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The Destruction of Babylon
Jeremiah 50:21–46 is a prophecy announcing Babylon’s downfall. The passage uses strong judgement language to show that Babylon will be brought low, while Yahweh acts against pride, oppression, and idolatry.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
These verses speak about Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans. Yahweh announces attack, ruin, and fear, and the passage explains that Israel and Judah have been held fast in oppression. It presents Babylon’s fall as Yahweh’s purposeful judgement and his action for his people.
Jeremiah 50:21–46Main takeaway
This prophecy teaches that Yahweh stands against proud oppression and carries out his purpose against Babylon.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Babylon the hammer is brokenThe prophecy begins with commands to attack Babylon’s land and destroy it as Yahweh has commanded.
Explanation
The prophecy begins with commands to attack Babylon’s land and destroy it as Yahweh has commanded. Battle and destruction fill the land. Babylon, once called the hammer of the whole earth, is itself broken. Yahweh says Babylon has been caught because it fought against him, and this judgement is his work in the land of the Chaldeans.
02Pride brings Babylon lowThe attack is then described in direct commands. Babylon’s storehouses are opened, heaps are made, and nothing is to be left.
Explanation
The attack is then described in direct commands. Babylon’s storehouses are opened, heaps are made, and nothing is to be left. Its day has come, called the time of visitation. Fugitives will announce in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh for his temple. Babylon is to be repaid according to its work because it has been proud against Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel.
03The oppressed have a strong RedeemerThe passage explains that Israel and Judah are oppressed together, and their captors refuse to let them go.
Explanation
The passage explains that Israel and Judah are oppressed together, and their captors refuse to let them go. Yet their Redeemer is strong, and Yahweh of Armies will plead their cause. Then judgement reaches Babylon’s princes, wise men, mighty men, treasures, waters, and idols. Its future is pictured as desolate and uninhabited.
04Yahweh’s counsel will standA people from the north comes armed for battle against Babylon. The king of Babylon hears and becomes feeble with anguish.
Explanation
A people from the north comes armed for battle against Babylon. The king of Babylon hears and becomes feeble with anguish. The enemy is compared to a lion coming suddenly, but the central point is Yahweh’s authority: no one can stand before him or overrule his timing. His purpose against Babylon will leave it desolate, and its fall will be heard among the nations.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons for Babylon’s judgement are stated in this passage?
Look for the passage’s own reasons: Babylon fought against Yahweh, acted proudly against him, held Israel and Judah fast, and was a land of engraved images.
02How does the prophecy connect Babylon’s fall with the situation of Israel and Judah?
Notice that Israel and Judah are described as oppressed captives, and then Yahweh is called their strong Redeemer who will plead their cause.
03What do the final verses show about Yahweh’s authority over Babylon’s future?
Follow the movement from the northern army and the king’s fear to Yahweh’s questions and his declared counsel against Babylon.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 50:21–46
21“Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and utterly destroy after them,” says Yahweh, “and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
23How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
24I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren’t aware. You are found, and also caught, because you have fought against Yahweh.
25Yahweh has opened his armory, and has brought out the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
26Come against her from the farthest border. Open her storehouses. Cast her up as heaps. Destroy her utterly. Let nothing of her be left.
27Kill all her bulls. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation.
28Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God, the vengeance of his temple.
29“Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp against her all around. Let none of it escape. Pay her back according to her work. According to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against Yahweh, against the Holy One of Israel.
30Therefore her young men will fall in her streets. All her men of war will be brought to silence in that day,” says Yahweh.
31“Behold, I am against you, you proud one,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies; “for your day has come, the time that I will visit you.
32The proud one will stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up. I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all who are around him.”
33Yahweh of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse to let them go.
34Their Redeemer is strong. Yahweh of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35“A sword is on the Chaldeans,” says Yahweh, “and on the inhabitants of Babylon, on her princes, and on her wise men.
36A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.
37A sword is on their horses, on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her; and they will become as women. A sword is on her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.
39Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation.
40As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says Yahweh, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
41“Behold, a people comes from the north. A great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
42They take up bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Babylon.
43The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him, pains as of a woman in labor.
44Behold, the enemy will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it. Whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it, for who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me?”
45Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they will drag them away, even the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
46The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard among the nations.