Jeremiah 51 38

Jeremiah 51:38 kjv

They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps.

Jeremiah 51:38 nkjv

They shall roar together like lions, They shall growl like lions' whelps.

Jeremiah 51:38 niv

Her people all roar like young lions, they growl like lion cubs.

Jeremiah 51:38 esv

"They shall roar together like lions; they shall growl like lions' cubs.

Jeremiah 51:38 nlt

Her people will roar together like strong lions.
They will growl like lion cubs.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 38 meaning

Jeremiah 51:38 vividly prophesies the ultimate downfall of Babylon, portraying its inhabitants in a state of utter distress and despair. The verse metaphorically describes their widespread terror and lamentation by comparing their cries to the roaring of mature lions and the growling of lion's whelps. This imagery conveys a dramatic reversal of their former powerful and predatory status, signifying their profound humiliation and helplessness as God's judgment engulfs their mighty city. Their powerful roars, once indicative of strength and conquest, transform into cries of agony and fear, echoing the sounds of beasts trapped and terrified.

Jeremiah 51 38 Context

Jeremiah chapter 51, following chapter 50, is entirely dedicated to a detailed prophetic judgment against Babylon. Jeremiah had previously ministered during the period leading up to and including the Babylonian conquest of Judah and Jerusalem, an event that led to the Jewish exile. These prophecies against Babylon provided crucial hope and reassurance to the exiled Judeans that their powerful oppressor, the one who had shattered their nation and temple, would eventually face its own destruction. The Lord proclaims through Jeremiah that Babylon will be destroyed for its pride, idolatry, and its cruelty against His people. This particular verse comes as part of a litany of declarations about the total overthrow and terror that will grip Babylon, emphasizing that its former might and self-assurance will give way to terror and lamentation. The imagery is deeply resonant with the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, where lions symbolized royal power and fierce military strength—elements that Babylon consistently boasted.

Jeremiah 51 38 Word analysis

• They (הֵמָּה - hemmāh): Refers directly to the inhabitants of Babylon, implicitly the general populace rather than specifically their military. This broad scope indicates that the terror and distress will be widespread.
• shall roar (יִשְׁאַגּוּ - yishʾaggū): From the root שָׁאַג (sha'ag), meaning "to roar." This is the characteristic sound of a mature lion, typically signifying strength, aggression, or hunger. Here, in the context of judgment, it paradoxically denotes a loud, profound, and collective cry of terror, anguish, and panic, marking a departure from an active hunt to a desperate wail.
• together (כְּאֶחָד - ke'eḥāḏ): Literally "as one" or "in unison." This highlights the overwhelming and widespread nature of the despair. It is not an isolated cry, but a collective cacophony of fear that will consume the entire city or populace.
• like lions (כָּאֲרָיֹות - kaʾărayōṯ): From אָרִי (ʾari), "lion." Lions were potent symbols of power, ferocity, and kingship in the Ancient Near East, including in Babylonian art and culture (e.g., the Lion of Babylon on the Ishtar Gate). This comparison draws a powerful ironic contrast: the entity that prided itself on lion-like strength will now emit lion-like sounds not of dominance, but of defeat and terror.
• they shall growl (יִנְהֲמוּ - yinhămū): From נָהַם (nāham), meaning "to growl," "moan," or "lament." This sound is often deeper and more guttural than a roar, and can signify frustration, contained rage, pain, or grief. It is generally a less powerful or intimidating sound than a full roar.
• as lion's whelps (כְּגוֹרֵי אֲרָיֹות - kegôrāy ʾărayōṯ): Lit. "as cubs of lions." Whelps are young, immature lions. This imagery signifies a reduction in strength and a profound state of helplessness. While a lion cub can be fierce, it lacks the full power, size, and intimidation of an adult lion, underscoring Babylon's ultimate vulnerability and lack of effective resistance.

Word-group analysis:

• "They shall roar together like lions": This phrase describes the initial, overwhelming, and collective expression of extreme fear and anguish from the once-mighty Babylonians. It conjures an image of a great multitude, perhaps like a pride of lions, but whose formidable sounds have now been transformed into cries of agony, symbolizing their downfall from supreme power to utter despair.
• "they shall growl as lion's whelps": This subsequent phrase extends and deepens the depiction of their suffering. The transition from mature "lions" to vulnerable "lion's whelps" signifies their ultimate humiliation and loss of power. The growling, a sound often associated with impotence, suppressed anger, or sustained pain, suggests a more pervasive and protracted state of fear and lamentation, as their diminished status becomes fully realized amidst their destruction.

Jeremiah 51 38 Bonus section

• The irony in using the lion metaphor is profound: Babylon had effectively roared at the nations through its military might, subjugating them. Now, it is they who will roar, not in conquest, but in complete anguish as the hunted, not the hunter.
• This prophetic word serves not only as a denunciation but also as an assurance of justice to the exiled Jews. For those suffering under Babylonian oppression, the imagery of their powerful captors being reduced to terrified, wailing beasts would have been deeply comforting and affirming of God's faithfulness to His covenant.
• The "roaring" can also be interpreted as a final, desperate challenge or an attempt to instill fear even in their defeat, which ultimately proves futile, giving way to the lesser "growl" of surrender to an overwhelming force.
• This verse contributes to a broader biblical theme where earthly powers, however formidable, are always ultimately subject to the sovereign will and judgment of the Lord, who "roars" His own declarations of judgment from Zion.

Jeremiah 51 38 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:38 is a vivid prophetic declaration that dramatically flips the traditional symbolism of the lion. Babylon, a nation that boasted immense strength, often symbolized by the fierce lion in its iconography and self-perception, is here depicted roaring and growling not in triumph, but in terror. The "roaring together like lions" suggests a widespread, collective panic, a desperate, gut-wrenching cry that resonates throughout the doomed city. The subsequent "growl as lion's whelps" further amplifies this imagery of fallen power, indicating not only that their mighty roars are now cries of distress, but also that their formidable adult strength has dwindled, leaving them vulnerable and helpless like mere cubs. This progression from a powerful roar to a pained growl signifies a complete and profound reversal of Babylon's fortune, from apex predator to pathetic victim, under the unwavering hand of God's righteous judgment. It reassures Israel of their oppressor's fate and highlights God's sovereign control over even the most formidable empires.