Jeremiah 51:1-6

1 The Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall raise on Babylon, and on the dwellers thereof, that raised their heart against me, as a wind of pestilence. (The Lord saith these things, Lo! I shall raise up a wind of pestilence against Babylon, and against its inhabitants, who raised up their hearts against me.)
2 And I shall send into Babylon winnowers, and they shall winnow it, and shall destroy the land of it; for they came on it on each side, in the day of the torment thereof (for they shall come against it on all sides, on the day of its torment).
3 He that bendeth his bow, bend not, and a man clothed in habergeon, ascend not; do not ye spare the young men thereof, slay ye all the chivalry thereof. (He who bendeth his bow, bend not, and a man clothed in a breastplate, do not go up; do not ye spare its young men, kill ye all its army.)
4 And slain men shall fall in the land of Chaldees, and wounded men in the countries thereof. (And the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and the wounded in its streets.)
5 For why Israel and Judah was not made widow(ed) from their God, the Lord of hosts; but the land of them was filled with trespass of the Holy of Israel. (For neither Israel nor Judah were left widowed by their God, the Lord of hosts; though their land was filled with trespass against the Holy One of Israel.)
6 Flee ye from the midst of Babylon, that each man save his soul; do not ye be still on the wickedness thereof, for why time of vengeance thereof is to the Lord; he shall yield while to it. (Flee ye from the midst of Babylon, so that each person can save his own soul, or his own life; do not ye stay in the midst of its wickedness, for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance upon it, and now he shall yield its recompense.)

Jeremiah 51:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 51

The former part of this chapter is a continuation of the prophecy of the preceding chapter, concerning the destruction of Babylon, Jer 51:1-58; the latter part of it contains a prophecy of Jeremiah sent to the captives in Babylon by the hand of Seraiah, with the copy of the above prophecy against Babylon, and an order to fasten a stone to it, and cast it into the river Euphrates, as a sign, confirming the utter and irreparable ruin of Babylon, Jer 51:59-64.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.