Jeremiah 13:4

Go to Euphrates. Inasmuch as at its nearest point the Euphrates River is approximately 330 mi. (528 km.) from Jerusalem, some have questioned whether the actual river is meant, or whether some other geographical location by the same name is referred to. The word for Euphrates, Perath, is consistently translated “Euphrates” in the OT. In every case Perath is coupled with the word for “river,” except in this chapter, in 2 Chron. 35:20, and in Jer. 51:63. Two journeys to and from the Euphrates River, one to bury the loincloth (Jer. 13:4, 5), and one to recover it (vs. 6, 7), would necessitate the extremely hard and arduous task of traveling 1,400 mi. (868 km.). Some have felt that the importance of the prophecy of this chapter justified such an undertaking. Others have contended that “Euphrates” here refers to some other geographical site, and have offered various explanations for the use of Perath. Suggested explanations are: (1) that it was a wadi near Jerusalem not yet identified; (2) that Perath was a scribal error for Parah (Joshua 18:23), thought to be about 3¼ mi. (5.3 km.) northeast of Anathoth; (3) that it was Paran, in harmony with Aquila’s Greek version. The last explanation seems highly unlikely. All the other versions render Perath as Euphrates. Though there may be some question as to whether Jeremiah was required to bury the girdle on the banks of the famous river, there is no uncertainty regarding the application of the symbolic prophecy. The girdle represented the house of Israel (Jer. 13:11), and the removal and burial of it, the removal of the people to Babylon.