Jeremiah 50:23-33

23 "How the 1hammer of the whole earth Has been cut off and broken! How Babylon has become An object of horror among the nations!
24 "I 2set a snare for you and you were also 3caught, O Babylon, While you yourself were not aware; You have been found and also seized Because you have engaged in 4conflict with the LORD."
25 The LORD has opened His armory And has brought forth the 5weapons of His indignation, For it is a 6work of the Lord GOD of hosts In the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come to her from the farthest border; 7Open up her barns, Pile her up like heaps And 8utterly destroy her, Let nothing be left to her.
27 9Put all her young bulls to the sword; Let them 10go down to the slaughter! Woe be upon them, for their 11day has come, The time of their punishment.
28 There is a 12sound of fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the 13vengeance of the LORD our God, Vengeance for His 14temple.
29 "Summon many against Babylon, All those who bend the bow: Encamp against her on every side, Let there be no escape . Repay her according to her work; 15According to all that she has done, so do to her; For she has become 16arrogant against the LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel.
30 "Therefore her 17young men will fall in her streets, And all her men of war will be 18silenced in that day," declares the LORD.
31 "Behold, 19I am against you, O arrogant one," Declares the Lord GOD of hosts, "For your day has come, The time when I will punish you.
32 "The 20arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will 21set fire to his cities And it will devour all his environs."
33 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "The sons of Israel are oppressed, And the sons of Judah as well; And 22all who took them captive have held them fast, They have refused to let them go.

Jeremiah 50:23-33 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.

Cross References 22

  • 1. Jeremiah 51:20-24
  • 2. Jeremiah 48:43, 44
  • 3. Jeremiah 51:31; Daniel 5:30, 31
  • 4. Job 9:4; Job 40:2, 9
  • 5. Isaiah 13:5
  • 6. Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:12, 25, 55
  • 7. Isaiah 45:3; Jeremiah 50:10
  • 8. Isaiah 14:23
  • 9. Isaiah 34:7
  • 10. Jeremiah 48:10
  • 11. Psalms 37:13; Jeremiah 46:21; Jeremiah 48:44; Ezekiel 7:7
  • 12. Isaiah 48:20
  • 13. Psalms 149:6-9; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:10
  • 14. Lamentations 1:10; Lamentations 2:6, 7
  • 15. Psalms 137:8; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:56; 2 Thessalonians 1:6
  • 16. Exodus 10:3; Jeremiah 49:16; Daniel 4:37
  • 17. Isaiah 13:17, 18; Jeremiah 9:21; Jeremiah 18:21; Jeremiah 49:26; Jeremiah 51:4
  • 18. Jeremiah 51:57
  • 19. Jeremiah 21:13; Nahum 2:13
  • 20. Isaiah 10:12-15
  • 21. Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 49:27
  • 22. Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 58:6

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
  • [b]. Lit "end"
  • [c]. Lit "put under the ban"
  • [d]. Another reading is "archers"
  • [e]. Lit "tread" (in order to string)
  • [f]. Some mss add "to her"
  • [g]. Or "made lifeless" or "destroyed"
  • [h]. Lit "arrogance"
  • [i]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
  • [j]. Another reading is "of your punishment"
  • [k]. Lit "arrogance"
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