Jeremiah 50:1-7

Prophecy against Babylon

1 The word which the LORD spoke concerning ¹Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:

2 "²Declare and proclaim among the nations. Proclaim it and ³lift up a standard. Do not conceal it but say, '⁴Babylon has been captured, ⁵Bel has been put to shame, Marduk has been shattered; Her ⁶images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.'

3 "For a nation has come up against her out of the ⁷north; it will make her land ⁸an object of horror, and there will be ⁹no inhabitant in it. Both man and beast have wandered off, they have gone away!

4 "In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah ¹⁰as well; they will go along ¹¹weeping as they go, and it will be ¹²the LORD their God they will seek.

5 "They will ¹³ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an ¹⁴everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.

6 "My people have become ¹⁵lost sheep; ¹⁶Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the ¹⁷mountains; They have gone along from mountain to hill And have forgotten their ¹⁸resting place.

7 "All who came upon them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, '¹⁹We are not guilty, Inasmuch * as they have sinned against the LORD who is the ²⁰habitation of righteousness, Even the LORD, the ²¹hope of their fathers.'

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Jeremiah 50:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 50

This and the following chapter contain a long prophecy concerning the destruction of Babylon; and which is expressed in such language, that it may be, and is to be, accommodated to the destruction of mystical Babylon; and several passages in the book of the Revelation are borrowed from hence; and it is intermixed with promises and prophecies of the deliverance of God's people from thence, and of the conversion of the Jews, and the restoration of them to their own which will be at that time; see Jer 50:4,5,8,19,20,33,34. The destruction of Babylon in general is proclaimed and declared, and the manner and cause of it, Jer 50:1-13; then the enemies of Babylon are stirred up and animated to proceed against her, and execute the judgments of God upon her, Jer 50:14-30. Next follows the Lord's controversy with her, because of her pride and oppression of his people; and threatens her with the sword, drought, and utter destruction, Jer 50:31-40; and then a description is given of her enemies, that should be the instruments of her destruction, Jer 50:41-44; and the chapter is closed with observing, that this is all according to the counsel and purpose of God, Jer 50:45,46.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 21

1. Genesis 10:10; Genesis 11:9; 2 Kings 17:24; Isaiah 13:1; Isaiah 47:1; Daniel 1:1; Revelation 14:8
2. Jeremiah 4:16
3. Jeremiah 51:27
4. Jeremiah 51:31
5. Isaiah 46:1
6. Jeremiah 51:47
7. Isaiah 13:17; Jeremiah 50:9; Jeremiah 51:11, 27
8. Isaiah 14:22, 23; Jeremiah 50:13
9. Jeremiah 9:10, 11; Zephaniah 1:3
10. Isaiah 11:12, 13; Jeremiah 3:18; Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 33:7; Hosea 1:11
11. Ezra 3:12, 13; Psalms 126:5; Jeremiah 31:9
12. Hosea 3:5
13. Isaiah 35:8; Jeremiah 6:16
14. Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 32:40; Hebrews 8:6-10
15. Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 34:15, 16; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6
16. Jeremiah 23:11-14
17. Jeremiah 13:16; Ezekiel 34:6
18. Jeremiah 33:12; Jeremiah 50:19
19. Jeremiah 2:3; Zechariah 11:5
20. Jeremiah 31:23; Jeremiah 40:2, 3
21. Psalms 22:4; Jeremiah 14:8; Jeremiah 17:13

Footnotes 5

[a]. Heb "Merodach"
[b]. Or "dismayed"
[c]. Lit "hither"
[d]. M.T. reads "come ye!"
[e]. Or "will have come"