Jeremiah 50:8-20

8 ¹“Flee from the midst of Babylon, ²and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock.

9 For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon ³a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.

10 ⁴Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.

11 ⁵“Though you rejoice, though you exult, O plunderers of my heritage, though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture, and neigh like stallions,

12 your mother shall be utterly shamed, and she who bore you shall be disgraced. Behold, she shall be the last of the nations, ⁶a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

13 ⁷Because of the wrath of the Lord she shall not be inhabited but shall be an utter desolation; ⁸everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled, ⁹and hiss because of all her wounds.

14 ¹⁰Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, ¹¹all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows, ¹²for she has sinned against the Lord.

15 ¹³Raise a shout against her all around; she has surrendered; her bulwarks have fallen; ¹⁴her walls are thrown down. For ¹⁵this is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance on her; ¹⁶do to her as she has done.

16 Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; ¹⁷because of the sword of the oppressor, ¹⁸every one shall turn to his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land.

17 ¹⁹“Israel is a hunted sheep ²⁰driven away by lions. ²¹First the king of Assyria ²²devoured him, and now at last ²³Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ²⁴has gnawed his bones.

18 Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, ²⁵I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, ²⁶as I punished the king of Assyria.

19 ²⁷I will restore Israel to his pasture, and ²⁸he shall feed on ²⁹Carmel and in ³⁰Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in ³¹Gilead.

20 In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, ³²iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for ³³I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

Jeremiah 50:8-20 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.

Cross References

• 1. 50:8 ch. 51:6, 45; See Isa. 48:20
• 2. 50:8 ch. 51:6, 45; See Isa. 48:20
• 3. 50:9 See ch. 25:14
• 4. 50:10 [ch. 25:12]
• 5. 50:11 [Lam. 4:21]
• 6. 50:12 ch. 51:43
• 7. 50:13 ver. 39
• 8. 50:13 See ch. 18:16
• 9. 50:13 See ch. 18:16
• 10. 50:14 ver. 9; ch. 51:11; Isa. 21:2
• 11. 50:14 ver. 29; [ch. 51:3]
• 12. 50:14 [ver. 7]
• 13. 50:15 [Josh. 6:16]
• 14. 50:15 ch. 51:58
• 15. 50:15 ch. 46:10; 51:6, 11
• 16. 50:15 ver. 29; ch. 51:56
• 17. 50:16 ch. 46:16
• 18. 50:16 [ch. 51:9]; See Isa. 13:14
• 19. 50:17 See ver. 6
• 20. 50:17 ch. 2:15; 4:7; Isa. 5:29
• 21. 50:17 2 Kgs. 17:6; 18:13
• 22. 50:17 ch. 51:34
• 23. 50:17 2 Kgs. 24:10, 14; See 2 Kgs. 25:1-11
• 24. 50:17 [ch. 51:34]
• 25. 50:18 Isa. 10:12; 24:21; [Ps. 76:12]
• 26. 50:18 Isa. 14:24, 25
• 27. 50:19 Ezek. 34:13, 14
• 28. 50:19 Ezek. 34:13, 14
• 29. 50:19 Mic. 7:14
• 30. 50:19 Mic. 7:14
• 31. 50:19 Mic. 7:14
• 32. 50:20 [Isa. 40:2]
• 33. 50:20 Isa. 33:24; See ch. 31:34