Jeremiah 51 46

Jeremiah 51:46 kjv

And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.

Jeremiah 51:46 nkjv

And lest your heart faint, And you fear for the rumor that will be heard in the land (A rumor will come one year, And after that, in another year A rumor will come, And violence in the land, Ruler against ruler),

Jeremiah 51:46 niv

Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.

Jeremiah 51:46 esv

Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler.

Jeremiah 51:46 nlt

But do not panic; don't be afraid
when you hear the first rumor of approaching forces.
For rumors will keep coming year by year.
Violence will erupt in the land
as the leaders fight against each other.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 46 Meaning

The verse states that the enemy's "inward thought of his heart shall not come to pass, neither shall his devices." This signifies that the enemy's malicious plans and schemes will ultimately fail to achieve their intended destructive outcome against God's people. It's a declaration of divine intervention ensuring the thwarted intentions of those who oppose God's will.

Jeremiah 51 46 Context

Jeremiah 51 prophesies the destruction of Babylon. This chapter serves as the concluding judgment against the Babylonian empire, which had been instrumental in the exile of Judah. The verse itself comes in the context of God's direct pronouncements concerning Babylon's impending doom, detailing the complete ruin and desolation that awaits the city. The immediate preceding verses likely speak of Babylon's pride and its downfall, setting the stage for this specific declaration about the failure of its strategies. Historically, Babylon was a formidable empire that inflicted immense suffering on Israel, making this prophetic announcement a source of comfort and vindication for God's people.

Jeremiah 51 46 Word Analysis

• וְלֹא (ve-lo): "and not" or "but not." The conjunction "vav" (ו) links this statement to the preceding or the overarching context of God's pronouncements, emphasizing a contrast or a consequence.
• יַעֲלֶה (ya'aleh): "will go up," "will arise," "will be accomplished," "will come to pass." This verb carries the idea of rising or succeeding. The failure here means it will not ascend to fulfillment.
• מַחֲשֶׁבֶת (machasheveth): "thought," "device," "plan," "scheme," "counsel." From the root chashav (חָשַׁב), meaning to think, reckon, devise, or plan. It refers to the inner intentions and mental constructions.
• לִבּוֹ (libbo): "his heart." The heart in Hebrew thought is the seat of emotions, intellect, will, and personality – the inner self.
• כִּי (ki): "for," "that," "because." In this position, it likely introduces the reason or the substance of the thought of the heart.
• אֵינֶנּוּ (einen·nu): "it is not" or "he is not." A common negative particle.
• חֶשְׁבֹּנוֹת (chesbonot): "reckonings," "devices," "schemes," "thoughts." Related to machashevet, but often implying more detailed or active plotting.
• וְלֹא (ve-lo): "and not" or "but not." Another emphasis on negation, reinforcing the failure of the enemy's plans.
• תִּפְרָּחֶנָּה (tifrach·nah): "they will blossom," "they will flourish," "they will prosper." From the root parach (פָּרַח), suggesting success and growth. Here, it means the enemy's schemes will not prosper or come to fruition.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "מַחֲשֶׁבֶת לִבּוֹ" (machasheveth libbo) - "thought of his heart": This phrase encapsulates the deep-seated, personal, and potentially deceptive intentions of the enemy, emphasizing the internal origin of their plans. It's not just external actions, but what they purpose in their inner being.
• "אֵינֶנּוּ חֶשְׁבֹּנוֹת וְלֹא תִּפְרָּחֶנָּה" (einen·nu chesbonot ve-lo tifrach·nah) - "it is not schemes and they will not prosper": This is a dual declaration of failure. The "schemes" (חשבונות - chesbonot) will not be brought forth or enacted, and their intended outcome or prosperity will not be achieved. The "they" in "will not prosper" refers back to the "schemes."

Jeremiah 51 46 Bonus Section

The judgment pronounced on Babylon in Jeremiah 51 is exceptionally detailed. This specific verse fits into the larger prophetic tapestry of God’s justice against oppressive empires. The failure of Babylon’s plans is not simply a random event; it's a deliberate act of God. This principle is seen throughout Scripture, from Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams to God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The enemy’s "thought" and "schemes" can be likened to the strategies of spiritual forces against God’s people, as described in Ephesians 6:12, which are ultimately overcome through God's strength. The ultimate failure of all earthly opposition to God’s kingdom is a theme that culminates in the book of Revelation.

Jeremiah 51 46 Commentary

This verse is a powerful affirmation of divine sovereignty over human machinations. Despite the perceived strength and cunning of the enemy (in this context, Babylon), God declares that their most private thoughts and detailed schemes will ultimately fail. The use of "heart" underscores the personal and deliberate nature of their plots, yet these are rendered impotent by God's overarching power. The repetition of negation ("not... and not") reinforces the certainty of this failure. This message provides assurance to those under oppression that their adversaries' efforts to harm them are doomed to futility. It speaks to a reality where divine purposes triumph over human resistance and the most carefully laid plans of the wicked will not come to fruition.