Jeremiah 50 1

Jeremiah 50:1 kjv

The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 50:1 nkjv

The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 50:1 niv

This is the word the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians:

Jeremiah 50:1 esv

The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:

Jeremiah 50:1 nlt

The LORD gave Jeremiah the prophet this message concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 50 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jeremiah 50:1"The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, by Jeremiah the prophet."Prophetic declaration
Isaiah 13:1"The oracle concerning Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw."Oracle against Babylon
Isaiah 47:1"Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground; no throne for you, O daughter of the Chaldeans!"Humiliation of Babylon
Jeremiah 21:1-2"The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the son of Masaeh, the priest, saying, 'Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us...'"Prophecy concerning Babylon
Jeremiah 25:12"But when seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, declares the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and I will make it desolate forever."Seventy years of judgment
Jeremiah 27:6-7"Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant... And all nations shall serve him and his son and his son's son, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make tributaries of him."Nebuchadnezzar as God's servant
Revelation 18:2"He cried out with a mighty voice, saying, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every unclean spirit, a haunt of every unclean and hateful bird.'"Fall of mystical Babylon
Luke 10:18"He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven.'"Satan's fall
1 Peter 5:5"...clothe yourselves with humility, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"God opposes the proud
Isaiah 14:12-15"How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit."Pride and fall
Jeremiah 50:44"Behold, one shall come up like a lion from the bush opposite the inhabited park, and I will suddenly summon them away from it. And I will appoint over it him who is watching, for who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?'"Divine power and judgment
Jeremiah 50:45"Therefore, hear the plan that the LORD has made against Babylon, and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: surely the sheep of his pasture shall be snatched away."God's plan against Babylon
Psalm 75:6-8"For promotion comes not from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red, from the mixture of the wine, and he pours from this; surely all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs."God's sovereignty in judgment
Revelation 14:8"Another angel, a second one, followed, saying, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her passionate sin.'"Fall of spiritual Babylon
Jeremiah 49:26"So her young men shall fall in her streets, and all her soldiers shall be cut off on that day, declares the LORD of hosts."Judgment on soldiers
Jeremiah 51:25"Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, declares the LORD, against you that corrupt the whole earth. I will stretch out my hand against you and roll you down from your crags, and make you a burnt-out mountain."Destruction of Babylon
2 Kings 23:29"In Josiah's eighteenth year the king of Egypt marched against the king of Assyria to the Euphrates, and King Josiah went to meet him."Historical context
2 Chronicles 35:20"After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt marched up against Assyria to Carchemish on the Euphrates and Josiah went out to meet him."Josiah's death
Zechariah 5:11"And he said to me, 'To build a house for her in the land of Shinar, and when it is prepared, to set her down on her own pedestal.'"Future of Babylon
Ezekiel 26:7"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the king of kings, with horses and with chariots and with cavalry, and with a host of many nations."Nebuchadnezzar's invasion

Jeremiah 50 verses

Jeremiah 50 1 Meaning

This verse is the beginning of a prophecy concerning the judgment and future restoration of Babylon and its people. It declares the coming doom upon Babylon, symbolizing its downfall as a divine act. The imagery suggests the cessation of divine favor and the declaration of judgment against a prominent, often proud, nation or system that opposes God's purposes.

Jeremiah 50 1 Context

Jeremiah 50 begins a major prophetic section, chapters 50-51, that focuses entirely on the impending judgment of Babylon. This oracle comes at a time when Babylon was a dominant, oppressive superpower, a formidable empire that had conquered Judah and exiled many of its people. Jeremiah had prophesied earlier about the judgment of various nations, including Babylon, often in more direct terms. This chapter, however, takes a broader and more symbolic view of Babylon's downfall, not just as a historical event but also as an illustration of ultimate divine justice against wickedness and idolatry. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with the Judean exiles in Babylon, offering them a glimmer of hope for their own deliverance as they saw their oppressor destined for destruction.

Jeremiah 50 1 Word Analysis

  • The word (דָּבָר - davar): A foundational term, signifying speech, matter, or event. Here, it marks the formal commencement of a divine utterance, an important declaration from God.
  • that the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and authority in this prophecy.
  • spoke (דִּבֶּר - dibber): In the Hiphil (causative) stem, meaning "He caused to speak" or "He spoke." This highlights that the message is directly from God.
  • concerning (עַל - al): A preposition indicating the subject or target of the prophecy – Babylon.
  • Babylon (בָּבֶל - Babel): The powerful empire and city that exerted significant political and military influence, often characterized by its pride, idolatry, and oppressive rule over other nations, including Israel. Its name is associated with confusion from the Tower of Babel (Gen 11).
  • by Jeremiah (בְּיַד־יִרְמְיָה - bĕyad-Yirmĕyah): "By the hand of Jeremiah." This indicates Jeremiah is the human instrument through whom God's word is delivered.
  • the prophet (הַנָּבִיא - hannaví’): The designation of Jeremiah's role as God's messenger.

Word Group Analysis

  • "The word that the LORD spoke": This is a standard prophetic formula introducing divine revelation, establishing the authority and source of the message.
  • "concerning Babylon": Clearly identifies the primary subject of this prophecy – the great Mesopotamian empire.
  • "by Jeremiah the prophet": Assigns authorship and underscores the human channel of divine communication.

Jeremiah 50 1 Bonus Section

The prophecy against Babylon in Jeremiah 50-51 is one of the most extensive single-nation oracles in the Old Testament. Babylon's defeat at the hands of Cyrus the Great in 539 BC fulfilled many aspects of these prophecies. However, many scholars interpret parts of this oracle, particularly the vivid descriptions of utter desolation and final destruction, as having a dual fulfillment. It is often seen as pointing beyond the historical fall of the literal city of Babylon to a symbolic representation of anti-God powers or systems throughout history, culminating in the ultimate judgment of "Babylon the Great" in the book of Revelation. The concept of Babylon as a symbol of pride, corruption, and opposition to God's people connects back to the very first mention of its name in Genesis 11, with the Tower of Babel signifying human arrogance and rebellion.

Jeremiah 50 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 50:1 serves as the introduction to an extended oracle detailing the comprehensive judgment and eventual devastation of Babylon. This prophecy is significant not only for its historical implications regarding the fall of the Babylonian Empire but also for its theological implications concerning God's justice against nations that embody pride and opposition to His purposes. The mention of "Babylon" also carries symbolic weight in biblical eschatology, representing systems of worldly power, idolatry, and rebellion against God, as seen in later prophetic visions, particularly in the New Testament. The prophecy asserts that Babylon, despite its might, is under divine decree for judgment, initiating a powerful denunciation of its perceived invincibility and ultimate fallibility. This passage sets the stage for a detailed account of its destruction, which includes divine retribution for its actions against God's people and the establishment of God's sovereign control over all earthly powers.