Jeremiah 51:40-50

40 "I will drag them down like lambs to be slaughtered, like rams and male goats."

41 Sheshakh has been captured, the pride of the whole earth seized! Bavel has become an object of horror throughout the nations!

42 The sea has flooded Bavel, overwhelmed her with its raging waves.

43 Her cities have become desolate - parched, arid land, a land where no one lives; nobody even passes through.

44 "I will punish Bel in Bavel and make him disgorge what he swallowed. The nations will no longer flow to him. Bavel's wall will fall.

45 Get out of her, my people! Each one, save yourself from ADONAI's furious anger!

46 Don't be fainthearted, don't be afraid of the rumors spreading abroad in the land. One year one rumor comes, the next year another one, rumors of violence in the land and rulers fighting rulers.

47 Therefore, listen! The days are coming when I will pass judgment on Bavel's idols. Her whole land will be put to shame, as all her slain fall on home soil.

48 Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will sing for joy over Bavel; for the plunderers from the north are coming to her," says ADONAI.

49 Just as Bavel caused the slain of Isra'el to fall, so at Bavel will fall the slain of all the land.

50 You who escaped the sword, go! Don't stand still! Remember ADONAI from afar, let Yerushalayim come into your minds.

Jeremiah 51:40-50 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.