Jeremiah 50 21

Jeremiah 50:21 kjv

Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

Jeremiah 50:21 nkjv

"Go up against the land of Merathaim, against it, And against the inhabitants of Pekod. Waste and utterly destroy them," says the LORD, "And do according to all that I have commanded you.

Jeremiah 50:21 niv

"Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them," declares the LORD. "Do everything I have commanded you.

Jeremiah 50:21 esv

"Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill, and devote them to destruction, declares the LORD, and do all that I have commanded you.

Jeremiah 50:21 nlt

"Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim
and against the people of Pekod.
Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them,
as I have commanded you," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 50 verses

Jeremiah 50 21 meaning

Jeremiah 50:21 is a divine directive, a command from the Lord, Yahweh, instructing an unnamed force (prophetically identified as the Medes and Persians) to attack and utterly destroy the land and inhabitants of Babylon, referred to by the symbolic names Merathaim and Pekod. This declaration underscores the certainty of God's judgment upon Babylon for its actions against His people and its arrogance, emphasizing total desolation and the absolute fulfillment of His sovereign command. It signifies the end of Babylon's oppressive power and the beginning of restoration for Israel.

Jeremiah 50 21 Context

Jeremiah 50 is part of a larger prophetic oracle (chapters 46-51) concerning judgment on foreign nations, with chapters 50-51 specifically directed against Babylon. Historically, at the time of this prophecy (likely delivered sometime after Nebuchadnezzar's rise to power, around the early 6th century BC), Babylon was at the height of its imperial strength, having destroyed Jerusalem and exiled Judah. This prophecy stands in stark contrast to Babylon's apparent invincibility, foretelling its complete downfall. The prophet uses strong, evocative language, painting a vivid picture of Babylon's destruction as a just retribution for its pride, idolatry, and excessive cruelty towards God's people. The chapter also promises Israel's return and restoration. Jeremiah 50:21 specifically commands the instruments of God's wrath to invade and desolate Babylon, represented by the symbolic, somewhat mocking names of Merathaim and Pekod, serving as both a historical prophecy and a theological statement about divine sovereignty over nations.

Jeremiah 50 21 Word analysis

• "Go up": The Hebrew verb is ‘ālāh (עלה), meaning to ascend, to go up. In a military context, it signifies advancing or attacking, often suggesting a superior or dominant movement, or moving into enemy territory. It highlights the aggressive posture expected of the invading force.
• "against": The preposition ‘al (עַל), here meaning "against" or "upon," indicates hostile action towards a target.
• "the land of Merathaim":
  • "Merathaim": Hebrew Merāthayim (מְרָתַיִם). This is a dual form, meaning "double rebellion" or "doubly bitter/bitterness." It is widely understood as a cryptic, derogatory name for Babylon, a play on Naharayim (Mesopotamia, "between the rivers"), perhaps twisting the geographical name into a theological one. This name reflects Babylon's intense and persistent rebellion against God's ways and its cruel bitterness towards Israel, justifying its severe judgment. It acts as a theological indictment, branding Babylon with its transgressions.
• "and against the inhabitants of Pekod":
  • "Pekod": Hebrew Pəqōd (פְקוֹד). This term means "visitation," "punishment," "appointment," or "muster/oversee." It could be a play on the name of an actual tribal region within Babylonia (like Puqudu in Akkadian texts, east of the Tigris). However, in this prophetic context, it's more likely a symbolic designation, indicating that Babylon is marked for divine "visitation" or "punishment." God will attend to their evil and appoint their destruction. It signifies the very destiny appointed for them.
• "Lay waste": Hebrew haḥărēv (הַחֲרֵב), the Hiphil imperative of ḥārav (חָרַב). It means to make desolate, destroy, devastate, dry up. It denotes a thorough and widespread destruction, reducing the land to ruins.
• "and utterly destroy them":
  • Hebrew hishmâdêd ‘ăḥărêhèm (וְהַשְׁמֵד אַחֲרֵיהֶם).
  • "utterly destroy": From shāmād (שׁמד), the Hiphil imperative, meaning to exterminate, annihilate, destroy completely. This is a very strong word, often used for divine judgment or the extermination of enemies, sometimes carrying connotations similar to cherem (devotion to destruction) in its totality. It emphasizes no remnant should be left.
  • "them": The suffix refers to the land of Merathaim and the inhabitants of Pekod, indicating that both the territory and the people within it are targeted for annihilation.
• "declares the LORD": Hebrew nə’um YHWH (נְאֻם־יְהוָה). This is a formal, authoritative divine utterance, a prophetic formula that validates the preceding words as God's own, giving them ultimate certainty, power, and finality. It acts as a divine seal, ensuring the command will be fulfilled.
• "and do everything I have commanded you": Hebrew waʿaśû kᵉkol ’ăsher-tsivvîthî ’ethkem (וַעֲשׂוּ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם). This imperative re-emphasizes the divine authority and the completeness required of the executor of the judgment. It's a comprehensive instruction, signifying that the agents of destruction are not to hold back but to fully execute God's detailed plan, without compromise or mercy, just as He previously commanded Babylon to execute judgment upon Judah (Jer 25:9). It underscores God's sovereignty, where even destructive nations serve as His instruments.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the inhabitants of Pekod.": This phrase establishes the specific target and the initial aggressive action. The choice of symbolic names emphasizes not only the geographical location (Babylon) but also the divine justification for its destruction—its nature as "double rebellion" and its destination for "punishment." It signifies that the attack is divinely sanctioned and purposed.
• "Lay waste and utterly destroy them,": This command highlights the severity and completeness of the impending judgment. It's an instruction for total devastation, encompassing both physical destruction of the land and the complete annihilation of its people. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of "devotion to destruction" (herem), reserved for particularly wicked and rebellious nations or those actively opposing God's plan.
• "declares the LORD, and do everything I have commanded you.": This concluding affirmation powerfully underscores divine sovereignty and prophetic certainty. "Declares the LORD" removes any doubt about the origin and authority of the command. The instruction to "do everything I have commanded you" assures that the destruction will be precisely as detailed by God, with no aspect overlooked or unfulfilled, reinforcing His ultimate control over human history and nations.

Jeremiah 50 21 Bonus section

This prophecy of Babylon's downfall serves as a paradigm for God's judgment against all oppressive powers throughout history, culminating in the eschatological "Babylon the Great" in the Book of Revelation. Just as ancient Babylon exemplified ultimate human arrogance and opposition to God, its destruction symbolizes the ultimate triumph of God's justice over all evil, eventually leading to the liberation and restoration of His people. The "double rebellion" implied by Merathaim speaks to the escalating nature of human sin and defiance that invites such severe divine intervention. The concept of God using foreign nations as His instruments, only for those instruments themselves to face judgment for their own wickedness and exceeding their divine mandate, is a recurring theme throughout prophetic literature (e.g., Assyria in Isaiah 10). It highlights the delicate balance between divine appointment and human accountability.

Jeremiah 50 21 Commentary

Jeremiah 50:21 is a stark and resolute declaration of divine judgment against Babylon, serving as a powerful demonstration of God's sovereignty over history and nations. The very choice of the names "Merathaim" (double rebellion/bitterness) and "Pekod" (visitation/punishment) is not merely geographical but intensely theological. These are prophetic nicknames that encapsulate Babylon's moral offense—its consistent opposition to God—and its destined fate—a comprehensive divine reckoning. God uses a destructive power, historically identified as the Medes and Persians under Cyrus, as His chosen instrument to execute this judgment. This act mirrors His earlier use of Babylon to punish Judah, creating a significant theological reversal: the oppressor is now oppressed.

The command "Lay waste and utterly destroy them" reflects the gravity of Babylon's sin—pride, idolatry, and unmerciful treatment of God's people, going beyond the scope of their divine commission (Isa 47:6). Such total destruction (herem) underscores that God's justice demands complete eradication of wickedness. This verse promises not just military defeat but total desolation, a judgment affirmed by the authoritative "declares the LORD," leaving no room for doubt about its certainty. The final clause, "and do everything I have commanded you," serves as a divine warrant, ensuring the completeness of the judgment and affirming that the executing power is merely an agent carrying out God's detailed instructions, highlighting that even human empires ultimately serve the divine purpose. This prophecy offers hope and vindication for the exiled Israelites, knowing that their captor would face proportionate justice from their sovereign God.