1 The word H1697 that the LORD H3068 spake H1696 against Babylon H894 and against the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 by H3027 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet. H5030
2 Declare H5046 ye among the nations, H1471 and publish, H8085 and set up H5375 a standard; H5251 publish, H8085 and conceal H3582 not: say, H559 Babylon H894 is taken, H3920 Bel H1078 is confounded, H3001 Merodach H4781 is broken in pieces; H2865 her idols H6091 are confounded, H3001 her images H1544 are broken in pieces. H2865
3 For out of the north H6828 there cometh up H5927 a nation H1471 against her, which shall make H7896 her land H776 desolate, H8047 and none shall dwell H3427 therein: they shall remove, H5110 they shall depart, H1980 both man H120 and beast. H929
4 In those days, H3117 and in that time, H6256 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall come, H935 they and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 together, H3162 going H1980 and weeping: H1058 they shall go, H3212 and seek H1245 the LORD H3068 their God. H430
5 They shall ask H7592 the way H1870 to Zion H6726 with their faces H6440 thitherward, H2008 saying, Come, H935 and let us join H3867 ourselves to the LORD H3068 in a perpetual H5769 covenant H1285 that shall not be forgotten. H7911
6 My people H5971 hath been lost H6 sheep: H6629 their shepherds H7462 have caused them to go astray, H8582 they have turned them away H7725 H7726 on the mountains: H2022 they have gone H1980 from mountain H2022 to hill, H1389 they have forgotten H7911 their restingplace. H7258
7 All that found H4672 them have devoured H398 them: and their adversaries H6862 said, H559 We offend H816 not, because they have sinned H2398 against the LORD, H3068 the habitation H5116 of justice, H6664 even the LORD, H3068 the hope H4723 of their fathers. H1
8 Remove H5110 out of the midst H8432 of Babylon, H894 and go forth H3318 H3318 out of the land H776 of the Chaldeans, H3778 and be as the he goats H6260 before H6440 the flocks. H6629
9 For, lo, I will raise H5782 and cause to come up H5927 against Babylon H894 an assembly H6951 of great H1419 nations H1471 from the north H6828 country: H776 and they shall set themselves in array H6186 against her; from thence she shall be taken: H3920 their arrows H2671 shall be as of a mighty H1368 expert man; H7919 H7921 none shall return H7725 in vain. H7387
10 And Chaldea H3778 shall be a spoil: H7998 all that spoil H7997 her shall be satisfied, H7646 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
11 Because ye were glad, H8055 because ye rejoiced, H5937 O ye destroyers H8154 of mine heritage, H5159 because ye are grown fat H6335 as the heifer H5697 at grass, H1877 H1758 and bellow H6670 as bulls; H47
12 Your mother H517 shall be sore H3966 confounded; H954 she that bare H3205 you shall be ashamed: H2659 behold, the hindermost H319 of the nations H1471 shall be a wilderness, H4057 a dry land, H6723 and a desert. H6160
13 Because of the wrath H7110 of the LORD H3068 it shall not be inhabited, H3427 but it shall be wholly desolate: H8077 every one that goeth H5674 by Babylon H894 shall be astonished, H8074 and hiss H8319 at all her plagues. H4347
14 Put yourselves in array H6186 against Babylon H894 round about: H5439 all ye that bend H1869 the bow, H7198 shoot H3034 at her, spare H2550 no arrows: H2671 for she hath sinned H2398 against the LORD. H3068
15 Shout H7321 against her round about: H5439 she hath given H5414 her hand: H3027 her foundations H803 are fallen, H5307 her walls H2346 are thrown down: H2040 for it is the vengeance H5360 of the LORD: H3068 take vengeance H5358 upon her; as she hath done, H6213 do H6213 unto her.
16 Cut off H3772 the sower H2232 from Babylon, H894 and him that handleth H8610 the sickle H4038 in the time H6256 of harvest: H7105 for fear H6440 of the oppressing H3238 sword H2719 they shall turn H6437 every one H376 to his people, H5971 and they shall flee H5127 every one H376 to his own land. H776
17 Israel H3478 is a scattered H6340 sheep; H7716 the lions H738 have driven him away: H5080 first H7223 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 hath devoured H398 him; and last H314 this Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath broken his bones. H6105
18 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Behold, I will punish H6485 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 and his land, H776 as I have punished H6485 the king H4428 of Assyria. H804
19 And I will bring H7725 Israel H3478 again H7725 to his habitation, H5116 and he shall feed H7462 on Carmel H3760 and Bashan, H1316 and his soul H5315 shall be satisfied H7646 upon mount H2022 Ephraim H669 and Gilead. H1568
20 In those days, H3117 and in that time, H6256 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 the iniquity H5771 of Israel H3478 shall be sought for, H1245 and there shall be none; and the sins H2403 of Judah, H3063 and they shall not be found: H4672 for I will pardon H5545 them whom I reserve. H7604
21 Go up H5927 against the land H776 of Merathaim, H4850 even against it, and against the inhabitants H3427 of Pekod: H6489 waste H2717 and utterly destroy H2763 after H310 them, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and do H6213 according to all that I have commanded H6680 thee.
22 A sound H6963 of battle H4421 is in the land, H776 and of great H1419 destruction. H7667
23 How is the hammer H6360 of the whole earth H776 cut asunder H1438 and broken! H7665 how is Babylon H894 become a desolation H8047 among the nations! H1471
24 I have laid a snare H3369 for thee, and thou art also taken, H3920 O Babylon, H894 and thou wast not aware: H3045 thou art found, H4672 and also caught, H8610 because thou hast striven H1624 against the LORD. H3068
25 The LORD H3068 hath opened H6605 his armoury, H214 and hath brought forth H3318 the weapons H3627 of his indignation: H2195 for this is the work H4399 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts H6635 in the land H776 of the Chaldeans. H3778
26 Come H935 against her from the utmost border, H7093 open H6605 her storehouses: H3965 cast her up H5549 as heaps, H6194 and destroy her utterly: H2763 let nothing of her be left. H7611
27 Slay H2717 all her bullocks; H6499 let them go down H3381 to the slaughter: H2874 woe H1945 unto them! for their day H3117 is come, H935 the time H6256 of their visitation. H6486
28 The voice H6963 of them that flee H5127 and escape out H6405 of the land H776 of Babylon, H894 to declare H5046 in Zion H6726 the vengeance H5360 of the LORD H3068 our God, H430 the vengeance H5360 of his temple. H1964
29 Call together H8085 the archers H7228 against Babylon: H894 all ye that bend H1869 the bow, H7198 camp H2583 against it round about; H5439 let none thereof escape: H6413 recompense H7999 her according to her work; H6467 according to all that she hath done, H6213 do H6213 unto her: for she hath been proud H2102 against the LORD, H3068 against the Holy One H6918 of Israel. H3478
30 Therefore shall her young men H970 fall H5307 in the streets, H7339 and all her men H582 of war H4421 shall be cut off H1826 in that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, H2087 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts: H6635 for thy day H3117 is come, H935 the time H6256 that I will visit H6485 thee.
32 And the most proud H2087 shall stumble H3782 and fall, H5307 and none shall raise him up: H6965 and I will kindle H3341 a fire H784 in his cities, H5892 and it shall devour H398 all round about H5439 him.
33 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 The children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 were oppressed H6231 together: H3162 and all that took them captives H7617 held them fast; H2388 they refused H3985 to let them go. H7971
34 Their Redeemer H1350 is strong; H2389 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name: H8034 he shall throughly H7378 plead H7378 their cause, H7379 that he may give rest H7280 to the land, H776 and disquiet H7264 the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon. H894
35 A sword H2719 is upon the Chaldeans, H3778 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and upon the inhabitants H3427 of Babylon, H894 and upon her princes, H8269 and upon her wise H2450 men.
36 A sword H2719 is upon the liars; H907 and they shall dote: H2973 a sword H2719 is upon her mighty men; H1368 and they shall be dismayed. H2865
37 A sword H2719 is upon their horses, H5483 and upon their chariots, H7393 and upon all the mingled people H6153 that are in the midst H8432 of her; and they shall become as women: H802 a sword H2719 is upon her treasures; H214 and they shall be robbed. H962
38 A drought H2721 is upon her waters; H4325 and they shall be dried up: H3001 for it is the land H776 of graven images, H6456 and they are mad H1984 upon their idols. H367
39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert H6728 with the wild beasts of the islands H338 shall dwell H3427 there, and the owls H1323 H3284 shall dwell H3427 therein: and it shall be no more inhabited H3427 for ever; H5331 neither shall it be dwelt H7931 in from generation H1755 to generation. H1755
40 As God H430 overthrew H4114 Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah H6017 and the neighbour H7934 cities thereof, saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 so shall no man H376 abide H3427 there, neither shall any son H1121 of man H120 dwell H1481 therein.
41 Behold, a people H5971 shall come H935 from the north, H6828 and a great H1419 nation, H1471 and many H7227 kings H4428 shall be raised up H5782 from the coasts H3411 of the earth. H776
42 They shall hold H2388 the bow H7198 and the lance: H3591 they are cruel, H394 and will not shew mercy: H7355 their voice H6963 shall roar H1993 like the sea, H3220 and they shall ride H7392 upon horses, H5483 every one put in array, H6186 like a man H376 to the battle, H4421 against thee, O daughter H1323 of Babylon. H894
43 The king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath heard H8085 the report H8088 of them, and his hands H3027 waxed feeble: H7503 anguish H6869 took hold H2388 of him, and pangs H2427 as of a woman in travail. H3205
44 Behold, he shall come up H5927 like a lion H738 from the swelling H1347 of Jordan H3383 unto the habitation H5116 of the strong: H386 but I will make H7323 them suddenly H7280 run away H7323 H7323 from her: and who is a chosen H977 man, that I may appoint H6485 over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? H3259 and who is that shepherd H7462 that will stand H5975 before H6440 me?
45 Therefore hear H8085 ye the counsel H6098 of the LORD, H3068 that he hath taken H3289 against Babylon; H894 and his purposes, H4284 that he hath purposed H2803 against the land H776 of the Chaldeans: H3778 Surely the least H6810 of the flock H6629 shall draw them out: H5498 surely he shall make their habitation H5116 desolate H8074 with them.
46 At the noise H6963 of the taking H8610 of Babylon H894 the earth H776 is moved, H7493 and the cry H2201 is heard H8085 among the nations. H1471
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Jeremiah 50
Commentary on Jeremiah 50 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 50
In this chapter, and that which follows, we have the judgment of Babylon, which is put last of Jeremiah's prophecies against the Gentiles because it was last accomplished; and when the cup of God's fury went round (ch. 25:17) the king of Sheshach, Babylon, drank last. Babylon was employed as the rod in God's hand for the chastising of all the other nations, and now at length that rod shall be thrown into the fire. The destruction of Babylon by Cyrus was foretold, long before it came to its height, by Isaiah, and now again, when it has come to its height, by Jeremiah; for, though at this time he saw that kingdom flourishing "like a green bay-tree,' yet at the same time he foresaw it withered and cut down. And as Isaiah's prophecies of the destruction of Babylon and the deliverance of Israel out of it seem designed to typify the evangelical triumphs of all believers over the powers of darkness, and the great salvation wrought out by our Lord Jesus Christ, so Jeremiah's prophecies of the same events seem designed to point at the apocalyptic triumphs of the gospel church in the latter days over the New-Testament Babylon, many passages in the Revelation being borrowed hence. The kingdom of Babylon being much larger and stronger than any of the kingdoms here prophesied against, its fall was the more considerable in itself; and, it having been more oppressive to the people of God than any of the other, the prophet is very copious upon this subject, for the comfort of the captives; and what was foretold in general often before (ch. 25:12 and 27:7) is here more particularly described, and with a great deal of prophetic heat as well as light. The terrible judgments God had in store for Babylon, and the glorious blessings he had in store for his people that were captives there, are intermixed and counterchanged in the prophecy of this chapter; for Babylon was destroyed to make way for the turning again of the captivity of God's people. Here is,
And these being set the one against the other, it is easy to say which one would choose to take one's lot with, the persecuting Babylonians, who, though now in pomp, are reserved for so great a ruin, or the persecuted Israelites, who, though now in thraldom, are reserved for so great a glory.
Jer 50:1-8
Jer 50:9-20
God is here by his prophet, as afterwards in his providence, proceeding in his controversy with Babylon. Observe,
Jer 50:21-32
Here,
Jer 50:33-46
We have in these verses,