Jeremiah 51:1 kjv
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
Jeremiah 51:1 nkjv
Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, Against those who dwell in Leb Kamai, A destroying wind.
Jeremiah 51:1 niv
This is what the LORD says: "See, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Leb Kamai.
Jeremiah 51:1 esv
Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon, against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai,
Jeremiah 51:1 nlt
This is what the LORD says:
"I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon
and the people of Babylonia.
Jeremiah 51 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 51:1 | Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will stir up a destructive wind against Babylon | Judgment against Babylon, God's instrument |
| Isa 13:4-5 | "...The LORD of hosts is mustering his army for war. They come from a distant land... to destroy the whole land." | Prophecy of Babylon's destruction by Medes |
| Isa 41:2 | "Who stirred up one from the east, called righteous?... He gave the nations before him..." | God using Cyrus as an instrument |
| Jer 50:3 | "For out of the north a nation has come against her..." | Northwind imagery for Babylon's destruction |
| Jer 50:9 | "For behold, I will stir up and bring against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country..." | God orchestrating Babylon's downfall |
| Jer 50:44 | "Behold, a people comes from the north... they will fill you with tumult." | Northward enemy against Babylon |
| Jer 51:11 | "Sharpen the arrows; make ready the shields! ... the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes..." | God's direct role in activating the destroyers |
| Jer 51:35 | "‘May the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon,’ shall say the inhabitant of Zion, ‘and ‘May my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea!’ shall Jerusalem say." | Babylon's accountability for its violence |
| Jer 25:12 | "But when seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, says the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and I will make it an everlasting desolation." | Judgment after 70 years of Babylonian dominance |
| Hab 1:6 | "I am rousing the Chaldeans, that fierce and hasty nation, which marches across the breadth of the earth to seize dwelling places that are not theirs." | Chaldeans as instruments of judgment |
| Ezek 26:7 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots and with a host of many nations." | God bringing Nebuchadnezzar as judgment |
| Rev 18:2 | "And he called out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every unclean spirit..." | Symbolic end of oppressive systems |
| Rev 18:8 | "For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for it is a mighty Lord God who judges her." | Divine judgment on Babylon |
| Matt 24:7 | "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..." | Wars and disturbances as signs of end times |
| Luke 21:10 | "Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom..." | Similar discourse on troubles |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" | God's judgment begins with His people |
| Acts 2:19-20 | "And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes." | Fulfillment of prophetic signs |
| Rev 17:5 | "And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.”" | Symbolism of Babylon |
| Isa 14:12-15 | "“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! . . . You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high... But you are brought down to Sheol..." | Heavenly judgment against pride |
| Jer 51:50-51 | "“You who have escaped the sword, go, do not stand still! Remember the LORD from afar, and let Jerusalem come to your mind. We are put to shame, for we hear reproach; confusion covers our faces, for strangers have profled our holy places." | Recall of God's presence amidst judgment |
| Ezek 38:7 | "‘Prepare yourself and equip yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled for you, and be a guard for them." | Arming for conflict |
| 1 Cor 3:19 | "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness.”" | God's sovereignty over human plans |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 1 Meaning
The verse declares a divine judgment and a coming invasion against Babylon. It signifies that Yahweh will stir up a destructive force, likened to a destructive wind, originating from distant lands to attack and overthrow Babylon.
Jeremiah 51 1 Context
Jeremiah 51 continues the prophet's pronouncements of judgment against Babylon, the great empire that had subjugated Judah and exiled its people. This chapter is specifically a detailed prophecy of Babylon's imminent downfall, to be executed by the Medes. Chapter 51 as a whole functions as a pronouncement of divine retribution against Babylon for its arrogance, cruelty, and idolatry. The specific verse, Jeremiah 51:1, serves as the opening statement of this impending destruction, setting the stage for the specific instruments of God's wrath. The historical context is the Neo-Babylonian Empire at its height, yet prophetically seeing its end through the rising power of the Medes and Persians.
Jeremiah 51 1 Word Analysis
- הִנֵּה (hinnēh): "Behold," "Look," "See." An interjection used to draw attention to something important or imminent, often signaling a divine declaration or a significant event. It conveys a sense of immediacy and calls for the listener's focused attention.
- אֲנִי (’ănî): "I." The first-person singular pronoun, emphasizing God's direct and active involvement in the event described. This is a personal assertion of divine agency.
- מֵקִים (meqîm): "I am stirring up," "I am raising up," "I am causing to arise." The active participle of the verb קוּם (qum), meaning to stand, rise, establish, fulfill. Here it denotes God initiating, mobilizing, and commissioning a force.
- רוּחַ (rûaḥ): "Spirit," "wind," "breath." In this context, it signifies a powerful, invisible, and driving force.
- מְשַׁחֵת (mᵉshachéth): "Destroying," "destructive," "ruinous." The active participle of the verb שָׁחַת (shachath), meaning to ruin, destroy, corrupt, spoil. This adjective directly describes the nature of the force God is raising up.
- עַל־ (‘al-): "Against," "upon," "over." A preposition indicating opposition or directedness towards the object.
- בָּבֶל (Bāḇel): "Babylon." The capital city and empire of the Chaldeans, depicted here as the object of divine judgment.
Word Group Analysis:
- "I will stir up a destructive wind against Babylon": This phrase functions as a metaphor for a swift, irresistible, and devastating invading army. The "wind" conveys its force, unseen until it strikes, and its widespread impact, much like a natural tempest. It highlights God's sovereign power to unleash destructive forces for His purposes of judgment against sin and rebellion.
Jeremiah 51 1 Bonus Section
The "wind" here is often interpreted to refer specifically to the Medes, identified in other prophetic passages (Jer 50:3, 50:9) as the primary instrument of Babylon's destruction. This emphasizes God's specific choices in carrying out His judgments, using earthly kingdoms as His agents. The term "destructive" (מְשַׁחֵת) points to the thoroughness and finality of the judgment, signifying not just military defeat but also desolation and ruin, aligning with the larger prophetic themes of God's righteous wrath against sin. This concept of God "stirring up" forces echoes His use of other nations or individuals throughout scripture to accomplish His will, demonstrating His overarching authority in human affairs.
Jeremiah 51 1 Commentary
This verse is a powerful declaration of God's sovereign control over history and His judgment upon wicked nations. Babylon, the oppressive superpower, will be brought down not by chance or by human might alone, but by God orchestrating a destructive force against it. The imagery of a "destructive wind" underscores the sudden, overwhelming, and thorough nature of the coming judgment. It’s a divine pronouncement, initiating the sequence of events leading to Babylon's eventual fall, a pivotal moment in biblical history and prophecy.