Jeremiah 51 32

Jeremiah 51:32 kjv

And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.

Jeremiah 51:32 nkjv

The passages are blocked, The reeds they have burned with fire, And the men of war are terrified.

Jeremiah 51:32 niv

the river crossings seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers terrified."

Jeremiah 51:32 esv

the fords have been seized, the marshes are burned with fire, and the soldiers are in panic.

Jeremiah 51:32 nlt

All the escape routes are blocked.
The marshes have been set aflame,
and the army is in a panic.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 32 Meaning

This verse speaks of the impregnability of Babylon's defenses, which are described as fortified cities with strong gates and bars, symbolizing their perceived invincibility and the ease with which they could be defended. The "water" rising up signifies an overwhelming, perhaps foreign or invading force, that will inundate and ultimately conquer the city.

Jeremiah 51 32 Context

Jeremiah 51:32 is part of a larger prophetic oracle against Babylon. The preceding verses (51:30-31) describe the exhaustion of Babylon's warriors due to fear and inability to fight, hinting at an impending invasion. This verse serves as the explanation for their plight, depicting the approaching conquerors as an unstoppable force. Historically, this prophecy was delivered during the Babylonian exile, predicting the downfall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The immediate audience would have understood this in terms of literal military conquest.

Jeremiah 51 32 Word Analysis

• הַחוֹמֹת (ha-ḥō-mō-ṯ) - "the walls"
  • "Chomot" refers to physical ramparts, fortifications, or defensive walls.
  • It signifies security and strength, suggesting Babylon's belief in its invincibility.
• בַּבֶל (Bā-ḇel) - "Babylon"
  • Refers to the great imperial city, capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
  • Symbolically, it often represents oppressive worldly powers that oppose God and His people.
• נִפְתְּחוּ (nip-tə-ḵū) - "are opened"
  • The Niphal conjugation indicates a passive voice or a reflexive action.
  • Suggests the gates are being breached or yielding, either through military action or internal failure.
• הַשְּׁעָרִים (haš-šə-ʿā-rîm) - "the gates"
  • Gates are entry points and also symbolic of control and access.
  • Their opening signifies the loss of security and the allowing of the enemy entry.
• צִמְתּוּ (ṣim-tū) - "are barred" or "fastened"
  • Implies that the gates were secured or closed.
  • The context implies they were intended to be barred, but will ultimately fail.
• שַׁאֲגַת (šə-ʼă-ḡaṯ) - "the roar" or "bellowing"
  • A sound of great distress, a powerful, overwhelming noise.
  • Used here to describe the sound of the approaching army or a powerful flood.
• טְפָחֶיָה (ṭə-p̄ā-ḥe-yā) - "of her mighty men" or "of her great men"
  • Refers to the powerful warriors or strong men of the city.
  • Their "roar" would have been a sound of desperate defense, now silenced by fear or defeat.
• לְרֶגֶל (lə-rē-ḡel) - "at the feet" or "against"
  • Indicates where the noise is directed or heard, leading up to the final action.
• כַּמַּיִם (kammáy-im) - "like waters"
  • A simile comparing the advancing army to a flood.
  • Conveys the sense of an overwhelming, unstoppable, and destructive force.
• לְרַגְלָהּ (lə-raḡ-lāh) - "at her feet" or "to her"
  • The feminine suffix refers to Babylon.
  • The overwhelming force comes upon Babylon.

Group of words analysis:

• "the walls of Babylon were opened": This phrase immediately highlights the failure of Babylon's formidable defenses, the very things that made it seem secure. The passive construction implies an active breach.
• "gates have been barred" (when they should have been secure): The nuance is that despite being secured (or perhaps meant to be secured), they would yield.
• "the roar of her mighty men is silenced" and replaced "like waters": The internal strength of Babylon is rendered powerless, supplanted by an external, natural-like force. This shows a complete reversal of power.
• "like waters to her": The force advancing on Babylon is characterized as a flood, something vast, powerful, and inherently destructive, suggesting no escape.

Jeremiah 51 32 Bonus Section

The comparison of an invading army to waters or a flood is a recurring theme in biblical prophecy and ancient Near Eastern imagery. This simile effectively communicates the overwhelming, unstoppable, and devastating nature of the invasion, much like a natural disaster that cannot be held back by human effort. The destruction of Babylon, as prophesied by Jeremiah and other prophets like Isaiah, is a significant event in biblical history, marking the end of one era and foreshadowing future judgments and redemptions. It also serves as a potent symbol of the ultimate downfall of all worldly powers that oppose God's sovereignty.

Jeremiah 51 32 Commentary

This verse vividly illustrates the consequences of divine judgment upon a proud and seemingly impregnable empire. Babylon's mighty walls and barred gates, symbols of its self-proclaimed security, are rendered utterly ineffective. The noise of its valiant warriors, previously a source of dread, is silenced. This internal strength is overwhelmed by an external force likened to a mighty flood. This imagery powerfully conveys that human defenses, however impressive, are no match for God's determined action against sin and rebellion. The flood represents not just an army, but a divine decree bringing swift and total conquest. The prophecy underscores that true security is found not in earthly fortifications but in adherence to God.