Jeremiah 50 28

Jeremiah 50:28 kjv

The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.

Jeremiah 50:28 nkjv

The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon Declares in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, The vengeance of His temple.

Jeremiah 50:28 niv

Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon declaring in Zion how the LORD our God has taken vengeance, vengeance for his temple.

Jeremiah 50:28 esv

"A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple.

Jeremiah 50:28 nlt

Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon,
as they tell in Jerusalem
how the LORD our God has taken vengeance
against those who destroyed his Temple.

Jeremiah 50 verses

Jeremiah 50 28 meaning

Jeremiah 50:28 declares that a remnant of survivors, those who have fled and escaped the land of Babylon, will return to Zion (Jerusalem). Their purpose is to loudly proclaim God’s divine judgment, or "vengeance," upon Babylon. This vengeance is not merely for the suffering inflicted upon the people of Judah, but specifically emphasizes the retribution for the destruction and defilement of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. It serves as a powerful testimony to God's justice and sovereignty, ensuring that His people and His holy place are ultimately vindicated.

Jeremiah 50 28 Context

Jeremiah 50:28 is situated within the "Burden of Babylon," a long prophetic oracle spanning Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, considered the longest single prophecy against any nation in the Bible. This section prophesies the complete destruction of Babylon as a divine judgment for its excessive cruelty towards Judah and its arrogance against the Lord. Following the pronouncement of Babylon's utter desolation, this particular verse pivots to declare that some survivors of Judah, those delivered from Babylon's fall, will serve as heralds of God's justice. They will carry the news of God's "vengeance" – specifically noting the retribution for the defilement and destruction of the Temple – back to Jerusalem (Zion), confirming God’s unwavering faithfulness to His covenant and His holy dwelling place. The historical context is the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest of Judah in 586 BC, where the Temple was destroyed and the people exiled. The prophecy anticipates a reversal of fortune, where the oppressor faces destruction and the oppressed are vindicated.

Jeremiah 50 28 Word analysis

• The voice of them: (Hebrew: קוֹל qôl - sound, voice, cry). This is not just a murmur but a prominent sound, a declaration, signifying an authoritative proclamation or testimony. It emphasizes the active role of the survivors in bearing witness to God's acts.
• that flee and escape: (Hebrew: פָּלִיט וּמִלָּט palîṭ ûmillāṭ - fugitive and escapee). These two words are a powerful idiom for a surviving remnant, often implying a desperate, miraculous deliverance from extreme danger. It underscores the severity of the situation they endured and God's sovereign hand in their preservation. This remnant serves as proof of God's mercy amidst judgment.
• out of the land of Babylon: (Hebrew: מֵאֶרֶץ בָּבֶל mēʾereṣ bāḇel - from the land of Babel). This specifies the origin of the survivors and the setting of God's judgment. "Babylon" represents the mighty oppressor and the center of pagan power that challenged God. The escape from it highlights its coming downfall and God's superior power.
• to declare: (Hebrew: לְהַגִּיד lehaggîḏ - to tell, to announce, to report). The act is deliberate and public. The survivors are not merely escaping; they have a divine mission to bear witness. Their testimony is crucial for validating God's words spoken through His prophets.
• in Zion: (Hebrew: בְּצִיּוֹן beṣṣîyôn - in Zion). Zion, another name for Jerusalem, is not just a geographical location but a theological concept representing God's dwelling place, the spiritual heart of Israel, and the ultimate recipient of God's favor and restoration. The news is to be brought to the heart of God's people.
• the vengeance of the LORD our God: (Hebrew: נִקְמַת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ niqmaṯ Yahweh ʾelōhênû - vengeance of Yahweh our God). "Vengeance" (niqmâ) in biblical terms is God's righteous retribution, the establishment of divine justice, not human malice. It's an act to set things right and uphold the moral order. "LORD our God" (Yahweh Eloheinu) emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel and His ultimate sovereignty. It reassures Israel that their God, the God who brought them out of Egypt, is actively working on their behalf.
• the vengeance of his temple: (Hebrew: נִקְמַת הֵיכָלוֹ niqmaṯ hêḵālô - vengeance of His temple). This phrase narrows the focus and intensifies the reason for God's action. The Temple was not just a building; it was God's dwelling place, symbolizing His presence and honor. Its destruction and desecration by Babylon (2 Ki 25:9, Ps 79:1) was a direct affront to God Himself, requiring divine intervention and recompense.

• "The voice of them that flee and escape": This phrase highlights divine protection and the active role of the rescued remnant. It implies a narrative that needs to be shared, a living testimony. They are not merely passive beneficiaries but active agents in declaring God's work.
• "to declare in Zion": This establishes a direct link between God's action in Babylon and its ultimate impact on Jerusalem. It signifies restoration of truth and justice in the very place that suffered. Zion becomes the recipient of glorious news after facing immense suffering.
• "the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple": This parallelism strongly links God's justice to His identity as Israel's covenant God and emphasizes the profound sacrilege of destroying His sanctuary. The double mention of "vengeance" intensifies the declaration, signaling a profound and unavoidable divine retribution directly connected to God's honor and the sanctity of His dwelling. The repetition makes it emphatic and unmistakable. This serves as a strong polemic against Babylonian deities, who were unable to protect Babylon from the one true God who was zealous for His holy name and Temple.

Jeremiah 50 28 Bonus section

The "vengeance" in this verse should be understood as an aspect of God's justice, rather than human retribution or malice. It's the bringing of divine reckoning for deeds done, a rebalancing of the scales of justice according to God's perfect moral standard. For the original audience, hearing that God's vengeance specifically targeted the desecration of the Temple would have been incredibly significant. The Temple was not just bricks and mortar; it was the focal point of their spiritual identity, the place where God's Name dwelt. Its destruction implied God's apparent absence or defeat. This prophecy, however, reasserts God's active presence and His readiness to vindicate His own honor. This also has future, eschatological resonance. The pattern of Babylon's fall and the faithful's return, proclaiming God's justice in Zion, anticipates the ultimate fall of all oppressive worldly powers (symbolized as "Babylon" in Rev 18) and the triumph of God's people in the New Jerusalem. The very escape of the remnant highlights God's protective hand, distinguishing His people from the world system destined for destruction.

Jeremiah 50 28 Commentary

Jeremiah 50:28 is a concise declaration of triumph and divine justice following immense devastation. It asserts God’s active engagement in the affairs of nations, demonstrating that His judgment against Babylon is a response to the profound injustices and hubris displayed. The return of a rescued remnant is central, underscoring God’s faithfulness to His covenant people, even through exile. Their mandate to "declare in Zion" is not merely about conveying information, but about public worship and proclamation that validates prophetic truth and restores hope to a despondent nation. The specific mention of "the vengeance of his temple" elevates the crime against Israel to an offense against God's own holiness and presence. This signifies that God is zealous for His glory and will not permit His sanctuary to remain profaned without exacting righteous retribution. It is a powerful affirmation that ultimate victory and justice belong to the Lord, not to the empires of man, culminating in a celebration of God’s sovereignty over human tyranny and desecration.