Jeremiah 51:20-23

20 He says, "You are My ¹war-club, My weapon of war; And with you I ²shatter nations, And with you I destroy kingdoms.

21 "With you I ³shatter the horse and his rider, And with you I shatter the ⁴chariot and its rider,

22 And with you I shatter ⁵man and woman, And with you I shatter old man and ⁶youth, And with you I shatter young man and virgin,

23 And with you I shatter the shepherd and his flock, And with you I shatter the farmer and his team, And with you I shatter governors and prefects.

Jeremiah 51:20-23 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 41:15, 16; Jeremiah 50:23
• 2. Isaiah 8:9; Isaiah 41:15, 16; Micah 4:12, 13
• 3. Exodus 15:1
• 4. Exodus 15:4; Isaiah 43:17
• 5. 2 Chronicles 36:17; Isaiah 13:15, 16
• 6. Isaiah 13:18

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "shatterer"