Jeremiah 50:38 kjv
A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
Jeremiah 50:38 nkjv
A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images, And they are insane with their idols.
Jeremiah 50:38 niv
A drought on her waters! They will dry up. For it is a land of idols, idols that will go mad with terror.
Jeremiah 50:38 esv
A drought against her waters, that they may be dried up! For it is a land of images, and they are mad over idols.
Jeremiah 50:38 nlt
A drought will strike her water supply,
causing it to dry up.
And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols,
and the people are madly in love with them.
Jeremiah 50 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 51:36 | "Therefore thus says the LORD; Behold, I will plead your... | God's judgment on Babylon |
| Isaiah 13:19-22 | "Babylon, the glory of kingdoms... shall be like Sodom..." | Destruction of Babylon |
| Isaiah 47:1-15 | "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Baby..." | God's judgment on Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50:45 | "Behold, a people from the north shall come; and a great na..." | Invasion of Babylon |
| Jeremiah 51:63 | "And it shall be, when you make an end of reading this bo..." | Symbolism of the scroll |
| Revelation 17:5 | "And on her forehead was written a name, Mystery, Babylo..." | Symbolism of Babylon in Revelation |
| Revelation 18:2 | "And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, Babylo..." | Fall of Babylon |
| Revelation 18:21 | "Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millston..." | Final judgment on Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50:11 | "Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, O you who s..." | Babylon's exultation turned to shame |
| Jeremiah 50:29 | "Call together the archers against Babylon, all them that..." | Preparation for Babylon's fall |
| Jeremiah 51:31 | "One messenger shall run to meet another, and one messenge..." | News of Babylon's destruction |
| Psalm 137:8 | "O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy sha..." | Babylon's impending destruction |
| Nahum 2:8 | "But Nineveh was like a pool of water from the days of her..." | Parallel judgment on Nineveh |
| Jeremiah 25:12 | "And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accom..." | Period of Babylonian captivity |
| Jeremiah 51:13 | "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in tres..." | Babylon's wealth and location |
| Exodus 7:20 | "And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded; and he..." | Waters turned to blood as judgment |
| Revelation 16:4 | "And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers ..." | Rivers and springs turned to blood |
| Zechariah 1:15 | "And I am very hotly displeased with the nations that are..." | God's anger against oppressing nations |
| Jeremiah 50:38 | "Their waters shall be dried up, and their land shall be dr..." | Drying up of Babylon's power |
| Daniel 4:30 | "The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, tha..." | Nebuchadnezzar's pride |
Jeremiah 50 verses
Jeremiah 50 38 Meaning
The verse declares that the waters of Babylon, representing its powerful forces and vast empire, will dry up. This signifies the complete downfall and utter devastation of Babylon. It is a prophetic judgment foretelling the end of its might and influence.
Jeremiah 50 38 Context
Jeremiah 50 is part of a larger prophecy concerning the judgment of Babylon. This chapter and the one following describe the impending destruction of this powerful empire, which had significantly oppressed and exiled God's people, Israel. Babylon was a formidable force, known for its sophisticated irrigation systems, including canals and the Euphrates River that ran through it, which were vital to its existence and prosperity. The verse "Their waters shall be dried up, and their land shall be dry" is a powerful metaphor for this complete devastation, symbolizing the loss of sustenance, defense, and life itself for the city and its inhabitants. The judgment is portrayed as absolute and irreversible.
Jeremiah 50 38 Word Analysis
- Their: (Hebrew: their/its) - Refers to Babylon and its dominion.
- waters: (Hebrew: mayim) - Literally "waters." In this context, it likely refers to the literal waters of the Euphrates River and the extensive canal system that supported Babylon, but more significantly, it symbolizes Babylon's vast power, its armies, its influence, and the very source of its life and sustenance. The drying up represents a complete removal of these vital elements.
- shall be dried up: (Hebrew: yivashu) - "Will dry up," "become dry." Indicates a process of desiccation and removal. It signifies the cessation of the flow of power and resources.
- and: (Hebrew: waw) - Conjunction connecting two parallel outcomes of judgment.
- their: (Hebrew: their/its) - Again, referring to Babylon.
- land: (Hebrew: erets) - Primarily means "land" or "earth," but can also refer to a territory or realm. Here, it signifies the land of Babylon, its fertile territory, and by extension, its entire kingdom and domain.
- shall be dry: (Hebrew: yivash - a root form or related form of yivashu) - "Will become dry." Emphasizes the barrenness and complete depletion that will result from the judgment. It implies a desolate state where life cannot be sustained.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Their waters shall be dried up": This phrase evokes a powerful image of ecological and strategic desolation. The historical significance of Babylon's relationship with water (the Euphrates) and its engineering prowess in controlling water for agriculture and defense makes this imagery particularly poignant. The drying up means their military might (rivers) and economic/life-giving resources will vanish.
- "and their land shall be dry": This connects the fate of the water system to the land itself. When the waters disappear, the land becomes infertile, barren, and unable to support life or crops. This illustrates the total and comprehensive destruction, leaving no remnants of prosperity or survival.
Jeremiah 50 38 Bonus Section
This verse, alongside others in Jeremiah 50 and 51, illustrates the concept of divine retribution. Just as God provided waters for Israel when they were in the desert (Exodus 17:6), He can also cause waters to dry up as a form of judgment. The imagery of drying waters and barren land is consistent with other prophecies against enemy nations, like Nineveh (Nahum 2:8), emphasizing that such judgments are comprehensive and irreversible. The prophecy here also highlights that the prosperity and "many waters" mentioned in Jeremiah 51:13, which characterized Babylon's abundant resources, will ultimately be removed by God. This foreshadows the complete end of Babylon's era of dominance, which eventually occurred through the Medes and Persians.
Jeremiah 50 38 Commentary
Jeremiah 50:38 paints a vivid picture of Babylon's impending ruin. The "waters" symbolize not just the physical river and canals that sustained Babylon, but also its imperial power, economic strength, and the very lifeblood of its dominion. The "drying up" signifies a complete evaporation of this power and vitality. Similarly, the "land" becoming "dry" represents the ensuing barrenness and desolation that will befall the conquered territory. This is a prophecy of total judgment, leaving nothing behind but dust and emptiness. It is a testament to God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to bring down even the most powerful empires when they turn from Him or oppress His people.