Jeremiah 50:1-16

Prophecies against Babylon

1 The word the Lord spoke about Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:

2 Announce to the nations; proclaim and raise up a signal flag;^[a] proclaim, and hide nothing. Say: Babylon is captured; Bel^[b] is put to shame; Marduk is devastated; her idols are put to shame; her false gods, devastated.

3 For a nation from the north will come against her;^[c] it will make her land desolate. No one will be living in it- both man and beast will escape.^[d]

4 In those days and at that time- [this is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration- the Israelites and Judeans will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the Lord their God.^[e]

5 They will ask about Zion, [turning] their faces to this road. They will come and join themselves^[f] to the Lord in an everlasting covenant^[g] that will never be forgotten.

6 My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, guiding them the wrong way in the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.

7 All who found them devoured them. Their adversaries said: We're not guilty; instead, they have sinned against the Lord, their righteous grazing land, the hope of their ancestors, the Lord.

8 Escape from Babylon;^[h] depart from the Chaldeans' land. Be like the rams that lead the flock.

9 For I will soon stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country. They will line up in battle formation against her; from there she will be captured. Their arrows will be like those of a skilled^[i] warrior who does not return empty-handed.

10 The Chaldeans will become plunder; all her plunderers will be fully satisfied. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

11 Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph- you who plundered My inheritance- because you frolic like a young cow treading grain and neigh like stallions,^[j]

12 your mother will be utterly humiliated; she who bore you will be put to shame. Look! She will lag behind all^[k] the nations- a dry land, a wilderness, an Arabah.

13 Because of the Lord's wrath, she will not be inhabited; she will become a desolation, every bit of her. Everyone who passes through Babylon will be horrified and scoff because of all her wounds.^[l]

14 Line up in battle formation around Babylon, all you archers! Shoot at her! Do not spare an arrow, for she has sinned against the Lord.

15 Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands [in surrender]; her defense towers have fallen; her walls are demolished. Since this is the Lord's vengeance, take out your vengeance on her; as she has done, do the same to her.

16 Cut off the sower from Babylon as well as him who wields the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressor's sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.

Jeremiah 50:1-16 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Ps 60:4; Isa 5:26; 18:3
• [b] Jr 51:44; Isa 46:1
• [c] Jr 1:14-15; 6:1,22; Isa 41:25
• [d] Lit escape; they will walk
• [e] 2 Ch 11:16; 15:4; Hs 3:5
• [f] LXX; MT reads Come and join yourselves
• [g] Gn 9:16; 17:7,19; Isa 55:3
• [h] Jr 51:6; Rv 18:4
• [i] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read bereaving
• [j] Jr 8:16; 47:3; Jdg 5:22
• [k] Lit Look! The last of
• [l] Jr 19:8; 49:17