Jeremiah 51 49

Jeremiah 51:49 kjv

As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.

Jeremiah 51:49 nkjv

As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, So at Babylon the slain of all the earth shall fall.

Jeremiah 51:49 niv

"Babylon must fall because of Israel's slain, just as the slain in all the earth have fallen because of Babylon.

Jeremiah 51:49 esv

Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel, just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.

Jeremiah 51:49 nlt

"Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel
and others throughout the world,
so must her people be killed.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 49 Meaning

This verse in Jeremiah declares that those who are complicit in Babylon's destruction and rejoicing in her downfall will ultimately receive their recompense from God. Even those who merely contribute to Babylon's ruin by passive observance will experience God's just judgment upon themselves. It highlights God's overarching sovereignty and His promise of accountability for all actions, particularly those connected to His judgment against wickedness.

Jeremiah 51 49 Context

Jeremiah 51:49 is the concluding verse of a lengthy prophecy against Babylon in the book of Jeremiah. Chapters 50 and 51 detail God's judgment on Babylon, a nation that had become a symbol of oppressive power and idolatry, responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of God's people. The prophet recounts Babylon's impending doom, emphasizing that God's wrath will fall upon her because of her cruelty and her proud defiance of the Lord. This specific verse broadens the scope of divine accountability, stating that even those who simply "beheld" and did not actively participate in Babylon's destruction will still face God's judgment if their disposition was celebratory or complicit. It signifies that God's judgment extends beyond direct actions to include heart attitudes and associations with evil.

Jeremiah 51 49 Word Analysis

• וְגַם (vĕgamm): "and also" or "even." This conjunction emphasizes the inclusive nature of God's justice, extending it to those who might seem less involved.

• בְּתוּלֹתֶיהָ (bĕṯūlōṯeyhā): "her virgins" or "her young women." In ancient Near Eastern contexts, "virgins" often represented the purity and pride of a city or nation, its undefiled strength and future. The capture and defilement of virgins were potent symbols of a city's utter downfall.

• יִפְּלוּ (yippĕlû): "shall fall." A common verb indicating defeat, ruin, and destruction. It signifies the complete collapse and overthrow of the city and its inhabitants.

• נֶחְלָלִים (neḥlālîm): "they who were ravaged" or "they who are laid waste." This participle implies a state of being already violated, spoiled, or desecrated. It speaks to the ruin inflicted upon Babylon and its people.

• כִּי (kî): "because" or "for." This introduces the reason for their falling – the ultimate cause is the internal corruptions and sins associated with Babylon itself, leading to their own ruin when God turns His attention to them.

• Group of words: "גם בתולתיה יפלו" (Gam bĕṯūlōṯeyhā yippĕlû): This phrase signifies not just the fall of military strength or leaders, but the corruption and violation of the very essence and future represented by the "virgins" of Babylon. It's a devastating picture of a nation utterly ruined.

• Group of words: "ונחללים" (wĕneḥlālîm): The connecting "and" combined with the participle "ravaged" points to the consequence of Babylon's downfall. Even those who were once considered pure or protected are now subjected to destruction and desecration as a direct result of their city's ruin and perhaps their own complicity.

Jeremiah 51 49 Bonus Section

This verse, in its context, reflects a recurring theme in prophetic literature: God's universal judgment against wicked empires and His ultimate vindication of His people. The imagery of Babylon's fall is often interpreted not just historically but also eschatologically, pointing to a future judgment of all anti-God systems. The prophecy's closing lines in Jeremiah 51 emphasize God's absolute control over history and His ability to use even pagans and adversaries as instruments of His will, but also to hold them accountable for their own actions and pride. The mention of "virgins" falling also echoes earlier prophecies of doom against Israel and Judah where such imagery was used for their own fallen state, thus demonstrating that God's judgment is consistent in principle, whether applied to His people or to foreign nations.

Jeremiah 51 49 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:49 provides a chilling insight into the comprehensive nature of divine judgment. Babylon, the great oppressor, faces total destruction. What is striking here is the inclusion of "her virgins," symbolizing innocence and the future, in the fall. This emphasizes that no aspect of the city is spared. Furthermore, the verse highlights a crucial theological point: not only those who directly acted against God's people but also those who, even by passive observation or detached rejoicing, were associated with or took pleasure in Babylon's actions or demise, are brought under accountability. It serves as a stark reminder that God holds everyone responsible for their heart's disposition and their indirect participation in or validation of evil. The consequence for Babylon is not merely political defeat but a total spiritual and physical obliteration, impacting even those who might have felt removed from the main conflict.

• Practical application: Believers should be mindful not to find joy in the downfall of any entity apart from rejoicing in God's justice executed according to His perfect will and timing. Their delight should be in God's righteousness, not merely in destruction itself.