Jeremiah 51:56 kjv
Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.
Jeremiah 51:56 nkjv
Because the plunderer comes against her, against Babylon, And her mighty men are taken. Every one of their bows is broken; For the LORD is the God of recompense, He will surely repay.
Jeremiah 51:56 niv
A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the LORD is a God of retribution; he will repay in full.
Jeremiah 51:56 esv
for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken; their bows are broken in pieces, for the LORD is a God of recompense; he will surely repay.
Jeremiah 51:56 nlt
Destroying armies come against Babylon.
Her mighty men are captured,
and their weapons break in their hands.
For the LORD is a God who gives just punishment;
he always repays in full.
Jeremiah 51 56 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 51:56 | For a destroyer is come upon her, upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken: their bows are broken in pieces: for the LORD is a God of recompense, he will surely requite. | Fulfillment of judgment on Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50:15 | Cry aloud against her, O ye nations: ... her walls are fallen: for it is the LORD'S vengeance, the vengeance of the temple of the LORD her God. | God's vengeance is absolute |
| Jeremiah 50:29 | Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her. | Direct call to repay Babylon |
| Isaiah 47:10 | For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. | Babylon's pride and self-reliance |
| Isaiah 47:11 | Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it cometh: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put off: and desolation shall come upon thee unawares. | Unforeseen destruction upon Babylon |
| Ezekiel 25:12 | Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; | God's judgment on Edom for vengeance |
| Ezekiel 25:14 | And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD. | God's vengeance through His people |
| Romans 12:19 | Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. | New Testament echo of God's vengeance |
| Hebrews 10:30 | For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. | Affirmation of God's recompense |
| Deuteronomy 32:35 | To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. | God's promise of vengeance and time |
| Psalm 94:1 | O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. | God as the ultimate avenger |
| Psalm 94:2 | Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. | Judge and rewarder of the proud |
| Nahum 1:2 | God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance of his adversaries, and he keepeth wrath for his enemies. | God's wrath and vengeance |
| Jeremiah 25:14 | And they shall serve them, and the son of their bondmen: but many nations and great kings shall also serve themselves of them, and of their spoil. | Nations serving Babylon |
| Jeremiah 25:38 | He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land at that day shall be desolate because of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger. | Desolation due to oppression |
| Revelation 18:6 | Reward her as she hath rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. | Retribution for Babylon in Revelation |
| Revelation 18:20 | Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. | Heaven rejoicing in God's vengeance |
| Habakkuk 2:6-8 | Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, saying, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long will it be, ere he shall awake unto judgement? ... Thou shalt surely become a booty and a spoil to the nations round about thee: and thy merchants shall be as the merchants of the great countries. | Judgment for unjust gain and exploitation |
| Isaiah 13:15-16 | Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is taken shall fall by the sword. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses also shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. | Brutality of Babylon's destruction |
| Jeremiah 51:11 | Make sharp the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device against Babylon is to destroy it; because it is the LORD'S vengeance, the vengeance of his temple. | God's plan of destruction against Babylon |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 56 Meaning
This verse declares that God is a God of recompense. He will repay what is due. It asserts that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has been a vessel used by God, and that the violence he inflicted will be turned back upon him and his kingdom.
Jeremiah 51 56 Context
Jeremiah 51 is a prophecy directed against Babylon, describing its impending downfall. The chapter details the destructive forces that will be unleashed upon the city and the reasons for its judgment. Babylon, a powerful empire, had subjected many nations, including Judah, to brutal oppression and idolatry. Jeremiah’s prophecy outlines the severe consequences for such actions, emphasizing divine retribution. The preceding verses detail the methods and instruments of this destruction. This verse serves as a capstone declaration of the underlying principle guiding these events: God’s ultimate justice and recompense for actions committed. It contextualizes Babylon's demise not merely as a political upheaval, but as a divinely ordained response to its cruelty and defiance.
Jeremiah 51 56 Word Analysis
- For (Kî - כִּי): Introduces a reason or explanation.
- a destroyer (Mahsîs - מַחֲסִ֔י): This is not a direct word in Hebrew here. The Hebrew is actually "ba'ah maḥas" (בָּאָה מַחַס) meaning "destruction comes" or "there is a desolator". The singular noun implies an agent of destruction, but the root signifies devastation or a stronghold from which destruction comes. Here, it signifies something or someone that brings ruin.
- is come (Bā'â - בָּאָה): Feminine singular verb, past tense of "bā'", meaning "to come" or "to enter." It indicates that the agent of destruction has arrived or is actively present.
- upon her (Ālêyhâ - עָלֶ֙יהָ): Preposition "al" (upon) with the third person feminine singular suffix "ēyha" (her), indicating the object of the destruction is Babylon.
- and (Wə - וְ): A conjunction linking two clauses.
- her mighty men (ʿammîqêyhâ - עַמִּיקֶ֙יהָ): "ʿam" (people, army) + "îq" (strength, deepness) + possessive suffix. It signifies her warriors, her strong ones, her depths of strength, referring to her most powerful military personnel.
- are taken (Ləqūḍû - לְקֻד֖וּ): Third person masculine plural, passive Niphal form of the verb "lāqaḏ," meaning "to gather," "to pick," or "to take captive." This signifies that her strong men are being captured or removed.
- their bows (Qǝšāṯêyhem - קַשְּׁתֹ֣): Plural noun "qešet" (bow) with the third person masculine plural possessive suffix "hem" (their). Refers to their weapons of warfare.
- are broken (niqqəṭēʿû - נִקְטְע֖וּ): Third person masculine plural, Niphal passive form of the verb "qāṭaʿ," meaning "to cut off," "to sever," or "to break." Their weapons are rendered useless.
- for (Kî - כִּֽי): Another instance of the conjunction introducing a reason.
- the LORD (Yĕhōwâ - יְהוָ֗ה): The covenant name of God.
- is a God (ʼĕlōhîm - אֱלֹהִ֣ים): Masculine plural noun for God, often used with singular verbs to denote God's majesty, power, and multifaceted nature.
- of recompense (Gemûlôt - גְּמ֥וּל): Plural noun from "gāmal" (to deal with, to recompense, to reward). It signifies that God repays, rewards, or punishes. This is the core attribute highlighted.
- he will surely requite (šālōm yəšallēm - שָׁלֵ֣ם יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם): "šālōm" here doesn't mean peace, but is part of the verbal construction "šālēm" (to repay, to make full, to restore). The verb form used ("šālēm") emphasizes a complete or full repayment, reinforcing the idea of exact and full recompense. The intensive or causative sense implies God will certainly accomplish this act of paying back.
Group Analysis:The phrase "destruction comes upon her, and her mighty men are taken: their bows are broken" describes the tangible, physical collapse of Babylon's military power. This is directly attributed to the fundamental character of God as a "God of recompense," who "will surely requite." The cause of Babylon's fall is not random chance, but the intentional justice of God responding to Babylon's deeds.
Jeremiah 51 56 Bonus Section
The term "recompense" (Gemûlôt) carries the idea of rendering to someone what is their due. In a justice system, recompense is restitution or satisfaction. Here, it signifies divine accounting for actions. This divine recompense is a foundational aspect of God’s character throughout Scripture. It means God balances the scales of justice, ensuring that evil deeds do not go unpunished and that righteousness is ultimately vindicated. The verse reflects a judicial aspect of God’s dealings with humanity, where judgment is certain and proportionate.
Jeremiah 51 56 Commentary
This verse serves as a powerful assertion of divine sovereignty and justice in the face of human tyranny. God is presented not just as a distant observer, but as an active participant who holds nations accountable. The defeat of Babylon's military, symbolized by their captured warriors and broken bows, is a direct consequence of God's role as a God who repays. This principle extends beyond Babylon; it’s a universal truth that all human actions have divine consequences. The "recompense" implies both punishment for wrongdoing and a restoration of justice for those who have suffered. For believers, this offers assurance that injustice will not prevail, as God Himself is the ultimate guarantor of fairness and the punisher of wickedness.