Jeremiah 51:15 kjv
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Jeremiah 51:15 nkjv
He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding.
Jeremiah 51:15 niv
"He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
Jeremiah 51:15 esv
"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
Jeremiah 51:15 nlt
The LORD made the earth by his power,
and he preserves it by his wisdom.
With his own understanding
he stretched out the heavens.
Jeremiah 51 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 10:12 | "He has made the earth by his power, he has set the world in order by his wisdom and by his understanding." | Reiterates God's creative power & wisdom |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | Foundation of creation |
| Psalm 33:6 | "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host." | Creation through divine word |
| Psalm 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky shows his handiwork." | Heavens as declaration of God's glory |
| Isaiah 40:22 | "It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;" | God's vastness and control over heavens |
| Isaiah 42:5 | "Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it..." | God as creator and sustainer |
| Jeremiah 10:23 | "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." | Man's inability to direct himself |
| Psalm 147:4-5 | "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." | God's knowledge of celestial bodies |
| Proverbs 3:19-20 | "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke forth..." | Wisdom and understanding in creation |
| Job 26:7 | "He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing." | God suspending earth on nothing |
| Job 38:4-7 | "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding." | God questioning man's understanding |
| Psalm 96:5 | "For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens." | Distinction between idols and God |
| Jeremiah 51:18 | "They are worthless, they are an object of ridicule; when the time of their punishment comes, they will perish." | Warning against idols |
| Ephesians 3:10 | "to the intent that now through the church might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God." | God's wisdom revealed through the church |
| Colossians 1:16 | "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." | Christ as agent of creation |
| Romans 1:20 | "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." | God's attributes seen in creation |
| Acts 17:24 | "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hand." | God's transcendence over creation |
| Isaiah 45:18 | "For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it, who set it fast, who did not create it a waste; he formed it to be inhabited: 'I am the Lord, and there is no other.'" | God's purpose in creation |
| John 1:1-3 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." | Christ's role in creation |
| Hebrews 1:2 | "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." | Christ appointed heir of all things |
| Jeremiah 51:15b | "who spread out the earth by his unfailing power." | Emphasis on God's power |
| Jeremiah 51:15c | "who established the world by his wisdom." | Emphasis on God's wisdom |
| Jeremiah 51:15d | "who by his understanding stretched out the heavens." | Emphasis on God's understanding |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 15 Meaning
The verse describes God as the creator of the earth through His power and wisdom. He has also displayed His understanding by stretching out the heavens, signifying His dominion over the cosmos. This verse emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty and omnipotence, highlighting Him as the ultimate architect of all existence, both earthly and celestial.
Jeremiah 51 15 Context
This verse is found in Jeremiah chapter 51, which is a prophetic oracle against Babylon. The chapter details the impending judgment of Babylon for its arrogance, cruelty, and idolatry, particularly its oppressing of God's people, Israel. In the midst of pronouncing judgment, the prophet reminds the audience of the true God's supreme power and wisdom as the creator of the universe, contrasting Him with the impotent idols of Babylon. This sets the stage for understanding why Babylon's might is temporary and subject to the divine plan of the Creator. The immediate context is a declaration of God's omnipotence in contrast to the impotence of Babylon's gods, a theme recurring throughout Jeremiah's prophecy as he combats idolatry and assures Israel of God's ultimate sovereignty.
Jeremiah 51 15 Word Analysis
He: Refers to God, the subject of the verse and the prophet's discourse.
has made: Indicates the act of creation, bringing into existence.
the earth: The physical world, the planet we inhabit.
by his power: Emphasizes the immense force and strength God possesses, sufficient to create and sustain all.
he has set the world in order: Describes God's purposeful arrangement and structuring of the cosmos.
by his wisdom: Highlights God's intelligent design, foresight, and divine plan in creation.
and by his understanding: Points to God's perfect knowledge, insight, and comprehension, which underpins His ordered creation.
Group Analysis: "power," "wisdom," and "understanding": These three attributes are presented as the means by which God accomplished creation. They are distinct yet interconnected facets of God's nature, illustrating His capability (power), His intelligent design (wisdom), and His comprehensive knowledge (understanding). This Triad signifies that creation is not accidental but a deliberate, well-ordered act stemming from the very essence of God's being.
Jeremiah 51 15 Bonus Section
The wording "stretched out the heavens" in some translations aligns with ancient Near Eastern cosmology where the sky was conceived as a solid dome or expanse. However, the Hebrew word translated as "stretched out" (marah) can also imply expansion or to draw out, suggesting an active and continuous process, which resonates with modern scientific understandings of an expanding universe, though the original intent was theological. The verse functions as a theological rebuttal against any Babylonian claims of power derived from their celestial observations or their manufactured deities, anchoring true authority and power in the one true God, the Creator. This declaration also prepares the reader to understand the impending fall of Babylon not as a random event, but as part of God’s purposeful governance over history.
Jeremiah 51 15 Commentary
This verse is a powerful affirmation of the LORD's sovereignty and creative might. It asserts that the entirety of existence—the earth, its order, the heavens—is the direct result of God’s inherent attributes of power, wisdom, and understanding. In contrast to the powerless idols that the nations worshipped, Jeremiah proclaims the singular greatness of the Creator. This divine capacity is not a distant memory but an active force that underpins the ongoing existence and order of the universe. It serves as a foundation for understanding God’s judgments and promises: if God can create all things by His unfathomable power and wisdom, He is certainly capable of executing His judgments against rebellious nations and fulfilling His covenants with His people.