Jeremiah 51:59 kjv
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.
Jeremiah 51:59 nkjv
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And Seraiah was the quartermaster.
Jeremiah 51:59 niv
This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year of his reign.
Jeremiah 51:59 esv
The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster.
Jeremiah 51:59 nlt
The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, a staff officer, when Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign.
Jeremiah 51 59 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 51:60 | And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, that is, all these words that are spoken against Babylon. | Contextual lead-in for the prophecy |
| Jeremiah 51:61 | And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As you go to Babylon, when you arrive, read all these words aloud. | Direct command to Seraiah |
| Jeremiah 51:62 | Then you shall say, ‘O LORD, you have spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that none shall dwell in it, from man to beast, for shall be desolate forever.’ | Content of Seraiah's declaration |
| Jeremiah 29:1 | Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders of the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people. | Parallel instance of Jeremiah sending words |
| 2 Kings 25:27 | And in the thirty-seventh year of the uplifting of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year of his accession, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. | Historical context of Babylonian reign |
| Daniel 5:1 | Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. | Future downfall of Babylonian leadership |
| Isaiah 13:1 | The oracle concerning Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. | Prophecy against Babylon by another prophet |
| Isaiah 47:1 | “Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground; no throne for you; daughter of the Chaldeans! … | Imagery of Babylon’s humiliation |
| Revelation 18:2 | He cried out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every unclean spirit, a haunt of every unclean bird, a haunt of every detestable and unclean beast. | New Testament fulfillment/echo |
| Jeremiah 10:11 | You shall say to them: “Thus the heavens and the earth were created, by the word of the LORD. Thus shall your house be desolate from you, if you should turn from the idols you have worshiped.” | God's sovereign word and judgment |
| Psalm 137:8 | O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! | Babylon's impending destruction |
| Proverbs 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and reproofs for instruction are the way of life. | Importance of God's word being delivered |
| Romans 10:17 | So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. | The power of spoken prophecy |
| Jeremiah 28:15 | And Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. | Jeremiah's prophetic authority recognized |
| Exodus 7:1 | And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. | The role of prophet and messenger |
| Acts 20:27 | For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. | Completeness of prophetic message |
| Ezekiel 3:17 | “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me. | The prophet's duty as a watchman |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. | Divine origin of prophetic utterance |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | For thus says the LORD: “When seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. | Context of Israel's exile and return |
| 1 Corinthians 14:32 | And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. | Orderliness of prophecy |
Jeremiah 51 verses
Jeremiah 51 59 Meaning
Jeremiah 51:59 states: "The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah the son of Mahseiah, when he went unto Babylon in the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah, which was a scribe." This verse serves as an introduction to a prophetic oracle against Babylon, explaining who delivered a specific message, to whom, and under what historical circumstances. It establishes the authenticity and origin of the prophecy that follows, linking it directly to Jeremiah, a prominent prophet, and a key figure named Seraiah, a scribe.
Jeremiah 51 59 Context
This verse introduces Jeremiah 51, a comprehensive prophecy detailing the judgment against Babylon. The historical setting is the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, during the final years of the Southern Kingdom's existence before its destruction by the Babylonians. The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, was a dominant force, and its eventual fall was prophesied. Jeremiah was God's messenger, conveying His pronouncements of judgment to His people and the surrounding nations. This specific prophecy against Babylon was likely delivered during a diplomatic mission, or Seraiah was an official traveling to Babylon for some other purpose. His role as a scribe, potentially indicating literacy and a position of some trust, made him a suitable messenger for carrying a written prophecy.
Jeremiah 51 59 Word Analysis
- וַֽהְיֵ֗ה (wə·hə·hîyeh): "And it shall be." This is a common Hebrew conjunction followed by the imperfect tense of the verb "to be," indicating a future event or state. It links this statement to a preceding context, signifying a consequential event or the fulfillment of a previous declaration.
- דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar): "The word." This refers to a message, command, statement, or divine utterance. In this context, it specifically signifies the prophetic message entrusted to Seraiah.
- אֲשֶׁ֤ר (ʾă·šer): "that." A relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause.
- יִּרְמְיָ֫הוּ (yir·mə·yā·hû): "Jeremiah." The name of the prophet, meaning "Yahweh exalts."
- צִוָּה֙ (ṣi·wāh): "commanded." This verb denotes giving an order or instruction. It emphasizes that the prophecy was not merely observed but actively delivered by Jeremiah's authority as God's spokesman.
- אֶל־ (ʾel): "unto" or "to." A preposition indicating direction or the recipient of the action.
- שְׂרָיָ֫הוּ (śə·rā·yā·hû): "Seraiah." The name of the scribe. This is possibly derived from the Hebrew word for "prince" or "to wrestle with God," suggesting a person of status or spiritual engagement.
- בֶּן־ (ḇen): "son of." A common genealogical indicator.
- נִרְיָ֫הוּ (nir·yā·hû): "Neriah." Seraiah's father.
- בֶּן־ (ḇen): "son of." Another genealogical marker.
- מַחְשֵׂיָ֫הוּ (maḥ·sê·yā·hû): "Mahseiah." Neriah's father and Seraiah's grandfather.
- בְּצֵאתֹ֥ו (bə·ṣē·ṯō): "when he went" or "as he went." The preposition "bě-" ("in," "when") combined with the verbal noun "ṣēt" ("going forth," "departure").
- בָּבֶלָ֫ה (bā·ḇə·lāh): "Babylon." The great imperial city and capital of the Babylonian Empire.
- בִּשְׁנַ֫ת (biš·naṯ): "in the year of." A temporal indicator.
- רְבִיעִ֧ת (rə·ḇi·‘îṯ): "fourth." Denotes the specific year of Zedekiah's reign.
- לְמַלְכ֥וּת (lə·mal·ḵūṯ): "of the reign." Indicates the regnal year.
- צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ (ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hû): "Zedekiah." The last king of Judah.
- אֲשֶׁר־ (ʾă·šer): "which" or "who." A relative pronoun.
- סֹפֵ֧ר (sō·p̄êr): "a scribe." A person skilled in writing and records. In ancient times, scribes often held positions of importance in government and administration.
Words Group by Words Group Analysis:
- "The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah...": This establishes Jeremiah's direct involvement and authority in conveying God's message. It highlights the spoken word of prophecy, given through a human conduit.
- "...son of Neriah the son of Mahseiah...": This genealogical lineage, a common feature in Hebrew writing, lends credibility and establishes Seraiah's background, reinforcing his connection to the people of Judah.
- "...when he went unto Babylon in the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah...": This contextualizes the delivery of the message, pinpointing a specific historical moment in the troubled reign of Zedekiah, shortly before Jerusalem's final fall. It underscores that God's judgment extends to foreign oppressors.
- "...which was a scribe.": Seraiah's occupation as a scribe signifies his likely literacy and role in official capacities, making him an appropriate bearer of a written prophecy to be delivered in Babylon.
Jeremiah 51 59 Bonus Section
The practice of prophets entrusting messages to individuals for delivery to distant places or specific recipients is a recurring theme in the Old Testament (e.g., Elijah and Ahaziah's messengers, Isaiah's prophecies sent to Hezekiah). This act by Jeremiah demonstrates his commitment to ensuring God's word reached its intended audience, even if it involved a journey to the heart of the oppressor's empire. Seraiah’s role is crucial, as he becomes the initial conduit through which this weighty judgment against Babylon, a symbol of oppressive world power, is announced, foreshadowing its eventual downfall and God's ultimate sovereignty. This also mirrors how prophecies are often fulfilled across generations, with the spoken word needing faithful messengers.
Jeremiah 51 59 Commentary
Jeremiah 51:59 sets the stage for the subsequent, extensive prophecy against Babylon. Its purpose is to authenticate the coming oracle by identifying the prophet (Jeremiah) and the initial messenger (Seraiah), along with the specific time frame of its commissioning (fourth year of Zedekiah). This verse functions like a title or a preface, assuring the reader of the message's divine origin and authoritative transmission. The inclusion of Seraiah's lineage emphasizes the human element in delivering God's word, while his role as a scribe hints at the practical manner of delivering this significant prophecy, possibly through a written document to be read aloud upon arrival in Babylon.