Jeremiah 51 55

Jeremiah 51:55 kjv

Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:

Jeremiah 51:55 nkjv

Because the LORD is plundering Babylon And silencing her loud voice, Though her waves roar like great waters, And the noise of their voice is uttered,

Jeremiah 51:55 niv

The LORD will destroy Babylon; he will silence her noisy din. Waves of enemies will rage like great waters; the roar of their voices will resound.

Jeremiah 51:55 esv

For the LORD is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised,

Jeremiah 51:55 nlt

For the LORD is destroying Babylon.
He will silence her loud voice.
Waves of enemies pound against her;
the noise of battle rings through the city.

Jeremiah 51 verses

Jeremiah 51 55 meaning

Jeremiah 51:55 prophesies the complete and dramatic downfall of Babylon. The verse declares that the LORD Himself will bring about Babylon's destruction and silence its characteristic "loud noise"—its boasts, its celebratory clamor, its idolatrous chants, and its general tumult of power. In stark contrast to its former arrogance, Babylon will then experience an overwhelming, tumultuous roaring, akin to the surge of mighty waves. This new sound signifies the chaos, lament, and utter devastation that will engulf it, as the noise of its ruin and despair is pronounced throughout its fallen dominion.

Jeremiah 51 55 Context

Jeremiah 51 is a comprehensive prophetic oracle specifically dedicated to the destruction of Babylon, serving as a message of judgment for its oppression of Israel and its arrogance against God. Coming towards the end of the Book of Jeremiah, this chapter culminates the Lord's pronouncements against nations, with Babylon—the prevailing superpower and captor of Judah—being the central focus. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated deeply with the exiles in Babylon (post-586 BC), offering them assurance of divine justice and future restoration. The verse itself stands as a stark declaration that the seemingly invincible empire's reign of noise and glory will be unequivocally terminated by YHVH, leading to an entirely different kind of sound within its borders—that of calamity and lament. It directly challenges the Mesopotamian worldview where patron deities protected their cities; here, YHVH orchestrates the downfall of the greatest city through an unnamed "destroyer," effectively debunking Babylon's claims of divine favor and invincibility.

Jeremiah 51 55 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): A conjunction introducing the reason or explanation for the preceding statements of Babylon's utter devastation. It reinforces the divine purpose behind the judgment.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHVH): The sacred covenant name of God, emphasizing that this destruction is not merely a political or military event, but a sovereign act initiated and executed by the God of Israel, fulfilling His promises and judgments.
• will destroy (שֹׁדֵד - shoded): From the root "שׁדד" (shadad), meaning to violently lay waste, devastate, plunder, or spoil. It indicates a complete and utter desolation, often associated with hostile invasion.
• Babylon (בָּבֶל - Bavel): The literal historical empire, but also a symbol in biblical prophecy for any oppressive, proud world power hostile to God and His people, often associated with idolatry and immorality.
• and still (וְהִאֲבִיד - v'hi'avid): From the Hiphil form of "אבד" (abad), meaning "to cause to perish," "to destroy," "to cut off," or "to put an end to." Here, it specifically denotes the act of silencing or bringing to a standstill.
• her loud noise (מִמֶּנָּה קוֹל גָּדוֹל - mimennah qol gadol): Lit. "from her a great voice/sound." This "loud noise" signifies the boisterous clamor of Babylonian life—its proud boasts of military victories, its celebratory festivals, its idol worship ceremonies with their attendant music and shouts, its economic buzz, and its general self-aggrandizement. This will be completely removed.
• and their waves (וְהָמוּ גַּלֵּיהֶם - v'hamu galleihem): Lit. "and their waves will roar/make a noise." "Waves" (gallim) can represent multitude, chaos, overwhelming force, or the people themselves. Here, with "their," it likely refers to Babylon's own populace or the resulting tumult within Babylon, once roaring in defiance, now in distress. The verb "hamu" (roar/be turbulent) signifies a confused and disquieting noise.
• roar like great waters (כְּמַיִם רַבִּים - k'mayim rabbim): A powerful simile. "Great waters" in the Bible often represent immense power, overwhelming force, chaos, or vast multitudes of people. Here, it graphically portrays the tumultuous sound of destruction, the cries of despair, or the overwhelming force of the attackers likened to an irresistible flood against Babylon itself.
• and the noise (שְׁאוֹנָם - sh'onam): "Their noise," from "שׁאון" (sha'on), meaning an uproar, tumult, or desolation, specifically a noise of destruction or ruin. It's distinct from qol gadol; it is the sound of lament, suffering, and the cacophony of an empire collapsing.
• of their voice is uttered (נִתַּן - nittan): Lit. "is given/placed." The Niphal (passive) perfect tense means "it will be given out," "it will be established," or "it will resound." This emphasizes the inevitability and public declaration of this new noise of Babylon's demise, making it manifest for all to hear.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For the LORD will destroy Babylon": This phrase establishes the divine agency and the definitive outcome. It's not a mere geopolitical shift but a sovereign act of God's justice against a mighty human empire that exalted itself against Him and His people.
• "and still her loud noise": This directly contrasts Babylon's former state of boasting, revelry, and idolatrous clamor with its future silenced, humiliated condition. The cessation of this "great voice" marks the end of its triumphalism and autonomy.
• "and their waves roar like great waters, and the noise of their voice is uttered": This vivid imagery illustrates the replacement of Babylon's proud noise with the sound of its own overwhelming destruction and despair. The "waves" could refer to the multitude of its inhabitants wailing in agony, the internal chaos engulfing it, or the sound of the overwhelming enemy forces acting as instruments of judgment. The comparison to "great waters" highlights the uncontrollable, pervasive, and powerful nature of this incoming tumult. "The noise of their voice is uttered" suggests that this new, lamenting, destructive noise will become Babylon's defining sound, irrevocably exposed and resounding.

Jeremiah 51 55 Bonus section

The "loud noise" (קול גדול, qol gadol) associated with Babylon could be seen as a direct affront to God, mirroring the "great voice" that often accompanies divine proclamations or significant events for the LORD. By silencing their great noise, the LORD asserts that only His "great voice" will ultimately prevail and have authority. The image of roaring waters, while here indicating overwhelming destruction upon Babylon, is frequently used elsewhere in scripture to describe God's own majesty, power, or the voice of the multitude of the redeemed, demonstrating that true overwhelming power belongs only to God, not to any earthly empire. The ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy in a spiritual sense points to the final destruction of "Babylon the Great" in Revelation, where the joyful sounds and commercial hum are forever silenced, and lament and desolation prevail.

Jeremiah 51 55 Commentary

Jeremiah 51:55 delivers a profound and multi-layered prophecy of Babylon's ultimate end, focusing on the auditory transformation accompanying its fall. The verse starkly contrasts Babylon's current "loud noise"—the clamor of its triumphal celebrations, the proud boasts of its power, the joyous songs, and perhaps the very din of its idolatrous rituals and thriving marketplace—with the eerie silence and subsequent terrifying din of its destruction. This silencing, orchestrated by the LORD Himself, marks the end of an era of arrogance and self-sufficiency.

This silencing is immediately followed by a new kind of sound: the tumultuous roar of "their waves like great waters" and "the noise of their voice uttered." This powerful imagery signifies not only the overwhelming force of the armies that will devastate Babylon (often portrayed as a flood in scripture) but also the internal chaos and cries of despair from its own people. The triumphant sounds of Babylon will cease, replaced by the chaotic roar of collapse, the wailing of the defeated, and the clamor of its complete desolation. The passive phrase "is uttered" underscores that this lamentable new sound will not be chosen by Babylon but will be its inescapable, divinely appointed fate, heard and established for all time as a testament to its downfall. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over all human kingdoms and His ultimate justice against pride and oppression.