Jeremiah 50

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.'

8 "Wander away from the ²²midst of Babylon And go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats at the head of the flock.

9 "For behold, I am going to ²³arouse and bring up against Babylon A horde of great nations from the land of the north, And they will draw up their battle lines against her; From there she will be taken captive. Their arrows will be like an expert warrior Who does not return empty-handed.

10 "²⁴Chaldea will become plunder; All who plunder her will have enough," declares the LORD.

11 "Because you are glad, because you are jubilant, O you who ²⁵pillage My heritage, Because you skip about like a threshing ²⁶heifer And neigh like stallions,

12 Your ²⁷mother will be greatly ashamed, She who gave you birth will be humiliated. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, A ²⁸wilderness, a parched land and a desert.

13 "Because of the indignation of the LORD she will ²⁹not be inhabited, But she will be ³⁰completely desolate; Everyone who passes by Babylon ³¹will be horrified And will hiss because of all her wounds.

14 "Draw up your battle lines against Babylon on every side, All you who bend the bow; Shoot at her, do not be sparing with your arrows, For she has ³²sinned against the LORD.

15 "Raise your battle cry against her on every side! She has ³³given herself up, her pillars have fallen, Her ³⁴walls have been torn down. For this is the ³⁵vengeance of the LORD: Take vengeance on her; ³⁶As she has done to others, so do to her.

16 "Cut off the ³⁷sower from Babylon And the one who wields the sickle at the time of harvest; From before the ³⁸sword of the oppressor ³⁹They will each turn back to his own people And they will each flee to his own land.

17 "Israel is a ⁴⁰scattered flock, the ⁴¹lions have driven them away. The first one who devoured him was the ⁴²king of Assyria, and this last one who has broken his bones is ⁴³Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

18 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I ⁴⁴punished the king of Assyria.

19 'And I will ⁴⁵bring Israel back to his pasture and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan, and his desire will be satisfied in the ⁴⁶hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.

20 'In those days and at that time,' declares the LORD, 'search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but ⁴⁷there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those ⁴⁸whom I leave as a remnant.'

21 "Against the land of Merathaim, go up against it, And against the inhabitants of ⁴⁹Pekod. Slay and utterly destroy them," declares the LORD, "And do according to all that I have commanded you.

22 "The ⁵⁰noise of battle is in the land, And great destruction.

23 "How the ⁵¹hammer of the whole earth Has been cut off and broken! How Babylon has become An object of horror among the nations!

24 "I ⁵²set a snare for you and you were also ⁵³caught, O Babylon, While you yourself were not aware; You have been found and also seized Because you have engaged in ⁵⁴conflict with the LORD."

25 The LORD has opened His armory And has brought forth the ⁵⁵weapons of His indignation, For it is a ⁵⁶work of the Lord GOD of hosts In the land of the Chaldeans.

26 Come to her from the farthest border; ⁵⁷Open up her barns, Pile her up like heaps And ⁵⁸utterly destroy her, Let nothing be left to her.

27 ⁵⁹Put all her young bulls to the sword; Let them ⁶⁰go down to the slaughter! Woe be upon them, for their ⁶¹day has come, The time of their punishment.

28 There is a ⁶²sound of fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the ⁶³vengeance of the LORD our God, Vengeance for His ⁶⁴temple.

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; ⁶⁵According to all that she has done, so do to her; For she has become ⁶⁶arrogant against the LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel.

30 "Therefore her ⁶⁷young men will fall in her streets, And all her men of war will be ⁶⁸silenced in that day," declares the LORD.

31 "Behold, ⁶⁹I 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 ⁷⁰arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will ⁷¹set 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 ⁷²all who took them captive have held them fast, They have refused to let them go.

34 "Their ⁷³Redeemer is strong, ⁷⁴the LORD of hosts is His name; He will vigorously ⁷⁵plead their case So that He may ⁷⁶bring rest to the earth, But turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.

35 "A ⁷⁷sword against the Chaldeans," declares the LORD, "And against the inhabitants of Babylon And against her ⁷⁸officials and her ⁷⁹wise men!

36 "A sword against the ⁸⁰oracle priests, and they will become fools! A sword against her ⁸¹mighty men, and they will be ⁸²shattered!

37 "A sword against their ⁸³horses and against their chariots And against all the ⁸⁴foreigners who are in the midst of her, And they will become ⁸⁵women! A sword against her treasures, and they will be plundered!

38 "A ⁸⁶drought on her waters, and they will be dried up! For it is a land of ⁸⁷idols, And they are mad over fearsome idols.

39 "Therefore the ⁸⁸desert creatures will live there along with the jackals; The ostriches also will live in it, And it will ⁸⁹never again be inhabited Or dwelt in from generation to generation.

40 "As when God overthrew ⁹⁰Sodom And Gomorrah with its neighbors," declares the LORD, "No man will live there, Nor will any son of man reside in it.

41 "Behold, a people is coming ⁹¹from the north, And a great nation and many kings Will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth.

42 "They ⁹²seize their bow and javelin; They are ⁹³cruel and have no mercy. Their ⁹⁴voice roars like the sea; And they ride on ⁹⁵horses, ⁹⁶Marshalled like a man for the battle Against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 "The ⁹⁷king of Babylon has heard the report about them, And his hands hang limp; ⁹⁸Distress has gripped him, Agony like a woman in childbirth.

44 "⁹⁹Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thicket of the Jordan to a perennially watered pasture; for in an instant I will make them run away from it, and whoever is ¹⁰⁰chosen I will appoint over it. For who is ¹⁰¹like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can ¹⁰²stand before Me?"

45 Therefore hear the ¹⁰³plan of the LORD which He has planned against Babylon, and His purposes which He has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: ¹⁰⁴surely * they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely * He will make their pasture desolate because of them.

46 At the shout, "Babylon has been seized!" the ¹⁰⁵earth is shaken, and an ¹⁰⁶outcry is heard among the nations.

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Jeremiah 50 Commentary

Chapter 50

The ruin of Babylon. (1-3,8-16,21-32,35-46;) The redemption of God's people. (4-7,17-20,33,34)

Verses 1-7 The king of Babylon was kind to Jeremiah, yet the prophet must foretell the ruin of that kingdom. If our friends are God's enemies, we dare not speak peace to them. The destruction of Babylon is spoken of as done thoroughly. Here is a word for the comfort of the Jews. They shall return to their God first, then to their own land; the promise of their conversion and reformation makes way for the other promises. Their tears flow not from the sorrow of the world, as when they went into captivity, but from godly sorrow. They shall seek after the Lord as their God, and have no more to do with idols. They shall think of returning to their own country. This represents the return of poor souls to God. In true converts there are sincere desires to attain the end, and constant cares to keep in the way. Their present case is lamented as very sad. The sins of professing Christians never will excuse those who rejoice in destroying them.

Verses 8-20 The desolation that shall be brought upon Babylon is set forth in a variety of expressions. The cause of this destruction is the wrath of the Lord. Babylon shall be wholly desolated; for she hath sinned against the Lord. Sin makes men a mark for the arrows of God's judgments. The mercy promised to the Israel of God, shall not only accompany, but arise from the destruction of Babylon. These sheep shall be gathered from the deserts, and put again into good pasture. All who return to God and their duty, shall find satisfaction of soul in so doing. Deliverances out of trouble are comforts indeed, when fruits of the forgiveness of sin.

Verses 21-32 The forces are mustered and empowered to destroy Babylon. Let them do what God demands, and they shall bring to pass what he threatens. The pride of men's hearts sets God against them, and ripens them apace for ruin. Babylon's pride must be her ruin; she has been proud against the Holy One of Israel; who can keep those up whom God will throw down?

Verses 33-46 It is Israel's comfort in distress, that, though they are weak, their Redeemer is strong. This may be applied to believers, who complain of the dominion of sin and corruption, and of their own weakness and manifold infirmities. Their Redeemer is able to keep what they commit to him; and sin shall not have dominion over them. He will give them that rest which remains for the people of God. Also here is Babylon's sin, and their punishment. The sins are, idolatry and persecution. He that will not save his people in their sins, never will countenance the wickedness of his open enemies. The judgments of God for these sins will lay them waste. In the judgments denounced against prosperous Babylon, and the mercies promised to afflicted Israel, we learn to choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 106

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
22. Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 51:6; Revelation 18:4
23. Jeremiah 51:1
24. Jeremiah 51:24, 35; Ezekiel 11:24
25. Jeremiah 12:14
26. Jeremiah 46:20
27. Jeremiah 15:9
28. Jeremiah 22:6; Jeremiah 51:43
29. Jeremiah 34:22
30. Jeremiah 51:26
31. Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 49:17
32. Habakkuk 2:8, 17
33. 1 Chronicles 29:24; 2 Chronicles 30:8; Lamentations 5:6
34. Jeremiah 50:44; Jeremiah 51:58
35. Jeremiah 46:10
36. Psalms 137:8; Revelation 18:6
37. Joel 1:11
38. Jeremiah 25:38; Jeremiah 46:16
39. Isaiah 13:14
40. Joel 3:2
41. Jeremiah 2:15; Jeremiah 4:7
42. 2 Kings 15:19; 2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 18:9-13
43. 2 Kin 24:1, 10-12; 2 Kings 25:1-7
44. Isaiah 10:12; Ezek 31:3, 11, 12; Nah 3:7, 18, 19
45. Isaiah 65:10; Jeremiah 31:10; Jeremiah 33:12; Ezekiel 34:13
46. Jeremiah 31:6
47. Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 7:19
48. Isaiah 1:9
49. Ezekiel 23:23
50. Jeremiah 4:19-21; Jeremiah 51:54-56
51. Jeremiah 51:20-24
52. Jeremiah 48:43, 44
53. Jeremiah 51:31; Daniel 5:30, 31
54. Job 9:4; Job 40:2, 9
55. Isaiah 13:5
56. Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:12, 25, 55
57. Isaiah 45:3; Jeremiah 50:10
58. Isaiah 14:23
59. Isaiah 34:7
60. Jeremiah 48:10
61. Psalms 37:13; Jeremiah 46:21; Jeremiah 48:44; Ezekiel 7:7
62. Isaiah 48:20
63. Psalms 149:6-9; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:10
64. Lamentations 1:10; Lamentations 2:6, 7
65. Psalms 137:8; Jeremiah 50:15; Jeremiah 51:56; 2 Thessalonians 1:6
66. Exodus 10:3; Jeremiah 49:16; Daniel 4:37
67. Isaiah 13:17, 18; Jeremiah 9:21; Jeremiah 18:21; Jeremiah 49:26; Jeremiah 51:4
68. Jeremiah 51:57
69. Jeremiah 21:13; Nahum 2:13
70. Isaiah 10:12-15
71. Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 49:27
72. Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 58:6
73. Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 43:14; Jeremiah 15:21; Jeremiah 31:11; Revelation 18:8
74. Isaiah 47:4; Jeremiah 32:18; Jeremiah 51:19
75. Jeremiah 51:36; Micah 7:9
76. Isaiah 14:3-7
77. Jeremiah 47:6; Hosea 11:6
78. Daniel 5:1, 2
79. Daniel 5:7, 8
80. Isaiah 44:25
81. Jeremiah 49:22
82. Nahum 3:13
83. Psalms 20:7, 8; Jeremiah 51:21, 22
84. Jeremiah 25:20; Ezekiel 30:5
85. Jeremiah 48:41; Jeremiah 51:30; Nahum 3:13
86. Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 51:32, 36; Revelation 16:12
87. Is 46:1, 6, 7
88. Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 34:14; Revelation 18:2
89. Isaiah 13:20; Jeremiah 25:12
90. Genesis 19:24, 25; Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 49:18; Luke 17:28-30; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7
91. Isaiah 13:2-5; Jeremiah 6:22; Jeremiah 50:3, 9; Jeremiah 51:27, 28
92. Jeremiah 6:23
93. Isaiah 13:17, 18; Isaiah 47:6
94. Isaiah 5:30
95. Jeremiah 8:16; Jeremiah 47:3; Habakkuk 1:8
96. Jeremiah 50:9, 14; Joel 2:5
97. Jeremiah 51:31
98. Jeremiah 30:6; Jeremiah 49:24
99. Jeremiah 49:19-21
100. Numbers 16:5
101. Isaiah 46:9
102. Job 41:10; Jeremiah 30:21
103. Psalms 33:11; Isaiah 14:24; Jeremiah 51:10, 11
104. Jeremiah 49:20
105. Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 49:21; Ezekiel 26:18; Ezekiel 31:16
106. Isaiah 5:7; Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 46:12; Jeremiah 51:54; Ezekiel 27:28

Footnotes 42

[a]. Heb "Merodach"
[b]. Or "dismayed"
[c]. Lit "hither"
[d]. M.T. reads "come ye!"
[e]. Or "will have come"
[f]. Another reading is "let them go forth"
[g]. Or "in front of"
[h]. So some mss and versions; M.T. reads "a warrior who makes childless"
[i]. Or "the Chaldeans"
[j]. Another reading is "in the grass"
[k]. Lit "mighty ones"
[l]. Or "has become"
[m]. Or "has become"
[n]. Lit "tread" (in order to string)
[o]. Lit "her hand"
[p]. Or "the oppressing sword"
[q]. Lit "sheep"
[r]. Lit "soul"
[s]. Or "Double Rebellion"
[t]. Or "Punishment"
[u]. Lit "put under the ban"
[v]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
[w]. Lit "end"
[x]. Lit "put under the ban"
[y]. Another reading is "archers"
[z]. Lit "tread" (in order to string)
[aa]. Some mss add "to her"
[ab]. Or "made lifeless" or "destroyed"
[ac]. Lit "arrogance"
[ad]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
[ae]. Another reading is "of your punishment"
[af]. Lit "arrogance"
[ag]. Or their "land"
[ah]. Or "dismayed"
[ai]. Lit "his"
[aj]. Lit "his"
[ak]. Lit "mixed multitude"
[al]. Another reading is "sword"
[am]. Lit "pride"
[an]. Or "an enduring habitation"
[ao]. Or "habitation"
[ap]. Lit "voice"

Chapter Summary

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.