Jeremiah 50:36

36 A sword to the false diviners thereof, that shall be fools; a sword to the strong men thereof, that shall dread. (A sword to its false diviners, who be fools; a sword to its strong men, who have fear, or who shall be in terror.)

Jeremiah 50:36 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 50:36

A sword [is] upon the liars
Some render it "bars" ^F13, as the word sometimes signifies; and interpret it of great men, who are the strength and security of cities and commonwealths; but these are mentioned both before and after. The Targum renders it "diviners"; and so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it ^F14; of which there were many among the Chaldeans, who were a lying set of men, who imposed upon and deceived the people; these with their divinations and soothsayings could not save the land, nor themselves, from the devouring sword; nay, their sorceries and divinations were the cause of the ruin of it; see ( Isaiah 47:9 Isaiah 47:12 Isaiah 47:13 ) ( Revelation 18:23 ) ; and they shall dote;
or, that they may "become foolish" ^F15; be infatuated, and act a mad part, and be at their wits' end; not knowing what course to take for their own safety, and much less be able to give direction and advice to others: a sword [is] upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed;
the soldiers and their officers, the most valiant and courageous of them; these would be in the utmost fright and consternation at the approach of the enemy; especially when they perceived the city taken, and the carnage made of the king and his nobles.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Mydbh) "vectes"; so some in Gataker.
F14 "Divinos", V. L. Vatablus, Tigurine version, Calvin, Pagninus; so R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 84.
F15 (wlanw) "stultescant", Schmidt; "ut stulte agant", Piscator; "et insanient", Pagninus, Montanus.

Jeremiah 50:36 In-Context

34 The again-buyer of them is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name; by doom he shall defend the cause of them, that he make the land afeared, and stir together the dwellers of Babylon. (But their Redeemer is strong, his name is the Lord of hosts; he shall justly defend their cause, and he shall trouble the inhabitants of Babylon, and make the land afraid/he shall justly defend their case, and make the land to rest, but he shall trouble the inhabitants of Babylon.)

35 A sword to Chaldees, saith the Lord, and to the dwellers of Babylon, and to the princes, and to the wise men thereof. (A sword to the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and to the inhabitants of Babylon, and to its princes, or to its leaders, and to its wise men.)

36 A sword to the false diviners thereof, that shall be fools; a sword to the strong men thereof, that shall dread. (A sword to its false diviners, who be fools; a sword to its strong men, who have fear, or who shall be in terror.)

37 Sword to the horses thereof, and to the chariots thereof, and to all the common people which is in the midst thereof, and they shall be as women; a sword to the treasures thereof, that shall be ravished. (A sword to its horses, and to its chariots, and to all the common people who be in its midst, and they shall become like women; a sword to its treasures, that shall be robbed.)

38 Dryness shall be on the waters thereof, and they shall be dry; for it is the land of graven images, and hath glory in false feignings. (A drought shall be upon its waters, and they shall dry up; for it is the land of carved idols, and hath glory in false portents.)