Jeremiah 51 36

Jeremiah 51:36 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

Jeremiah 51:36 nkjv

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.

Jeremiah 51:36 niv

Therefore this is what the LORD says: "See, I will defend your cause and avenge you; I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.

Jeremiah 51:36 esv

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry,

Jeremiah 51:36 nlt

This is what the LORD says to Jerusalem: "I will be your lawyer to plead your case,
and I will avenge you.
I will dry up her river,
as well as her springs,

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 36 Meaning

This verse declares that the Lord will act as advocate and avenger for His people against Babylon. It speaks of drying up Babylon's rivers, signifying the incapacitation of its resources and its ultimate downfall. The verse asserts divine judgment and retribution.

Jeremiah 51 36 Context

Jeremiah 51 continues the prophecy against Babylon, a city that had become a formidable enemy and oppressor of God's people. The preceding verses detail the devastating judgment that will befall Babylon for its pride, its cruelty towards Judah, and its idolatry. The chapter outlines the instrument of God's wrath, Media, and vividly describes the utter destruction awaiting the city. Chapter 51's focus is on Babylon's complete ruin, a stark contrast to the future restoration of Israel. This specific verse encapsulates God's direct intervention as the one who will champion His people's cause and bring about Babylon's demise.

Jeremiah 51 36 Word Analysis

• "Thus says the Lord": A standard prophetic formula introducing a divine message. Emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the pronouncement.
• "Behold, I will plead your cause":
  • "Behold" (Hebrew: הִנְנִי, hinneni): "Behold," "Look," or "Indeed." A word of attention-grabbing, signifying immediate divine action.
  • "plead" (Hebrew: רִיב, riv): "To plead," "strive," "contend," "take a case," "to contend in judgment." This signifies God stepping into the legal and judicial arena on behalf of His people. It implies a divine lawsuit against Babylon for its wrongs.
• "and take vengeance for you":
  • "take vengeance" (Hebrew: נָקַם, naqam): "To avenge," "retaliate," "execute vengeance." A strong term for divine retribution against oppressors.
• "and I will dry up her sea":
  • "dry up" (Hebrew: יָבֵשׁ, yabesh): "To become dry," "to be dried up." Refers to the complete cessation of flow, often of water.
  • "sea" (Hebrew: יָם, yam): Can refer to a literal large body of water, but metaphorically to a great multitude or overwhelming power. Here, likely refers to the Euphrates River which was crucial for Babylon's defense and prosperity, and possibly its vast empire. Drying this up symbolizes its incapacitation.
• "and make her fountain dry":
  • "fountain" (Hebrew: מָקוֹר, maqor): "Source," "spring," "fountainhead." Represents the origin of supply, sustenance, and life for Babylon. Its drying signifies total depletion and the end of its resources.
• "and Babylon shall become heaps":
  • "heaps" (Hebrew: גְּלִיל, gəlilim): "Heap," "ruin," "pile of ruins." Denotes a state of complete destruction and desolation, reduced to rubble.
• "a dwelling place for jackals":
  • "jackals" (Hebrew: תַּנִּים, tannim): Usually translated as "jackals" or "serpents/dragons." Creatures associated with desolate and wild places, signifying extreme ruin.
• "an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant": These phrases all describe utter desolation and the removal of all human presence, making the place a spectacle of divine judgment.

Word Groups

• "plead your cause and take vengeance for you": This phrase highlights God's role as the divine judge and protector of His people, Israel. It asserts that God does not overlook the injustices inflicted upon His chosen, but will personally administer justice. This theme of God's championship recurs throughout scripture.
• "dry up her sea and make her fountain dry": This imagery is powerful and conveys total incapacitation and desiccation. The "sea" of the Euphrates was central to Babylon's life and defense. Its drying implies the destruction of its very lifeblood, its resources, and its power base, rendering it helpless and lifeless.

Jeremiah 51 36 Bonus Section

The concept of God "drying up" the waters is found elsewhere in Scripture. For example, Isaiah 11:15 and 43:2 speak of God causing waters to be parted or dried up, often in the context of delivering His people. The judgment upon Babylon's water systems, particularly the Euphrates, has been seen by some as foreshadowing or paralleling the prophecies concerning the end times judgment upon oppressive world systems, as described in the book of Revelation. The phrase "her sea" may refer not only to the Euphrates but also to the vast resources and influence of the Babylonian empire, all of which would be rendered impotent.

Jeremiah 51 36 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:36 is a profound declaration of divine justice and power. God reveals Himself not only as a prophet's inspirer but as the active participant in history, the one who directly intervenes on behalf of His people. The pronouncements are forceful and absolute: God will champion Israel's cause and exact retribution upon Babylon for its sin. The imagery of drying up rivers and fountains vividly portrays the utter ruin of Babylon; its life-giving resources, its power, and its very existence are to be extinguished by divine decree. This isn't just about military defeat but a comprehensive eradication signifying the total consequence of opposing God and His people. It underscores the reliability of God's judgment and His unfailing commitment to those who trust Him, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable opposition.