Yirmeyah 51:8

8 Bavel is suddenly fallen and broken; wail for her; take balm for her pain, perhaps she may be healed.

Yirmeyah 51:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 51:8

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed
Or "broken" ^F7; even into shivers, as a cup is; for when it had been used to answer the purposes designed by the Lord, he let it fall cut of his hands at once, and it was broken; or rather he dashed it in pieces, as a potter's vessel. The destruction of Babylon was brought about in a very short time, considering the strength of it; and was unexpected by the inhabitants of it, and by the nations round about; but, when it was come, it was irreparable: so the destruction of mystical Babylon will be in one hour, and it will be an utter and entire destruction, ( Revelation 18:8 ) ; howl for her;
as the inhabitants of Babylon, and her friends and allies that loved her, did no doubt; and as the kings and merchants of the earth, and others, will howl for spiritual Babylon, ( Revelation 18:9-19 ) ; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed:
or balsam; see ( Jeremiah 46:11 ) ; which is said by way of derision and mockery, as Kimchi and Abarbinel observe; or in an ironical and sarcastic manner; suggesting, that, let what means soever be made use of, her wound was incurable, her ruin inevitable, and her case irrecoverable.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (rbvt) "confracta est", Schmidt; "fracta est", Cocceius; "contrita est", Piscator.

Yirmeyah 51:8 In-Context

6 Flee out of the midst of Bavel, and deliver every ish his nefesh; be not slain because of her avon; for this is the time of Hashem’s vengeance; He will render unto her a full recompence.

7 Bavel hath been a Kos Zahav in the yad Hashem, that made kol ha’aretz drunken; the Goyim drank of her yayin; therefore the Goyim go mad.

8 Bavel is suddenly fallen and broken; wail for her; take balm for her pain, perhaps she may be healed.

9 We would have healed Bavel, but she cannot be healed; forsake her, and let us go every ish into his own country; for her mishpat reacheth unto Shomayim, and is lifted up even to the skies.

10 Hashem hath brought forth tzidkoteinu (our righteousness, vindication); come, and let us declare in Tziyon the ma’aseh Hashem Eloheinu.