Jeremiah 51:55

55 For the LORD is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. ¹Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised,

Jeremiah 51:55 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 51:55

Because the Lord hath spoiled Babylon
By means of the Merits and Persians; these were his instruments he made use of; to these he gave commission, power, and strength to spoil Babylon; and therefore it is ascribed to him: and destroyed out of her the great voice;
the noise of people, which is very great in populous cities, where people are passing to and fro in great numbers upon business; which ceases when any calamity comes, as pestilence, famine, or sword, which sweep away the inhabitants; this last was the case of Babylon. The Targum is,

``and hath destroyed out of her many armies:''

or it may design the great voice of the roaring revelling company in it at their feast time; which was the time of the destruction of he city, as often observed: or the voice of triumphs for victories obtained, which should be no more in it: or the voice of joy and gladness in common, as will be also the case of mystical Babylon, ( Revelation 18:22 ) ; this "great voice" may not unfitly be applied to the voice of antichrist, that mouth speaking blasphemies, which are long shall be destroyed out of Babylon, ( Revelation 13:5 Revelation 13:6 ) ; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is
uttered;
that is, when her enemies come up against her like the waves of the sea: a loud shout will be made by them, which will be very terrible, and silence the noise of mirth and jollity among the Babylonians; see ( Jeremiah 51:42 ) ; though some understand this of the change that should be made among the Chaldeans; that, instead of the voice of joy and triumph, there would be the voice of howling and lamentation; and even among their high and mighty ones, who would be troubled and distressed, as great waters are, when moved by tempests. The Targum is,

``and the armies of many people shall be gathered against them, and shall lift up their voice with a tumult.''

Jeremiah 51:55 In-Context

53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, yet destroyers would come from me against her, declares the LORD.

54 "A voice! A cry from Babylon! The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

55 For the LORD is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised,

56 for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken; their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of recompense; he will surely repay.

57 I will make drunk her officials and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

Cross References

• 1. [ver. 42]; See Jeremiah 5:22