Jeremiah 50:24-34

24 "I 1set a snare for you and you were also 2caught, O Babylon, While you yourself were not aware; You have been found and also seized Because you have engaged in 3conflict with the LORD."
25 The LORD has opened His armory And has brought forth the 4weapons of His indignation, For it is a 5work of the Lord GOD of hosts In the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come to her from the farthest border; 6Open up her barns, Pile her up like heaps And 7utterly destroy her, Let nothing be left to her.
27 8Put all her young bulls to the sword; Let them 9go down to the slaughter! Woe be upon them, for their 10day has come, The time of their punishment.
28 There is a 11sound of fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the 12vengeance of the LORD our God, Vengeance for His 13temple.
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; 14According to all that she has done, so do to her; For she has become 15arrogant against the LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel.
30 "Therefore her 16young men will fall in her streets, And all her men of war will be 17silenced in that day," declares the LORD.
31 "Behold, 18I 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 19arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will 20set 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 21all who took them captive have held them fast, They have refused to let them go.
34 "Their 22Redeemer is strong, 23the LORD of hosts is His name; He will vigorously 24plead their case So that He may 25bring rest to the earth, But turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:24-34 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 25

  • 1. Jeremiah 48:43, 44
  • 2. Jeremiah 51:31; Daniel 5:30, 31
  • 3. Job 9:4; Job 40:2, 9
  • 4. Isaiah 13:5
  • 5. Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:12, 25, 55
  • 6. Isaiah 45:3; Jeremiah 50:10
  • 7. Isaiah 14:23
  • 8. Isaiah 34:7
  • 9. Jeremiah 48:10
  • 10. Psalms 37:13; Jeremiah 46:21; Jeremiah 48:44; Ezekiel 7:7
  • 11. Isaiah 48:20
  • 12. Psalms 149:6-9; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:10
  • 13. Lamentations 1:10; Lamentations 2:6, 7
  • 14. Psalms 137:8; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:56; 2 Thessalonians 1:6
  • 15. Exodus 10:3; Jeremiah 49:16; Daniel 4:37
  • 16. Isaiah 13:17, 18; Jeremiah 9:21; Jeremiah 18:21; Jeremiah 49:26; Jeremiah 51:4
  • 17. Jeremiah 51:57
  • 18. Jeremiah 21:13; Nahum 2:13
  • 19. Isaiah 10:12-15
  • 20. Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 49:27
  • 21. Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 58:6
  • 22. Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 43:14; Jeremiah 15:21; Jeremiah 31:11; Revelation 18:8
  • 23. Isaiah 47:4; Jeremiah 32:18; Jeremiah 51:19
  • 24. Jeremiah 51:36; Micah 7:9
  • 25. Isaiah 14:3-7

Footnotes 12

  • [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"
  • [l]. Or their "land"
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