Jeremiah 50 34

Jeremiah 50:34 kjv

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:34 nkjv

Their Redeemer is strong; The LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:34 niv

Yet their Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:34 esv

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:34 nlt

But the one who redeems them is strong.
His name is the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
He will defend them
and give them rest again in Israel.
But for the people of Babylon
there will be no rest!

Jeremiah 50 verses

Jeremiah 50 34 meaning

Jeremiah 50:34 proclaims the immutable strength and justice of God on behalf of His exiled people. He identifies Himself as their powerful Kinsman-Redeemer, "the LORD of hosts," who will meticulously advocate for their cause. This divine intervention will result in peace and stability for the rest of the world, but it will bring terror, disturbance, and ruin upon Babylon, the oppressor and embodiment of worldly pride and injustice. It signifies a dramatic reversal of fortunes, a cosmic declaration of God's sovereignty over history and nations.

Jeremiah 50 34 Context

Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51 constitute a sweeping prophecy specifically directed against Babylon, the nation that destroyed Jerusalem and led Judah into exile. This lengthy oracle contrasts Babylon’s pride and cruelty with God’s unwavering covenant loyalty to Israel. Chapter 50 begins with the declaration of Babylon’s impending downfall and Judah’s release. Verse 34 is central to this message, serving as a powerful declaration of God’s personal commitment to His suffering people, promising both their liberation and a comprehensive judgment upon their oppressor, impacting both global stability and specific destruction upon Babylon. Historically, it gave hope to the exiles during a time of great despair, assuring them that Babylon's reign was not final, and God was still in control.

Jeremiah 50 34 Word analysis

• Their Redeemer (גֹּאֲלָם - go'alam):
  • Word: "Redeemer" (גֹּאֵל - go'el)
  • Significance: This is a powerful, relational term in Hebrew law and custom. The go'el was the kinsman-redeemer, typically the nearest male relative, obligated to avenge the death of a murdered kin, recover family property, or buy a relative out of slavery. It implies a deeply personal, protective, and vindicating role based on covenant relationship. Here, God explicitly assumes this role for Israel, emphasizing His intimate connection and legal right to act on their behalf against Babylon, who had, in effect, enslaved His "kinsfolk."
• is strong (חָזָק - chazaq):
  • Word: "strong" (חָזָק - chazaq)
  • Significance: Means powerful, firm, mighty, resolute. It highlights the divine capacity to execute the go'el role. God is not merely willing but also able. This directly contrasts with Babylon's perceived strength, implying that even Babylon's might is inferior to the LORD's.
• the LORD of hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - YHWH Tzeva'ot):
  • Word: "LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH) + "of hosts" (צְבָאוֹת - Tzeva'ot)
  • Significance: "YHWH" is the personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful nature. "Tzeva'ot" means "armies" or "hosts" (both heavenly and earthly). This majestic title underscores God's absolute sovereignty and omnipotence as the commander of all celestial and earthly forces. It's a title that dismisses any rival power (like Babylon's military or its gods) and asserts that the Creator of the universe is actively engaged in His people's redemption.
• he will surely plead their case (רִיב יָרִיב - riv yariv):
  • Word: "surely plead" (רִיב יָרִיב - riv yariv)
  • Significance: The verb riv means to contend, strive, dispute, or go to court. The repetition (infinitive absolute before the finite verb) emphatically assures a vigorous, decisive, and successful legal contention. God is not merely watching; He will actively litigate and ensure justice for His people in the divine court. This is a promise of divine legal vindication.
• and give rest (יַרְגִּיעַ - yargia):
  • Word: "give rest" (רָגַע - raga')
  • Significance: Means to set at rest, give peace, settle down. It refers to a cessation of turmoil, providing tranquility and stability. It evokes the Sabbath rest, a time of peace and restoration. This is the desired outcome for God's people and, more broadly, for creation that groans under the weight of human sin and injustice.
• to the earth (אֶת־הָאָרֶץ - et-ha'aretz):
  • Word: "the earth" (ha'aretz)
  • Significance: Implies not just the land of Judah, but a broader, universal scope. God’s act of justice against Babylon has global ramifications, leading to a period of universal peace and relief from the oppression that Babylon symbolized for the entire world.
• but unrest (וְהִרְגִּיז - vehirgiz):
  • Word: "unrest" (רָגַז - ragaz)
  • Significance: The direct opposite of "rest" (raga') (though the root sounds similar, their meanings are antonymic in this context, especially in Hiphil - to stir up, trouble, provoke, agitate). This deliberate wordplay heightens the contrast: God will bring peace to the world but trouble to Babylon.
• to the inhabitants of Babylon (אֶת־יֹשְׁבֵי בָבֶל - et-yoshvei Babel):
  • Word: "inhabitants of Babylon"
  • Significance: Pinpoints the specific recipients of God’s judgment. This isn't abstract but directly affects those who built and lived by Babylon's oppressive system.

• Word-group analysis:
• "Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name": This pairing directly attributes immense power and covenant loyalty to God. It confronts Babylon's gods as weak and impotent, asserting YHWH's absolute, active authority over all. The double emphasis on "Redeemer" and "LORD of hosts" paints a picture of a God who is both intimately concerned and cosmically powerful.
• "he will surely plead their case and give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon": This is a direct statement of divine, reciprocal justice. God's vindication of His people (pleading their case) simultaneously brings peace to the larger world and turmoil to their oppressors. It reveals a God who acts to restore cosmic order, turning the tables on those who created chaos. The strong parallelism and contrast highlight the binary outcomes of divine judgment: liberation for the oppressed, destruction for the oppressor.

Jeremiah 50 34 Bonus section

The strong imagery of "Redeemer" directly counters the notion that Israel's exile signified God's defeat or weakness in comparison to Babylonian deities like Marduk. The text deliberately emphasizes God's strength and majestic name, "LORD of hosts," as an overt polemic against Babylonian polytheism and the perceived power of its gods and empire. God’s active "pleading their case" underscores the personal nature of divine justice – He doesn't just allow judgment; He actively instigates and executes it. This principle transcends literal Babylon, representing God’s ultimate triumph over all systems of injustice and oppression, pointing forward to Revelation's "Babylon the Great" which faces a similar divine wrath. This prophecy guarantees that while God might use nations for His purposes, He holds them accountable, and no oppressor will ultimately escape His judgment.

Jeremiah 50 34 Commentary

Jeremiah 50:34 stands as a profound theological declaration: God's covenant loyalty to His people drives His ultimate and unstoppable justice against their oppressors. He assumes the role of a "strong Redeemer," acting not out of arbitrary power, but as a righteous Kinsman with an inherent right and duty to defend and deliver. His title, "LORD of hosts," affirms His sovereign command over all creation, dwarfing Babylon’s formidable military and cultural might. The double effect of His judgment – restorative rest for the entire earth and disturbing unrest for Babylon – encapsulates the comprehensive nature of divine justice. This verse offers hope to the downtrodden, assurance that God actively intervenes in human history, not only to free His people but to establish global equilibrium by overturning unrighteous dominion. It also serves as a warning against any nation or system that proudly defies God's law and oppresses His creation, promising their inevitable downfall.