal of the Chaldeans might have given a false sense of security to the people of Jerusalem, reminding us that true security comes from God alone.

God's Sovereignty in World Affairs
The movement of armies and nations is under God's control, and His purposes will ultimately prevail, even when human plans seem to succeed temporarily.

The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
Judah's leaders needed discernment to understand the temporary nature of their relief and the need for repentance and reliance on God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 37:5?

2. How does Jeremiah 37:5 illustrate God's sovereignty over political and military events?

3. What can we learn about trusting God during uncertain times from Jeremiah 37:5?

4. How does Jeremiah 37:5 connect with God's promises in Jeremiah 29:11?

5. How should believers respond when facing threats, as seen in Jeremiah 37:5?

6. What role does faith play in interpreting events like those in Jeremiah 37:5?

7. Why did Pharaoh's army come out of Egypt in Jeremiah 37:5?

8. How does Jeremiah 37:5 reflect God's sovereignty over nations?

9. What historical evidence supports the events in Jeremiah 37:5?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 37?

11. How do we address the lack of extrabiblical records confirming Babylon's interactions with Jerusalem in Jeremiah 37?

12. What role did Egyptians play in biblical narratives?

13. How does Ezekiel 29:6–7 align with or contradict known historical alliances and events regarding Egypt and its neighbors?

14. How does Ezekiel 31 fit chronologically within the wider narrative of Babylonian conquest, and are there any historical inconsistencies?
What Does Jeremiah 37:5 Mean
Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt

“Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt” (Jeremiah 37:5a) describes Egypt’s troops moving north to relieve Jerusalem.

• Judah’s King Zedekiah had appealed to Egypt for help (Jeremiah 37:7); trusting foreign power instead of the LORD recalls Isaiah 31:1, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help.”

• Earlier, Egypt had been cowed by Babylon (2 Kings 24:7), yet Judah still pinned its hopes on this faltering ally.

• The LORD had warned that political alliances could not replace obedience (Jeremiah 2:18; 17:5).

By mentioning the march from Egypt, the verse sets the stage for a brief, deceptive lull that will test Judah’s faith.


When the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report

The Babylonians (Chaldeans) had ringed Jerusalem since Zedekiah’s ninth year (Jeremiah 52:4).

• News of Egypt’s advance reached them—an early form of military intelligence. Compare similar battlefield reports in 2 Kings 19:7, where Assyria withdrew after hearing of a threat elsewhere.

• God had already declared through Jeremiah that Babylon’s siege was His judgment (Jeremiah 34:2–3). Yet the people assumed one encouraging headline could overturn divine decree.

• Jeremiah immediately receives the LORD’s word: “Do not deceive yourselves, saying, ‘The Chaldeans will surely depart from us,’ for they will not depart” (Jeremiah 37:9). The report tests whether Judah will trust God’s promise or momentary circumstances.


They withdrew from Jerusalem

The Babylonians “withdrew from Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 37:5c), lifting the siege temporarily.

• This created false confidence inside the city. Soon Jeremiah would be accused of treason for predicting the siege’s return (Jeremiah 37:11–15).

• The LORD clarifies that even if Judah somehow struck the Babylonian army down to the last wounded man, “they would rise up, each in his tent, and burn this city down” (Jeremiah 37:10).

• History confirms God’s word: Babylon regrouped and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC (Jeremiah 39:1–8; 52:12–14).

The withdrawal, then, is not deliverance but a brief pause meant to expose Judah’s misplaced trust and call them to repentance (compare Ezekiel 17:15–18, where Egypt’s aid is branded faithless).


summary

Jeremiah 37:5 records Egypt’s short-lived rescue attempt, Babylon’s momentary retreat, and the deceptive hope that followed. The verse teaches that political alliances cannot overturn God’s announced judgment; only repentance and reliance on Him can. What looked like salvation was merely a pause before discipline, underscoring the LORD’s sovereignty over nations and events (Jeremiah 18:7–10; Proverbs 21:30).

(5) Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt.--The despatch of the Egyptian army was the result of negotiations which Zedekiah had opened with Pharaoh-Hophra, with a view to resisting the power of Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 17:15). Like the Egyptian armies in general, it was strong in chariots and horses (Ezekiel 17:15; Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 36:9), and able to carry out the operations of a siege (Ezekiel 17:17). In Jeremiah 44:30 we have the full name of the Egyptian king. . . . Verse 5. - Then Pharaoh's army, etc.; rather, And Pharaoh's army had, etc.; as a further description of the circumstances under which the embassy was sent. The withdrawal of the Chaldeans seemed to offer a gleam of hope. The Pharaoh referred to was the Hophra of the Jews, the Apries of Herodotus, the Uah-ab-ra of the monuments. His interference was useless; indeed, Hophra was one of the most unfortunate of the Egyptian kings (see Jeremiah 44:30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Pharaoh’s
פַּרְעֹ֖ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

army
וְחֵ֥יל (wə·ḥêl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

had left
יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

Egypt,
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (mim·miṣ·rā·yim)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and when the Chaldeans
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֜ים (hak·kaś·dîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3778: Chaldeans -- a region of southern Babylon and its inhab

who were besieging
הַצָּרִ֤ים (haṣ·ṣā·rîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege

Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

heard
וַיִּשְׁמְע֨וּ (way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the report,
שִׁמְעָ֔ם (šim·‘ām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8088: Something heard, a sound, rumor, announcement, audience

they withdrew
וַיֵּ֣עָל֔וּ (way·yê·‘ā·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from
מֵעַ֖ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Jerusalem.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 37:5 Pharaoh's army was come forth out (Jer.)
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