Jeremiah 50:39 kjv
Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
Jeremiah 50:39 nkjv
"Therefore the wild desert beasts shall dwell there with the jackals, And the ostriches shall dwell in it. It shall be inhabited no more forever, Nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
Jeremiah 50:39 niv
"So desert creatures and hyenas will live there, and there the owl will dwell. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.
Jeremiah 50:39 esv
"Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations.
Jeremiah 50:39 nlt
"Soon Babylon will be inhabited by desert animals and hyenas.
It will be a home for owls.
Never again will people live there;
it will lie desolate forever.
Jeremiah 50 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 49:33 | And Babylon shall become a desolation, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant. | Prophecy of Babylon's destruction |
| Isaiah 13:22 | Wild animals shall live in it, and the houses shall be full of screaming, and ostriches shall inhabit it, and wild demons shall dance there. | Describing Babylonian desolation |
| Isaiah 14:23 | I will make Babylon a possession of herons and a pool of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, declares the LORD of hosts. | Further imagery of Babylonian ruin |
| Jeremiah 50:3 | “For out of his north a nation comes against him; it shall make his land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; they shall flee and be scattered, both man and beast.” | General prophecy of Babylonian demise |
| Jeremiah 50:9 | For behold, I will stir up and bring against Babylon a company of great nations from the land of the north... | Divine orchestrating of Babylon's fall |
| Jeremiah 50:40 | As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbor cities, declares the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, nor son of man lodge in it. | Parallel divine judgment on wicked cities |
| Revelation 18:2 | He cried out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean and hateful bird.” | New Testament echo of Babylon's spiritual and physical desolation |
| Matthew 23:38 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... Your house is left to you desolate. | Jesus laments Jerusalem's future desolation |
| Luke 13:35 | Behold, your house is left to you. Truly, I say to you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ | Jesus' prophecy regarding Jerusalem |
| Jeremiah 17:6 | He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He dwells in parched places of the wilderness, in a salt land where no one lives. | Parallel description of those who turn from God |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. | Identifying the reason for judgment |
| Jeremiah 50:17 | Israel is a scattered sheep that a lion has driven away. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and last this king of Babylon gnawed his bones. | Contrasting Israel's scattering with Babylon's destruction |
| Isaiah 34:11 | But the osprey and the hedgehog shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. | Imagery of complete desolation |
| Amos 8:8 | Shall not the land tremble on account of this, and every one dwell in it mourn? ... | Consequence of divine judgment |
| Psalm 37:2 | For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither like the green herb. | Fate of the wicked |
| Psalm 102:6 | I am like a pelican of the wilderness, like an owl of the ruins. | Psalmist's feeling of desolation, paralleling divine judgment imagery |
| Proverbs 21:16 | A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of shades. | Outcome of straying from wisdom |
| Job 15:23 | He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. | Describing a lost and destitute state |
| Jeremiah 51:37 | and Babylon shall become ruins, a dwelling for jackals, a desolation and a hissing, without inhabitant. | Repetition reinforcing the prophecy |
| Isaiah 47:13 | You are weary in many counsels; let astrologers and gazers at the stars ... stand up and save you! | Those who sought false counsel leading to ruin |
| Ezekiel 32:16 | This is the land of the dead, of the graves, of the dust, of the remnant that are descended from you. | The final resting place for the defeated and slain |
Jeremiah 50 verses
Jeremiah 50 39 Meaning
This verse declares that Babylonia's inhabitants will become like creatures that inhabit desolate, waterless places, utterly depleted and forgotten by God.
Jeremiah 50 39 Context
Jeremiah chapter 50 contains a sweeping prophecy against Babylon, the great oppressor of Judah. This chapter details the comprehensive destruction and eventual desolation that will befall the city. Verse 39, placed towards the end of this prophecy, summarizes the ultimate fate of Babylon's inhabitants and its once mighty land. The historical context is the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, and this prophecy served as a message of hope for God's people, assuring them of their oppressor's eventual downfall and eternal ruin. The imagery used reflects the complete emptiness and desolation of a once-flourishing, powerful empire, signifying its utter defeat and absence from God's favor.
Jeremiah 50 39 Word Analysis
- Woldh–: (Hebrew: "w`dl–") - meaning "land of dryness" or "desert." This signifies extreme barrenness and lack of life.
- M`rsh–: (Hebrew: "m`rsh–") - meaning "waste place," "desolation," or "ruins." It denotes a place utterly devastated and uninhabited.
- S`d–: (Hebrew: "s`d–") - meaning "wild beasts" or "savage animals." These are creatures of the wilderness, not domesticated.
- S`p–: (Hebrew: "s`p–") - meaning "jackals" or "wild dogs." These are often associated with desolate, wild, and unholy places in biblical literature.
- Y`s–: (Hebrew: "y`s–") - meaning "inhabit" or "dwell." In this context, it speaks of the permanent, bleak occupation by creatures of the wilderness.
d wd: (Hebrew: "d wd") - meaning "forever" or "eternal." This emphasizes the unending nature of Babylon's desolation and oblivion.- lw dw`y–: (Hebrew: "lw dw`y–") - meaning "shall not be known" or "forgotten." This signifies a complete removal from remembrance and recognition, including by God.
Words Group Analysis:
- Woldh m`rsh–: Combined, these terms vividly paint a picture of extreme barrenness and utter ruin, a place where nothing living, particularly human life, can sustain itself.
- S
d sp y`s: This group highlights the unnatural and dire inhabitation. It's not just that it will be empty of people, but filled with creatures that symbolize wildness, savagery, and abandonment by God's divine order. d wd lw dw`y: This powerful pairing signifies absolute and eternal oblivion. Babylon will not only be destroyed but forgotten completely, a state worse than mere annihilation.
Jeremiah 50 39 Bonus Section
The imagery of desolate places being inhabited by wild animals is a recurring theme in biblical prophecies against nations that face God's judgment. It signifies not just physical destruction but also a profound spiritual void and abandonment. The concept of being "forgotten" implies a removal from the divine record or remembrance, representing ultimate finality in judgment. This verse serves as a stark warning against hubris and a testament to the faithfulness of God to ultimately bring justice and restoration, even after prolonged periods of suffering for His people. The completeness of Babylon's promised downfall underscores God's power over all earthly kingdoms.
Jeremiah 50 39 Commentary
Jeremiah 50:39 graphically illustrates the ultimate consequence of defying God and oppressing His people. Babylon, a symbol of worldly power and idolatry, is destined not just for destruction but for an eternal, forgotten desolation. The verse employs potent imagery of a wasteland inhabited by wild animals like jackals, creatures of the fringe, symbolizing a place utterly forsaken by God and devoid of human order. The phrase "forever forgotten" underscores a judgment so complete that Babylon will cease to be remembered, even by God. This serves as a profound theological statement on divine retribution against arrogant nations that exalt themselves against the Almighty. It offers a contrasting promise to Israel: while they might suffer temporarily, their oppressors face an eternal, ignominious end. This echoes throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's sovereignty and His ultimate justice.