Jeremiah 51:23

23 With you I will smash the shepherd and his flock; with you I will smash the farmer and his ox-team.^[a] With you I will smash governors and officials.

Jeremiah 51:23 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 51:23

And I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his
flock
Or, have broken; which Abarbinel thinks respects the Arabians particularly, who were shepherds, and dwelt in tents; but it rather signifies shepherds and their flocks in general; who were killed or scattered wherever his armies came, which spared none, even the most innocent and useful, and though unarmed: and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of
oxen;
with which he ploughed his ground: signifying by this, as well as the former, that those were not spared, by which kingdoms were supported and maintained, as shepherds and husbandmen: and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers;
by whom kingdoms and states are governed and protected.

Jeremiah 51:23 In-Context

21 With you I will smash the horse and its rider; with you I will smash the chariot and its rider.

22 With you I will smash man and woman; with you I will smash the old man and the youth; with you I will smash the young man and the virgin.

23 With you I will smash the shepherd and his flock; with you I will smash the farmer and his ox-team. With you I will smash governors and officials.

24 "I will repay Babylon and all the residents of Chaldea for all their evil they have done in Zion before your very eyes." [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

25 Look, I am against you, devastating mountain- [this is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration- you devastate the whole earth. I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you down from the cliffs, and turn you into a burned-out mountain.

Footnotes

• [a] Lit yoke