Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons,
Jeremiah 10:22.
One of the greatest assets that the Lord can give any man of God is a godly wife with a zeal for the word of God. Pastor Kevin Sheridan of the Lakewood Baptist Church in Antlers, OK has just such a wife. Recently he sent me a word study that Becky had done. I hope that my readers get as much help from it as I did.
Context: Jeremiah is talking about Judah who is about to be Judged for forsaking God. This word comes to English from 16th century French.
bruit (v.) "to report," 1520s, from bruit (n.) "rumor, tiding, fame, renown" (mid-15c.), from Old French bruit (n.) "noise, uproar, rumor," derived noun from bruire "to make noise, roar" (cognate with Italian bruito, Medieval Latin brugitus), which is of uncertain origin. Related: Bruited; bruiting.
Bruit meant noise; but not just noise, rather an ominous noise.
Modern readers might sigh at the seemingly antiquated word used in the King James. However, we can look at the modern translations, and they always miss the mark. Bruit also means roar. Like a dreadful Lion or deadly foe.
Now let’s consider other weak attempts of other versions to replace this word
NIV: bruit
22 Listen! The “report” is coming—
a great commotion from the land of the north!
It will make the towns of Judah desolate,
a haunt of jackals.
Bruit in NKJV
Behold, the “noise” of the report has come,
And a great commotion out of the north country,
To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals.
Report in noise misses the mark. It fails to highlight the ominous nature of the judgment to come.
You can have joyful noises and wonderful reports
Let’s stick with the King James.
Thank you Mrs. Rebecca Sheridan.