Focused Passage

Jeremiah 50:21-24

Babylon Judged: The Fall of the Hammer and the Return of the LORD’s Flock

The chapter moves from Babylon’s announced capture and the shame of its gods, to the return of Israel and Judah, to the exposure of Israel as scattered sheep, to Babylon’s punishment as the last devourer, to the LORD’s attack on Babylon’s pride, idols, and warriors, and finally to the collapse of Babylon as a world-shaking judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,” declares the LORD.

22“The noise of battle is in the land—the noise of great destruction.

23How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!

24I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Cross-references

Ezekiel 23:23Classic cross-references Isaiah 48:14Classic cross-references Daniel 7:5Classic cross-references Isaiah 13:20Classic cross-references Jeremiah 51:3Classic cross-references

Original words

Go upעֲלֵ֣הH5927Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular. . .עָלֶ֔יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singularagainstעַל־H5921Prepositionthe landהָאָ֤רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularof Merathaimמְרָתַ֙יִם֙H4850Noun - fdand againstוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe residentsיוֹשְׁבֵ֖יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Pekodפְּק֑וֹדH6489Noun - proper - feminine singularKill themחֲרֹ֨בH2717Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularand devote them to destructionוְהַחֲרֵ֤םH2763Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular. . .אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙H310Preposition | third person masculine pluralDoוַעֲשֵׂ֕הH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularallכְּכֹ֖לH3605Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI have commanded youצִוִּיתִֽיךָ׃סH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

LXX Avenge, O sword,
Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in verse 26.

Verse 22

Cross-references

Jeremiah 51:54Classic cross-references Jeremiah 4:19Classic cross-references

Original words

The noiseק֥וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singular constructof battleמִלְחָמָ֖הH4421Noun - feminine singularis in the landבָּאָ֑רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular[the noise] of greatגָּדֽוֹל׃H1419Adjective - masculine singulardestructionוְשֶׁ֖בֶרH7667Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Isaiah 14:12Classic cross-references Isaiah 14:16Classic cross-references Jeremiah 51:20Classic cross-references Nahum 2:1Classic cross-references

Original words

Howאֵ֤יךְH349Interjectionthe hammerפַּטִּ֖ישׁH6360Noun - masculine singular constructof the wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructearthהָאָ֑רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularlies brokenנִגְדַּע֙H1438Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularand shatteredוַיִּשָּׁבֵ֔רH7665Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularWhatאֵ֣יךְH349Interjectiona horrorלְשַׁמָּ֛הH8047Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularBabylonבָּבֶ֖לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularhas becomeהָיְתָ֧הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularamong the nationsבַּגּוֹיִֽם׃H1471Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Verse 24

Cross-references

Daniel 5:30Classic cross-references Isaiah 45:9Classic cross-references Job 9:4Classic cross-references Jeremiah 50:29Classic cross-references Job 40:2Classic cross-references

Original words

I laid a snareיָקֹ֨שְׁתִּיH3369Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularfor youלָ֤ךְPreposition | second person feminine singularO Babylonבָּבֶ֔לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularand youוְגַם־H1571Conjunctionwere caughtנִלְכַּדְתְּ֙H3920Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singularbefore youוְאַ֖תְּH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person feminine singularvvvלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleknew itיָדָ֑עַתְּH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularYou were foundנִמְצֵאת֙H4672Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singular. . .וְגַם־H1571Conjunctionand capturedנִתְפַּ֔שְׂתְּH8610Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singularbecauseכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionyou challengedהִתְגָּרִֽית׃H1624Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - second person feminine singularthe LORDבַֽיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular

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