Jeremiah 51 31

Jeremiah 51:31 kjv

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,

Jeremiah 51:31 nkjv

One runner will run to meet another, And one messenger to meet another, To show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on all sides;

Jeremiah 51:31 niv

One courier follows another and messenger follows messenger to announce to the king of Babylon that his entire city is captured,

Jeremiah 51:31 esv

One runner runs to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every side;

Jeremiah 51:31 nlt

The news is passed from one runner to the next
as the messengers hurry to tell the king
that his city has been captured.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 31 meaning

Jeremiah 51:31 vividly portrays the sudden and overwhelming collapse of Babylon through a dramatic scene of communication breakdown. It describes a desperate rush of messengers, "post" runners and heralds, frantically converging from different parts of the city. Their urgent mission is to deliver the catastrophic news to the king of Babylon: his seemingly impregnable capital has been breached and is in the process of being captured, signifying the beginning of its inevitable fall. The verse emphasizes the speed, urgency, and the chaotic nature of the city's demise, highlighting the devastating reality hitting the Babylonian leadership.

Jeremiah 51 31 Context

Jeremiah 51 is a continuation of the prophetic pronouncements of divine judgment against Babylon, explicitly described as the instrument of God's wrath against Judah, but now subject to its own ultimate destruction. The chapter follows Jeremiah 50, which lays out the initial prophecy. It describes the invasion of Babylon by an array of nations, particularly the Medes, as agents of God’s vengeance for Babylon’s destruction of Jerusalem and its insolence against Yahweh. The entire chapter vividly portrays the military siege and eventual fall of the mighty empire, emphasizing God’s justice and the complete desolation that will befall the city. Verse 31 specifically captures the internal chaos and the swift dissemination of disastrous news within Babylon as the city begins to fall.

Jeremiah 51 31 Word analysis

• One post (רָץ, ratz): Refers to a runner or a dispatch rider, a swift messenger. The emphasis on "one" indicates a multiplicity of such individuals, each carrying urgent news. This signifies rapid communication and widespread panic.
  • Significance: Implies not a singular messenger but a constant stream or wave of urgent communications from different sources, creating a scene of widespread distress.
• shall run (יָרוּץ, yaruts): Future tense, active verb, signifying speed and a chaotic hurry.
  • Significance: Conveys immediate action and a lack of orderly process. It paints a picture of frantic, uncontrolled movement rather than organized reporting.
• to meet another: Indicates convergence. The messengers are not just running from the front lines but meeting others, perhaps bringing various fragmented reports, or attempting to consolidate information.
  • Significance: Suggests disarray, a lack of central command, and the urgent need for information from disparate locations to reach the king. The meeting implies shared urgency and a common dreadful message.
• and one messenger (מְבַשֵּׂר, mevassēr): Often denotes someone who brings good news or tidings. Here, it is used ironically to describe someone bringing dreadful news of military defeat.
  • Significance: This linguistic irony underscores the reversal of fortunes for Babylon. Those who might normally bring news of victory or peace are now harbingers of destruction.
• to meet another: Repetition of the phrase highlights the pervasive urgency and the sheer number of distressed communicators.
  • Significance: Reinforces the image of chaos and the severity of the situation across the city.
• to shew (לְהַגִּיד, l'haggid): To tell, declare, report. The purpose of their frantic journey is explicit: to inform.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the destination and the objective of their run—delivering a critical, albeit catastrophic, update.
• the king of Babylon: The ultimate authority figure. He is the intended recipient of this dire news, symbolizing the direct impact of God’s judgment upon the head of the opposing power.
  • Significance: His position emphasizes that the calamity reaches the very pinnacle of Babylon's power structure. The report is personal and immediate to the sovereign.
• that his city (בָּבֶל, bāḇel, implied): Referring directly to the city of Babylon itself, known for its massive fortifications and pride.
  • Significance: The city, the heart of the empire and a symbol of its strength, is at stake, shattering its perceived invincibility.
• is taken (נִלְכְּדָה, nilkĕdah): Passive, perfect tense verb meaning "is captured" or "has been seized." This indicates a completed action, suggesting the fall has already occurred or is actively in progress.
  • Significance: It's not "might be taken," but "is taken," conveying the certainty and inevitability of the conquest, perhaps from a specific breach.
• at one end (מִקְּצֵה, miqqetseh): From a boundary or an extremity. This might mean one edge of the vast city, indicating the initial breach of defenses or the extent of the infiltration. It does not necessarily mean only one side, but points to a significant penetration or widespread collapse, like a leak that signals the whole dam is giving way.
  • Significance: Conveys the breach of its fortifications and that the collapse is now in progress, a definitive sign that the entire city's integrity is compromised, foreshadowing total conquest.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another: This parallelism powerfully underscores the urgency and chaotic nature of the news dissemination. It signifies multiple individuals converging with the same terrible tidings from various parts of the vast city. The repetition magnifies the sense of frantic, disorderly motion, indicative of an overwhelming and unforeseen crisis that shatters the city's defenses and order.
• to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken: The immediate and ultimate purpose of these frantic runs is to inform the highest authority. The news delivered is devastating: the previously invincible city is now compromised. This delivery of direct news of capture to the king personally signifies the depth of the humiliation and the direct judgment falling upon Babylon’s leadership.
• at one end: This phrase indicates a significant breach. It might mean a breach on one side, or an attack so widespread it is entering from different points, a major point of entry, or even an extent that covers the city from end to end in terms of its impact. This shows the fall is comprehensive, starting from a crucial point but rapidly encompassing the whole. It contrasts with Babylon’s expected invulnerability.

Jeremiah 51 31 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ratz (רָץ, "post" or "runner") indicates extraordinary speed. Ancient dispatch riders were trained for this. The usage here is meant to impress upon the reader the breakneck speed at which the bad news travels, underscoring the swift and unstoppable nature of Babylon's fall. The imagery not only conveys speed but also a breaking of the normal channels of command and control. The chaotic, converging messengers contrast sharply with the expected order of a great empire, highlighting the sheer shock and disorganization inflicted by the invasion. This prophetic scene would have been deeply impactful for both the Babylonian exiles hearing it and later, the Judahites witnessing its historical fulfillment, providing strong affirmation of God's Word.

Jeremiah 51 31 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:31 is a highly descriptive and dramatic snapshot of Babylon’s downfall. Far from the methodical reports expected in a strong kingdom, this depicts frantic, multiple messengers converging in chaos, all carrying the same dreadful news to the king. This image directly attacks Babylon's self-assured pride and reputation for invincibility. The term mevassēr, often for good news, applied here to disaster, provides a cutting irony, accentuating the reversal of fortunes. The capture "at one end" indicates a decisive penetration of the city's famed defenses, triggering a cascade of collapse, ultimately leading to the king's demise as documented in history (Dan 5). This scene is a potent testament to Yahweh's sovereign power, demonstrating His capacity to humble the proudest of nations and execute His prophecies against those who defied Him and oppressed His people, delivering vengeance for Judah.