Jeremiah 50:1-7

A Message About Babylon

1 This is the word the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians[a] :
2 “Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, ‘Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.’
3 A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land. No one will live in it; both people and animals will flee away.
4 “In those days, at that time,” declares the LORD, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God.
5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the LORDin an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.
6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
7 Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the LORD, their verdant pasture, the LORD, the hope of their ancestors.’

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.

Cross References 25

  • 1. S Genesis 10:10; S Psalms 137:8; Isaiah 13:1
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 30:4; Jeremiah 4:16
  • 3. S Psalms 20:5; S Isaiah 13:2
  • 4. ver 9; Jeremiah 51:31
  • 5. S Isaiah 21:9; S Isaiah 46:1
  • 6. Psalms 97:7; Jeremiah 51:52
  • 7. ver 38; Isaiah 46:6; Jeremiah 51:47
  • 8. S Leviticus 26:30
  • 9. S ver 26; S Isaiah 41:25; S Jeremiah 25:26
  • 10. S ver 13; S Isaiah 14:22-23; S Jeremiah 9:11
  • 11. Zephaniah 1:3
  • 12. S Jeremiah 3:18; Ezekiel 37:22; Hosea 1:11
  • 13. S Ezra 3:12; Jeremiah 31:9
  • 14. S Isaiah 9:13; Ezekiel 37:17; Hosea 3:5
  • 15. S Isaiah 11:16; S Jeremiah 31:21
  • 16. S 1 Samuel 29:1; Jeremiah 33:7
  • 17. S Deuteronomy 29:14; Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 32:40; Hebrews 8:6-10
  • 18. S Psalms 119:176; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 10:6
  • 19. S Jeremiah 2:8; S Jeremiah 10:21
  • 20. S Psalms 95:10; Jeremiah 23:32; Ezekiel 13:10
  • 21. Jeremiah 3:6; Ezekiel 34:6
  • 22. ver 19
  • 23. S Jeremiah 5:17; Jeremiah 10:25; Ezekiel 35:12
  • 24. Jeremiah 2:3
  • 25. S Jeremiah 14:8

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "Chaldeans" ; also in verses 8, 25, 35 and 45
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