Jeremiah 50:31-41

31 "Babylonia, you are filled with pride, so I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, am against you! The time has come for me to punish you.

32 Your proud nation will stumble and fall, and no one will help you up. I will set your cities on fire, and everything around will be destroyed."

33 The Lord Almighty says, "The people of Israel and of Judah are oppressed. All who captured them are guarding them closely and will not let them go.

34 But the one who will rescue them is strong - his name is the Lord Almighty. He himself will take up their cause and will bring peace to the earth, but trouble to the people of Babylonia."

35 The Lord says, "Death to Babylonia! Death to its people, to its rulers, to its people of wisdom.

36 Death to its lying prophets - what fools they are! Death to its soldiers - how terrified they are!

37 Destroy its horses and chariots! Death to its hired soldiers - how weak they are! Destroy its treasures; plunder and loot.

38 Bring a drought on its land and dry up its rivers. Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols that have made fools of the people.

39 "And so Babylon will be haunted by demons and evil spirits, and by unclean birds. Never again will people live there, not for all time to come. ¹

40 The same thing will happen to Babylon that happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, when I destroyed them and the nearby towns. No one will ever live there again. I, the Lord, have spoken. ²

41 "People are coming from a country in the north, a mighty nation far away; many kings are preparing for war.

Jeremiah 50:31-41 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. 50.39Revelation 18.2.
• 2. 50.40Genesis 19.24, 25.

Footnotes

• [a]. demons and evil spirits; [or] wildcats and jackals.