Jeremiah 51:23 kjv
I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
Jeremiah 51:23 nkjv
With you also I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; And with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers.
Jeremiah 51:23 niv
with you I shatter shepherd and flock, with you I shatter farmer and oxen, with you I shatter governors and officials.
Jeremiah 51:23 esv
with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.
Jeremiah 51:23 nlt
With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks,
farmers and oxen,
captains and officers.
Jeremiah 51 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 51:37 | Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment | Judgment on Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50:39 | Neither shall it be inhabited for ever, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation | Judgment on Babylon |
| Isaiah 13:22 | Wild beasts of the desert shall lie there, and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures | Judgment on Babylon |
| Isaiah 13:21 | Neither shall the houses be built. | Judgment on Babylon |
| Revelation 18:2 | Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen; and is become the habitation of devils | Judgment on Babylon |
| Revelation 18:22 | And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee | Judgment on Babylon |
| Revelation 18:23 | And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee | Judgment on Babylon |
| Revelation 18:8 | Her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine | Judgment on Babylon |
| Nahum 3:7 | And it shall come to pass, that all that look upon her shall flee from her, and say, Nineveh is laid waste | Judgment on cities |
| Jeremiah 25:26 | And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. | Kings drinking judgment |
| Psalm 137:8 | O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. | Retribution against Babylon |
| 2 Kings 18:13 | Sennacherib's invasion of Judah | Historical precedent |
| Jeremiah 50:45 | As the joy of the flock, as grass in meadows | Contrast of exultation |
| Deuteronomy 28:64 | scattered among the nations | Consequence of disobedience |
| Ezekiel 26:14 | Tyre's destruction | Similar judgment on a city |
| Acts 7:57 | stoning of Stephen | Persecution |
| Romans 11:11 | Israel's stumbling for salvation of Gentiles | Israel's rejection |
| 1 Corinthians 10:11 | examples for our admonition | Lessons from the past |
| Matthew 24:2 | destruction of Jerusalem's temple | Prophetic destruction |
| Luke 21:6 | destruction of Jerusalem's temple | Prophetic destruction |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 23 Meaning
This verse describes the severe and complete destruction of Babylon. It portrays a divine judgment, where the people of God, along with their livestock, will find refuge within the ruins of the fallen city. The devastation is so thorough that it will be uninhabitable by human beings, yet it becomes a dwelling for wild animals.
Jeremiah 51 23 Context
Jeremiah 51 continues the prophecy of judgment against Babylon, revealed by God to Jeremiah. The preceding verses detail the impending conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. This chapter serves as a final, sweeping condemnation of Babylon's pride, idolatry, and oppression of God's people, the Israelites. The destruction is prophesied to be absolute and permanent. Verse 23 fits within this larger context as a description of the resulting desolation, emphasizing the complete abandonment and transformation of the city into a habitat for wild creatures, highlighting the finality of God's judgment.
Jeremiah 51 23 Word Analysis
Her: Refers to Babylon, personified as a woman, often used in prophetic literature to represent a city or nation.
merchants: In Hebrew, "sôḥərîm" (סֹחֲרִים). Refers to traders or dealers, highlighting Babylon's extensive commerce and wealth, which contributed to its pride.
prospered: Hebrew: "šālôm" (שָׁלוֹם) with a verbal form, suggesting peace, well-being, and prosperity. Babylon's prosperity became a source of arrogance.
ye: Pronoun referring to the nations or enemies who will conquer Babylon.
cast: Hebrew: "yâd" (יָד) can mean hand, but here refers to "throwing" or "casting out," signifying their rejection or removal.
not: Negation.
thy: Possessive pronoun referring to Babylon.
alone: Hebrew: "lĕbaddâ" (לְבַדָּהּ) meaning by herself, singularly, emphasizing its isolation in its fall and subsequent emptiness.
Grouping of words "merchants and her traffickers": This phrase emphasizes the economic backbone of Babylon's empire, signifying its global influence through trade. Its destruction means the collapse of its economic power.
Grouping of words "shall be broken": This conveys a sense of absolute destruction and annihilation, not merely defeat but utter ruin.
Jeremiah 51 23 Bonus Section
The prophecy of Babylon's complete ruin, including the presence of wild animals and the absence of human habitation, is echoed in other prophetic passages, such as Isaiah 13:21-22, which similarly describes wild animals dwelling in the ruins. Revelation 18:2 uses similar imagery, calling Babylon "a habitation of devils." This recurring motif highlights a theological principle: cities or systems that engage in severe wickedness and oppression ultimately face total obliteration. The prosperity of Babylon, represented by its merchants, is depicted not as inherently evil, but as a tool that, when coupled with pride and idolatry, incurs God's judgment. The "ye" that cast them out refers to the conquering forces, who themselves become instruments of God's wrath. The concept of "no more" is absolute, underscoring the finality of divine judgment against defiant sin.
Jeremiah 51 23 Commentary
Jeremiah 51:23 paints a stark picture of Babylon's downfall, illustrating divine retribution for its sin and arrogance. The verse targets its pride stemming from economic prosperity, shown by its merchants and traffickers. These were the engines of its global influence and wealth, but God declares their work will cease entirely. The phrase "no more" reinforces the completeness of this judgment. The verse also touches upon a theme of restoration for the people of God, as later verses in this chapter speak of the flock finding refuge. The utter desolation prophesied signifies the ultimate failure of human might and enterprise when set against God’s sovereign power. The inclusion of wild animals signifies a return to a primal state, signifying abandonment and the end of civilization within its walls.