en_tn_condensed/jer/46/20.md

1.1 KiB

Egypt is a very beautiful young cow

The nation of Egypt is being compared to a beautiful young female cow. It is possible that this comparison is made to have Egypt be the mate of the bull-god Apis. AT: "Egypt is like a very beautiful heifer." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

stinging insect

This refers the army of the nation of Babylon. A stinging insect would cause painful sores but would otherwise not cause permanent harm to the animal stung. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

soldiers in her midst are like a fattened bull

The writer compares soldiers to "fattened bulls" because the soldiers are well cared for and readied for slaughter. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)

They will not stand together

The writer is saying that the soldiers will not fight as a unit but will run away thinking only of saving themselves.

Egypt hisses like a snake and crawls away

The writer is saying that the nation of Egypt is like snakes that can do nothing but hiss and crawl away in fear when woodcutters disturb their nest. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)