Jeremiah 51:48-58

48 Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD.

49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall , so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.

50 Ye that have escaped the sword, go away , stand not still : remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

51 We are confounded , because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house.

52 Wherefore, behold, the days come , saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan .

53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.

54 A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

55 Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered :

56 Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken , every one of their bows is broken : for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite .

57 And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake , saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

58 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken , and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary .

Jeremiah 51:48-58 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. As...: or, Both Babylon is to fall, O ye slain of Israel, and with Babylon, etc
• [b]. The broad...: or, The walls of broad Babylon