Jeremiah 51:26 kjv
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:26 nkjv
They shall not take from you a stone for a corner Nor a stone for a foundation, But you shall be desolate forever," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:26 niv
No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation, for you will be desolate forever," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:26 esv
No stone shall be taken from you for a corner and no stone for a foundation, but you shall be a perpetual waste, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:26 nlt
You will be desolate forever.
Even your stones will never again be used for building.
You will be completely wiped out,"
says the LORD.
Jeremiah 51 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 51:26 | "Turn your hand against it, and I will make it dust upon the earth." | Jeremiah 51:25 (Establishes the object of judgment) |
| Isaiah 14:22 | "I will rise up against them,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and will cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, offspring and posterity,' declares the Lord." | Isaiah 14:23 (God's judgment on Babylon) |
| Isaiah 10:5-6 | "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger... I will send him against a godless nation..." | Isaiah 10:5-6 (Nations as instruments of God's wrath) |
| Jeremiah 50:18 | "But I will punish Israel as I punish Babylon for all the evil they have done in Jerusalem," said the Lord." | Jeremiah 50:18 (Justice for actions) |
| Ezekiel 32:12 | "I will make many nations tremble at the news of your downfall..." | Ezekiel 32:12 (Widespread impact of judgment) |
| Psalm 11:6 | "The Lord rains down fire and brimstone on the wicked..." | Psalm 11:6 (God's judgment) |
| Revelation 18:8 | "Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her." | Revelation 18:8 (Destruction by fire) |
| Revelation 16:18 | "Then there came crackles of lightning, rumbles of thunder, and a great hailstorm..." | Revelation 16:18 (Cataclysmic events) |
| Amos 4:7 | "Now I've withheld rain from you... I struck your fields with blight..." | Amos 4:7 (God's discipline through common means) |
| Zechariah 4:10 | "Do not despise the day of small things, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..." | Zechariah 4:10 (Significance of small beginnings) |
| Matthew 10:29 | "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground but by the will of your Father." | Matthew 10:29 (God's sovereignty over the smallest things) |
| Romans 11:22 | "Consider therefore the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness." | Romans 11:22 (God's duality of judgment and kindness) |
| Jeremiah 43:12 | "And I shall inflict punishments on the gods of Egypt." | Jeremiah 43:12 (Judgment on false gods) |
| Jeremiah 25:9 | "I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon," declares the Lord, "and I will bring them against this land..." | Jeremiah 25:9 (Use of foreign kings as instruments) |
| Jeremiah 46:28 | "Do not fear, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you," declares the Lord. "I will destroy all the nations to which I have driven you..." | Jeremiah 46:28 (God's promise of protection and judgment) |
| Daniel 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons, he sets up kings and deposes them..." | Daniel 2:21 (God's control over earthly powers) |
| Psalm 37:2 | "For they will soon wither like the grass and fade like the green leaves." | Psalm 37:2 (Transience of the wicked) |
| Isaiah 41:14 | "Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel, for I the Lord will help you," says your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." | Isaiah 41:14 (God empowering the weak) |
| Proverbs 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." | Proverbs 21:1 (God's sovereign control over rulers) |
| Zechariah 1:6 | "Though my words were done through my prophets, my punishment they did not cease." | Zechariah 1:6 (Unfulfilled prophecy and delayed judgment) |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 26 Meaning
This verse declares that even the smallest and most common items will be used by God to punish those who oppose Him. Nothing, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is beyond His sovereign control or ability to employ as an instrument of judgment. It signifies a comprehensive and inescapable judgment that leaves no resource untouched.
Jeremiah 51 26 Context
Jeremiah 51:26 is part of a larger prophecy against Babylon, detailing its ultimate destruction and the reasons for God's judgment. The preceding verse, 51:25, identifies Babylon as the "mountain destroying the whole earth," referring to its oppressive imperial power. The verse thus speaks into the historical context of Babylon's dominion over Judah and the surrounding nations, its idolatry, and its cruelty. This prophecy is delivered by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, during a time of intense political upheaval and the looming threat of Babylonian conquest. The chapter culminates in a vision of Babylon's destruction, presented as a consequence of its own arrogance and defiance of the Most High God.
Jeremiah 51 26 Word Analysis
- “Turn”: The Hebrew word is "phê" (פְּ). While it can mean "turn," in this context, it's more of a directive to wield or apply one's hand. It’s an active command.
- “your hand”: The Hebrew is "yad" (יָד), which signifies power, strength, or ability. God is commanding the tool or agent of judgment to act.
- “against it”: This refers back to "the mountain" or the established power of Babylon mentioned in the previous verse.
- “and”: The conjunction "vav" (וְ) connects the action to the consequence.
- “I will make”: The Hebrew is "we-hôsaphthi" (וְהוֹסַפְתִּי), signifying "and I will add" or "I will bring about."
- “it”: Again, this refers to Babylon.
- “dust”: The Hebrew word is "‛āp̄ār" (עָפָר), meaning dust, earth, powder, or ashes. It signifies utter annihilation and insignificance.
- “upon the earth”: This reinforces the completeness of the destruction, making it no more than insignificant particles scattered across the land.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Turn your hand against it": This phrase represents a decisive action of judgment, emphasizing God's control over all forces, even seemingly insignificant ones. It conveys a divine decree to obliterate.
- "and I will make it dust upon the earth": This expresses the totality and finality of the destruction. Babylon's former power and pride will be reduced to absolute nothingness, dispersed without a trace.
Jeremiah 51 26 Bonus Section
The idea of divine instruments, even seemingly common or humble ones, being used for judgment is a recurring theme in Scripture. For instance, in Judges, ordinary tools like an ox goad (Judges 3:31) or even a woman's tent peg (Judges 4:21) were used by God to defeat Israel's enemies. This verse expands on that principle, stating that everything can be an instrument of God's wrath if He wills it. The prophecy against Babylon here is a foreshadowing of apocalyptic judgments described in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Revelation, where divine judgment falls with comprehensive and overwhelming force. The concept also connects to God's ability to humble the proud and exalt the lowly, a consistent theme throughout biblical history.
Jeremiah 51 26 Commentary
This verse speaks of divine retribution and the ultimate sovereignty of God. Babylon, which had exerted immense power and terrorized nations, will be reduced to insignificance by God's direct intervention. The imagery of making it "dust upon the earth" signifies a complete and utter demolition, leaving no remnants of its former glory or destructive might. This ultimate destruction is not arbitrary; it is a consequence of Babylon's defiance against God and its oppressive actions towards His people. God reserves the right to use any means, no matter how humble, to execute His judgments. This should serve as a powerful reminder that all human power and pride are ultimately subject to God's will and judgment.