Jeremiah 50:36

36 A sword against the oracle priests, and they will become foolish. A sword against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror.

Jeremiah 50:36 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 50:36

A sword [is] upon the liars
Some render it "bars" ^F13, as the word sometimes signifies; and interpret it of great men, who are the strength and security of cities and commonwealths; but these are mentioned both before and after. The Targum renders it "diviners"; and so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it ^F14; of which there were many among the Chaldeans, who were a lying set of men, who imposed upon and deceived the people; these with their divinations and soothsayings could not save the land, nor themselves, from the devouring sword; nay, their sorceries and divinations were the cause of the ruin of it; see ( Isaiah 47:9 Isaiah 47:12 Isaiah 47:13 ) ( Revelation 18:23 ) ; and they shall dote;
or, that they may "become foolish" ^F15; be infatuated, and act a mad part, and be at their wits' end; not knowing what course to take for their own safety, and much less be able to give direction and advice to others: a sword [is] upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed;
the soldiers and their officers, the most valiant and courageous of them; these would be in the utmost fright and consternation at the approach of the enemy; especially when they perceived the city taken, and the carnage made of the king and his nobles.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Mydbh) "vectes"; so some in Gataker.
F14 "Divinos", V. L. Vatablus, Tigurine version, Calvin, Pagninus; so R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 84.
F15 (wlanw) "stultescant", Schmidt; "ut stulte agant", Piscator; "et insanient", Pagninus, Montanus.

Jeremiah 50:36 In-Context

34 Their redeemer [is] strong, his name [is] Yahweh of hosts. Surely he will plead their case, in order to make peace [for] the earth, but to cause unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

35 A sword against [the] Chaldeans," {declares} Yahweh, "and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her officials, and against her wise men.

36 A sword against the oracle priests, and they will become foolish. A sword against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror.

37 A sword against his horses, and against his chariots, and against all the foreign troops who [are] in the midst of her, so that they may become as women. A sword against her treasures, so that they may be plundered.

38 A drought [will come] against her waters, and they will dry up, for it [is] a land of images, and because of the frightful [objects], they act like madmen.