Jeremiah 51 37

Jeremiah 51:37 kjv

And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 51:37 nkjv

Babylon shall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 51:37 niv

Babylon will be a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals, an object of horror and scorn, a place where no one lives.

Jeremiah 51:37 esv

and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant.

Jeremiah 51:37 nlt

and Babylon will become a heap of ruins,
haunted by jackals.
She will be an object of horror and contempt,
a place where no one lives.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 37 meaning

Jeremiah 51:37 graphically describes the absolute and permanent desolation of Babylon as an act of divine judgment. The once mighty and proud city will be reduced to indistinguishable piles of rubble, becoming an uninhabitable wasteland fit only as a lair for wild animals like jackals. This state of utter ruin will evoke not pity, but profound horror and derision from any observers, culminating in its permanent abandonment and complete absence of human life, signaling a definitive end to its past splendor and power.

Jeremiah 51 37 Context

Jeremiah chapter 51 continues a detailed and forceful prophetic oracle against Babylon, serving as God's message of impending doom for the empire that had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and enslaved His people. These prophecies in chapters 50-51 provide hope and assurance to the exiled Judeans, confirming that their oppressor, Babylon, would face even more severe and complete judgment. Historically, Babylon was at its zenith in Jeremiah's era, known for its formidable walls, magnificent temples, and overwhelming military power. The destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 586 BCE underscored Babylon's dominance. Therefore, Jeremiah's message directly challenges Babylon's perceived invincibility, promising an end so absolute that the city would be reduced to a barren, uninhabited wilderness. Verse 37 specifically portrays the ultimate extent of this divine retribution against Babylon's pride, idolatry, and violent actions against God's chosen people.

Jeremiah 51 37 Word analysis

• And Babylon (וּבָבֶל – u’Bavel): The conjunction 'and' links this verse to prior pronouncements. Babylon, the target, refers to the Neo-Babylonian Empire and its capital city, which epitomized human power and arrogance in the ancient world, especially after conquering Judah. The prophecy directly confronts this seemingly insurmountable power.
• shall become (הָיְתָה – hayetah): Literally "has become" or "it will be." The Hebrew perfect tense often conveys prophetic certainty, depicting a future event as already assured by divine decree. It indicates an irreversible transformation.
• heaps (לְגַלִּים – l'gallim): From the singular gal (גַּל), meaning "mound" or "ruin." This denotes the physical dismantling of structures, the reduction of magnificent architecture into formless piles of rubble and debris. It signifies a complete reversal of architectural glory into utter disorder.
• a dwelling place (מְעוֹנַת – me'onat): A feminine noun meaning "abode" or "lair." This term deliberately contrasts with human habitation, emphasizing a wild, untamed, and desolate environment. It suggests a place unfit for human dwelling.
• for jackals (תַּנִּים – tannim): Plural noun for "jackals," often referring to scavengers or wild canines of the wilderness. This signifies a profound absence of human life and the rewilding of a once-populous area, a common biblical image for complete desolation and divine judgment.
• an object of horror (שַׁמָּה – shammah): A noun meaning "desolation," "horror," "waste," or "appalled." It describes the overwhelming emotional impact of Babylon's fate on observers—a reaction of shock, dread, and astonishment, often devoid of pity. It conveys a deep sense of ruin that elicits awe at its severity.
• and scoffing (וְשָׁרֵקָה – v'sharekah): From the root sharad (שָׁרַד), meaning "to hiss" or "to whistle." In this context, it implies derision, scorn, or an expression of utter astonishment and mocking. Bystanders will react with contemptuous whistling, whether in disbelief at the downfall or in triumphant scorn for its past cruelty. This signifies a complete loss of dignity.
• without inhabitant (מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב – me'ein yoshev): Literally "from no one dwelling/inhabiting." This phrase forcefully stresses the finality and totality of the desolation. It will not merely be damaged or temporarily abandoned but completely devoid of human presence, a permanent and irreversible end to settlement, in stark contrast to its history as a bustling metropolis.

• "Babylon shall become heaps": This phrase signals the physical and architectural undoing of a great city. All human efforts to build and glorify will be reduced to indistinguishable piles, speaking to the impermanence of even the grandest human achievements in the face of God's judgment.
• "a dwelling place for jackals": This paints a vivid picture of extreme desolation. The complete absence of human life allows wild animals to reclaim the land, signifying a complete reversal from civilization to untamed wilderness, a recurring prophetic motif for irreversible divine judgment.
• "an object of horror and scoffing": This emphasizes the emotional and social dimension of Babylon's fall. Its former prestige will not elicit sympathy, but an aghast yet scornful reaction. 'Horror' reflects the magnitude of the ruin, while 'scoffing' denotes triumphalism or derision, particularly from those who suffered under Babylon.
• "without inhabitant": This conclusive statement underscores the permanent abandonment. It's not a temporary setback or partial destruction; it's a final, irreversible cessation of human life and settlement, highlighting the completeness of God's judgment and its enduring consequences.

Jeremiah 51 37 Bonus section

The fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy regarding Babylon's lasting desolation is noteworthy for its gradual yet certain unfolding over centuries. While Babylon was indeed conquered, notably by the Persians in 539 BCE, it did not immediately become a complete ruin devoid of inhabitants. It continued as a significant city for a time under subsequent empires, including the Achaemenid Persian and Hellenistic Seleucid rules. However, its decline was inexorable. Over many centuries, the city's population dwindled, its magnificent structures crumbled into mounds, and it ceased to be a functioning metropolis. Archaeological and historical records from later periods, such as the Roman era, corroborate its transformation into vast ruins sparsely populated, largely abandoned, and infested with wild animals, fully aligning with the "without inhabitant" and "heaps" described in the prophecy. This protracted fulfillment demonstrates God's sovereignty over the long arc of history and the rise and fall of nations according to His divine purpose, offering a powerful testament to the reliability of His prophetic word.

Jeremiah 51 37 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:37 succinctly conveys the absolute and permanent judgment God declares upon Babylon. The verse employs powerful imagery, progressing from the physical ruin of the city into mere "heaps" to its regression to a wild, uninhabitable zone—"a dwelling place for jackals"—thus illustrating a complete collapse of civilization into untamed nature. This serves as a potent symbol of divine retribution against an empire marked by arrogance, deep idolatry, and its cruel oppression of God's people. The prophecy highlights that the observers of Babylon's downfall will not react with pity but with "horror and scoffing," emphasizing its dramatic fall from glory to utter contempt, a public spectacle of righteous judgment. The conclusive declaration "without inhabitant" affirms the permanence and irreversible nature of this desolation, offering a definitive assurance to the exiled Israelites that God's justice is sure, unwavering, and utterly complete, ultimately prevailing over all human power and pride.