Jeremiah 51:25

25 "Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain," saith the LORD, who destroyest all the earth; "and I will stretch out Mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

Jeremiah 51:25 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 51:25

Behold, I [am] against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the
Lord, which destroyest all the earth
Babylon is called a mountain, though situated in a plain, because of its high walls, lofty towers, and hanging gardens, which made it look at a distance like a high mountain, as Lebanon, and others: or because it was a strong fortified city; so the Targum renders it, O destroying city: or because of its power and grandeur as a monarchy, it being usual to compare monarchies to mountains; see ( Isaiah 2:2 ) ( Zechariah 4:7 ) ; here called a "destroying" one for a reason given, because it destroyed all the earth, all the nations and kingdoms of it: the same character is given of mystical Babylon and its inhabitants, ( Revelation 11:18 ) : and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee:
in a way of vindictive wrath, pouring it out upon her, and inflicting his judgments on her; laying hold on and seizing her in a furious manner, as a man does his enemy, when he has found him: and roll them down from the rocks;
towers and fortresses in Babylon, which looked like rocks, but should be now demolished: and will make thee a burnt mountain:
reduced to cinders and ashes by the conflagration of it: or, "a burning mountain": like Etna and Vesuvius; we never read of the burning of literal Babylon, but we do of mystical Babylon: see ( Revelation 18:8 ) ; and with this compare ( Revelation 8:8 ) . The Targum renders it, a burnt city.

Jeremiah 51:25 In-Context

23 I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

24 And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight," saith the LORD.

25 "Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain," saith the LORD, who destroyest all the earth; "and I will stretch out Mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

26 And they shall not take from thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever," saith the LORD.

27 Set ye up a standard in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her; call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars.