Jeremiah 50:23 kjv
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
Jeremiah 50:23 nkjv
How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
Jeremiah 50:23 niv
How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations!
Jeremiah 50:23 esv
How the hammer of the whole earth is cut down and broken! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!
Jeremiah 50:23 nlt
Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth,
lies broken and shattered.
Babylon is desolate among the nations!
Jeremiah 50 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 50:23 | How the hammer of the whole earth is cut asunder and broken! | Judgment of Babylon |
| Jeremiah 51:7 | Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, intoxicating all the earth. | Symbolism of Babylon |
| Jeremiah 51:20 | You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces. | God using instruments of judgment |
| Isaiah 10:5 | O Assyrian, the rod of my anger; and the staff in their hands is my indignation. | God using nations as judgment rods |
| Isaiah 14:24 | The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have purposed, so shall it be… | God's sovereign purposes |
| Isaiah 45:1-3 | Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus… | God's use of Cyrus |
| Revelation 17:4 | And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold... | Babylon the Great |
| Revelation 18:2 | And he cried mightily with a great voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon… | Destruction of Babylon |
| Nahum 3:4 | Because of the many harlotries of the harlot… | Judgment on Nineveh |
| Nahum 3:7 | It shall come to pass that all who look on you will shrink from you… | Inescapable judgment |
| Psalms 75:8 | For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup… | God's cup of judgment |
| Psalms 110:5 | The Lord at your right hand will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. | Messianic judgment |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | The nature of pride |
| Proverbs 17:1 | Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of rich food with strife. | Contentment vs. strife |
| Proverbs 20:1 | Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | Effects of excess |
| Romans 9:20 | Who are you, O man, that you answer back to God? | God's sovereignty |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? | God's foolishness is wiser than men |
| Galatians 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness... | The opposite of Babylon's nature |
| Ephesians 4:27 | and give no opportunity to the devil. | Guarding against evil |
| Philippians 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Humility as opposed to pride |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves all of you with humility… | Humility before God |
| Jude 1:15 | to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds… | Final judgment |
Jeremiah 50 verses
Jeremiah 50 23 Meaning
This verse describes a powerful and terrifying display of God's judgment upon Babylon. It paints a vivid picture of their swift and forceful overthrow by a coalition of nations, referred to as "the hammer of the whole earth." The imagery emphasizes their destruction as if they were a mere vessel being shattered.
Jeremiah 50 23 Context
Jeremiah 50 and 51 represent a continuous prophecy concerning the fall of Babylon. This particular verse falls within the broader message of judgment against the Babylonian empire for its pride, idolatry, and oppressive actions against God's people. The chapter anticipates the defeat of Babylon by a coalition of nations, and this verse captures a pivotal moment of that destruction, likening Babylon to a powerful tool of war that is itself broken. The immediate context speaks of nations being roused against Babylon, indicating a large-scale military campaign. Historically, this prophecy is understood to have been fulfilled in the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Great and the Medes and Persians.
Jeremiah 50 23 Word Analysis
“How”: An interjection expressing surprise or distress, highlighting the shocking nature of the event.
“the hammer”: The Hebrew word is (pehtheesh). It signifies a large mallet or sledgehammer, symbolizing immense power and the ability to crush and destroy. This metaphor vividly portrays the tool God uses to break other nations.
“of the whole earth”: (kol ha’aretz). This phrase indicates the widespread influence and dominance Babylon exercised globally, acting as an instrument of divine wrath upon many nations.
“is cut asunder”: (higgezez). This verb means to be sawed in two, or to be divided. It suggests a violent and complete dismemberment, a breaking apart.
“and broken!”: (wa'yinnathephz). This verb implies being shattered, dispersed, or broken into pieces. It reinforces the completeness of Babylon's destruction, leaving nothing usable.
Words Group Analysis: The phrase "the hammer of the whole earth" connects to other passages where God uses instruments (like Assyria in Isaiah 10:5 or Babylon itself in Jeremiah 51:20) to execute judgment. The act of being "cut asunder and broken" speaks to the finality and utter devastation promised for nations that defy God or oppress His people, paralleling the judgment described for other empires and for the ultimate enemy, depicted in Revelation.
Jeremiah 50 23 Bonus Section
The imagery of Babylon as a "hammer" that is itself broken has been interpreted by scholars as reflecting a divine turning of the tables. Nations or empires that exalt themselves against God and His people will, in time, be judged by the very power that at one time they might have even seemed to wield on behalf of God. This concept is echoed in Jesus' parable of the tenants who killed the heir and then faced retribution (Matthew 21:33-46), showing a pattern of divine justice. The final downfall of any earthly power that oppresses God's people is a recurring theme, culminating in the ultimate defeat of spiritual Babylon in Revelation.
Jeremiah 50 23 Commentary
This verse starkly illustrates the principle that even those instruments used by God for judgment ultimately face His judgment if they become arrogant or excessive in their actions. Babylon, which had served as God's "hammer" against His people and other nations, was itself destined to be shattered. The language is highly descriptive, emphasizing the total and violent destruction of this mighty empire. It serves as a reminder that no power on earth, however great, is ultimately invincible against the judgment of the Almighty. The pride of Babylon, which had made it an effective tool, also became its undoing.