Jeremiah 51:1-6

1 The LORD proclaims: I'm stirring up a violent wind against Babylon and those who live in Leb-qamai.

2 I will send mercenaries to Babylon who will sift her and clear out her land. They will surround her on the day of disaster.

3 Let the archers draw their bows; let them prepare their armor. Show no mercy to her young men; wipe out her entire company!

4 They will fall wounded in the land of Babylon, struck down in her streets.

5 God, the LORD of heavenly forces, hasn't abandoned Israel and Judah, even though they live in a land filled with guilt before the holy one of Israel.

6 Escape from Babylon; each of you run for your lives! Don't perish because of her guilt, because this is the time for the LORD's retribution, a day of reckoning for all that Babylon has done.

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Or the inhabitants of Leb qamai, a reference to Chaldea (Babylonia); or those who rise up against me
• [b] Or foreigners
• [c] Or she or it