Jeremiah 51 22

Jeremiah 51:22 kjv

With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;

Jeremiah 51:22 nkjv

With you also I will break in pieces man and woman; With you I will break in pieces old and young; With you I will break in pieces the young man and the maiden;

Jeremiah 51:22 niv

with you I shatter man and woman, with you I shatter old man and youth, with you I shatter young man and young woman,

Jeremiah 51:22 esv

with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;

Jeremiah 51:22 nlt

With you I will shatter men and women,
old people and children,
young men and young women.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 22 Meaning

This verse describes the destruction of Babylon as a divine judgment, highlighting its role in causing moral corruption and engaging in idolatry. It signifies God’s vengeance upon Babylon for its actions against His people and for its proud defiance.

Jeremiah 51 22 Context

Jeremiah 51 continues the prophecies against Babylon, a powerful empire that oppressed God's people and played a significant role in the exile of Judah. This chapter details the impending doom of Babylon, presenting it as an instrument of divine punishment for its sins and for its opposition to God's chosen nation. The immediate context within chapter 51 elaborates on the judgment of Babylon, likening it to a drinking cup of wrath and predicting its utter destruction and eventual non-existence. This verse is part of a larger prophetic corpus concerning Babylon, which also appears in Isaiah and other prophetic books, reflecting a consistent divine condemnation of this oppressive world power. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with the Judean exiles in Babylon, offering them hope of future deliverance and divine justice.

Jeremiah 51 22 Word Analysis

• Muttetz: "Crushing hammer" or "shattering tool." This word signifies a powerful instrument of destruction, emphasizing the totality of Babylon's ruin. God uses Babylon as His hammer but will then break Babylon itself.

• Metzotet: "Smash" or "shatter to pieces." Reinforces the thoroughness of the destruction.

• Aretz: "Earth" or "land." Refers to the entire land, indicating the widespread impact of Babylon’s reign and the ensuing destruction.

• Nokriyah: "Foreign woman" or "foreigner." Used metaphorically, Babylon is seen as an adulteress for its idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness to God.

• Mishkhav: "Layer" or "bed." Alludes to the impurities or corrupting influences Babylon spread.

• Shikhvoli: "Miscarriages" or "unfruitfulness." Indicates that Babylon's actions produced no true, lasting, or God-honoring fruit.

• Tzadoq: "Righteous" or "just." This term highlights the contrast between God's righteous nature and judgment, and Babylon's wickedness.

• Babylon as an Instrument and Victim: The imagery of a "crushing hammer" implies God using Babylon as an instrument for His judgment against other nations. However, the prophecy also declares that Babylon itself will be crushed, showing that no entity, however powerful, is beyond God’s judgment when it acts against His will.

• Metaphor of Spiritual Adultery: The description of Babylon as a "foreign woman" who caused others to "lie with her" and commit acts of defilement paints a picture of spiritual harlotry and corruption. Babylon influenced other nations towards idolatry and wicked practices, which is a serious offense in biblical theology, portraying an unfaithfulness to the covenant with God.

• Consequences of Wickedness: The "miscarriages" and "unfruitfulness" indicate that Babylon's corrupted ways were ultimately barren of true spiritual life or divine favor. It propagated a seed of destruction, not life.

Jeremiah 51 22 Bonus Section

The concept of nations being judged for their actions is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Babylon, a symbol of oppressive world systems and false religion in later biblical interpretation (especially in Revelation), serves as a stark reminder of God’s sovereignty over all human powers and His commitment to justice. The specific imagery of God as a divine warrior or instrument of judgment against His enemies is consistent with other prophetic pronouncements, reinforcing the holiness and righteousness of God, who cannot tolerate sin and rebellion indefinitely. The complete destruction of Babylon here suggests the ultimate failure of human pride and power when pitted against the eternal God.

Jeremiah 51 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:22 powerfully depicts Babylon’s final judgment. God, who used Babylon as a hammer to strike nations, will in turn shatter Babylon itself. The verse underscores Babylon's profound moral and spiritual corruption, likening it to a foreign adulteress who led others into impurity. This sexual imagery points to its idolatry and the pervasive wickedness it spread. The verse emphasizes the futile and disastrous outcome of Babylon's actions, which led only to moral decay ("miscarriages") and spiritual barrenness. This prophecy assures that God’s justice will prevail against those who oppress His people and defy Him, even against empires perceived as invincible.