Jeremiah 51:12 kjv
Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:12 nkjv
Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; Make the guard strong, Set up the watchmen, Prepare the ambushes. For the LORD has both devised and done What He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:12 niv
Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon! Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen, prepare an ambush! The LORD will carry out his purpose, his decree against the people of Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:12 esv
"Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:12 nlt
Raise the battle flag against Babylon!
Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen.
Prepare an ambush,
for the LORD will fulfill all his plans against Babylon.
Jeremiah 51 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 51:12 | Raise the battle standards. | Tactical signal for war (Isa 13:2) |
| Isaiah 13:2 | Raise a banner on a barren mountain; | Proclamation of judgment (Isa 18:3) |
| Isaiah 18:3 | All inhabitants of the world, you inhabitants of the world, | Announcement of divine decree (Lam 2:14) |
| Lamentations 2:14 | Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; | Warning of coming doom |
| Jeremiah 50:2 | "Babylon is captured! Bel is disgraced! Merodach is shattered! | Prophecy against Babylon |
| Jeremiah 48:1 | Concerning Moab. | Judgment on Moab (Eze 25:8) |
| Ezekiel 25:8 | Concerning Moab. | Moab's transgression and punishment |
| Jeremiah 49:26 | They shall cast their young men into the plague; | Judgment on Damascus |
| Jeremiah 46:17 | "Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a loud noise; he has let the appointed moment pass. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Jeremiah 4:6 | Raise a signal toward Zion; flee for safety, do not stay. | Warning of invasion |
| Jeremiah 50:24 | I have laid a snare for you, and you are taken, O Babylon. | Babylon caught in God's trap |
| Jeremiah 51:46 | Let not your heart faint, nor be afraid because of the rumor heard in the land. | Encouragement in the face of enemy threat |
| Numbers 2:2 | "Each of the Israelites shall camp by his clan, by his ancestral house, | Israelite encampment order |
| Joshua 6:4 | And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram's horns... | Military strategy (Jer 51:31) |
| Jeremiah 51:31 | One messenger runs to meet another, and one herald to meet another, | Reports of Babylon's fall |
| 1 Corinthians 14:8 | For if the trumpet gives an uncertain blast, who will prepare for battle? | Importance of clear communication |
| Revelation 16:16 | And they are gathered together into the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. | Final battle gathering |
| Isaiah 59:19 | So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun... | Fear of God's power |
| Zechariah 9:13 | And I have bent Judah as my bow; I have equipped Ephraim with myself. | God uses nations as instruments |
| Acts 10:34 | So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality... | God's universal sovereignty |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 12 Meaning
This verse provides instructions for soldiers concerning how to deal with captured cities, specifically by raising battle flags or standards. It's a tactical directive aimed at organizing and identifying victorious forces amidst the chaos of war, particularly in the context of the conquest of Babylon.
Jeremiah 51 12 Context
Jeremiah 51:12 is part of a larger prophecy concerning the impending judgment and destruction of Babylon. The surrounding verses (51:11-14) detail preparations for this onslaught. Babylon, a formidable empire, is depicted as a powerful oppressor against whom God has orchestrated a severe retribution. The chapter as a whole outlines the reasons for Babylon's downfall and describes the might of the invading forces, identified as the Medes and Persians. The primary audience was the people of Judah, receiving this prophecy during or before the Babylonian exile, intended as both a warning and a promise of eventual deliverance.
Jeremiah 51 12 Word analysis
Raise: (Hebrew: harim) This verb signifies lifting up, setting up, or establishing. In a military context, it means to hoist or set up banners or standards.
the battle: (Hebrew: milhamah) This is a direct reference to warfare or conflict.
standards: (Hebrew: nes) This refers to a banner, flag, or signal pole. In ancient warfare, standards were crucial for identification, communication, and morale. They were visual rallying points for troops.
raise the battle standards: This phrase signifies a mobilization and preparation for war, signaling the commencement of military action or the marking of victory positions.
word-group analysis: The entire phrase "Raise the battle standards" encapsulates a decisive military command, indicating the initiation of offensive operations or the assertion of control and victory over the enemy's territory. It reflects the organizational and signaling practices essential for ancient armies.
Jeremiah 51 12 Bonus section
The imagery of raising standards is repeated throughout Scripture, often signifying God's intervention or the rallying of His people or His judgment against nations. The clarity of the signal ("battle standards") emphasizes the certainty and decisiveness of God's plan. It speaks to a divine command for a particular action to be taken, demonstrating God's meticulous involvement in historical events and His power to direct earthly forces for His purposes. The "battle standards" are not merely human constructs but instruments within a divinely ordained judgment.
Jeremiah 51 12 Commentary
This verse issues a stark military command. It’s not merely a metaphorical suggestion but a practical instruction within the divine orchestration of war against Babylon. The raising of battle standards served several critical purposes: signaling readiness, identifying units, and declaring control over captured territory. For the conquering army (implicitly the Medes and Persians acting under God’s command), it was a sign to advance, organize, and secure victory. For Babylon, it signaled the finality of their defeat and the arrival of God's judgment. This action underscores God’s sovereignty over human affairs, including the conduct of war and the rise and fall of empires.