Jeremiah Chapter 51
Jeremiah 51
A Word of Judgment Against Babylon Continued
Jeremiah 51:1-5, A Destroying Wind against Babylon
Jeremiah 51:1-5, “Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host. Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets. For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”
Jeremiah 51 continues the judgment against Babylon from Jeremiah 50. Babylon had been used by God to judge Judah, but Babylon herself would now be judged. The LORD says He will raise up a destroying wind against Babylon, against those who rise up against Him.
The picture is agricultural. God will send “fanners” to Babylon. These are winnowers who separate grain from chaff. Babylon will be tossed, exposed, emptied, and scattered. Her land will be emptied because the day of trouble has come.
The archers are summoned. The army of Babylon is not to be spared. Her young men and host will fall. The slain will fall in Chaldea and in the streets.
Then God gives the covenant reason for Babylon’s judgment: “For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God.” Judah’s land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel, but sin did not make God forsake His covenant people. He chastened them, but He did not abandon them. Babylon mistook God’s discipline of Judah as proof that Judah was finished. God now proves otherwise.
Jeremiah 51:6-8, Fleeing from Fallen Babylon
Jeremiah 51:6-8, “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.”
God commands His people to flee from Babylon. It is dangerous to remain in a place marked for judgment. To stay in Babylon is to risk being cut off in her iniquity.
Babylon was “a golden cup in the LORD’S hand.” She was beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and influential. God used her as an instrument of judgment among the nations. But the nations became drunk with Babylon’s wine. They were intoxicated by her power, idolatry, luxury, violence, and pride.
This language points beyond ancient Babylon to the later prophetic picture of Babylon in Revelation.
Revelation 17:4, “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls...”
Revelation 18:3, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication...”
Babylon suddenly falls. The call to take balm is ironic. Babylon cannot be healed. The same empire that wounded others will now receive an incurable wound from the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:9-14, The Vengeance of God against Babylon
Jeremiah 51:9-14, “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.”
The nations abandon Babylon. They say, “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed.” Her judgment reaches to heaven. Her sins and judgment are vast, public, and undeniable.
The restored people of God say, “The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness.” Babylon’s fall vindicates the LORD and His people. It proves that Babylon did not defeat Judah because Babylon’s gods were stronger. Babylon only acted under God’s sovereign permission, and now God judges Babylon.
The Medes are specifically named. The LORD raises up the spirit of the kings of the Medes because His plan is against Babylon. Historically, Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian power. Prophetically, this also anticipates the final destruction of Babylon as the world system opposed to God.
The judgment is called “the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.” Babylon burned the temple, but the LORD did not forget His house. He will repay.
Babylon dwelt upon many waters and was abundant in treasures. Her rivers, canals, wealth, trade, and resources gave her confidence. But God says, “thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.” Her greed has reached its measure, and judgment has reached its appointed time.
Jeremiah 51:15-19, The Power of the LORD Contrasted with Empty Idols
Jeremiah 51:15-19, “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.”
Jeremiah now contrasts the living God with Babylon’s idols. The LORD made the earth by His power. He established the world by His wisdom. He stretched out heaven by His understanding.
He rules creation presently. He speaks, and waters gather in the heavens. He causes vapors to rise, makes lightning with rain, and brings wind out of His treasures. The God judging Babylon is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Against this, idols are foolishness. The metalsmith is confounded by the graven image. The molten image is falsehood. There is no breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors, and they will perish in the time of visitation.
The LORD is different. “The portion of Jacob is not like them.” Israel’s God is not a carved thing. He is the Maker of all things. Israel is the rod of His inheritance. His name is the LORD of hosts.
Babylon’s idols are dead. Israel’s God is living, sovereign, and active.
Jeremiah 51:20-24, Breaking in Pieces the Might of Babylon
Jeremiah 51:20-24, “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.”
The LORD speaks of His battle axe and weapons of war. The repeated phrase “with thee will I break in pieces” falls like hammer blows. Nations, kingdoms, horses, riders, chariots, men, women, old, young, shepherds, flocks, farmers, oxen, captains, and rulers are all shattered under judgment.
This section may speak of Babylon as the instrument God had used, but it also anticipates the instrument God will use against Babylon. Either way, the point is clear. God rules over the instruments of war. Nations do not act independently of His sovereign government.
The final reason is again moral: “I will render unto Babylon... all their evil that they have done in Zion.” Babylon’s violence in Zion will be repaid. God does not forget what is done to His people and His holy place.
Jeremiah 51:25-32, Bringing Many Kingdoms against Babylon
Jeremiah 51:25-32, “Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD. Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers. Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion. And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken. One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end, And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.”
Babylon is called a “destroying mountain.” A mountain can represent a kingdom or empire. Babylon destroyed all the earth, but now the LORD says, “I am against thee.” God will roll Babylon down and make it a burnt mountain.
No stone from Babylon will be taken for a corner or foundation. This means her destruction is not only defeat, but rejection. She will not become the foundation of something lasting. She will be desolate.
The nations are summoned against her. Ararat, Minni, Ashchenaz, and the kings of the Medes are called. God gathers many kingdoms to perform His purpose against Babylon.
The key sentence is, “every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon.” Babylon’s fall is not accidental. It is the execution of God’s counsel.
Babylon’s mighty men cease fighting. They remain in their strongholds, but their might fails. They become like women in terror. The dwelling places burn. The bars of the gates are broken.
Messengers run into one another to tell the king that the city is taken. The passages are stopped. The reeds are burned. The men of war are terrified. The empire that caused terror is now filled with terror.
Jeremiah 51:33-35, Threshing Babylon as They Had Threshed Zion
Jeremiah 51:33-35, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out. The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.”
Babylon is now pictured as a threshing floor. The time to thresh her is near. The empire that crushed others will be crushed.
Zion speaks as one devoured by Nebuchadrezzar. He crushed Jerusalem, made her an empty vessel, swallowed her like a dragon, filled himself with her delicacies, and cast her out. The language is graphic because Babylon’s cruelty was real.
Jerusalem calls for the violence done to her to come upon Babylon. This is not personal revenge in the flesh. It is a cry for divine justice. Babylon had shed blood, violated Zion, and destroyed the temple. The LORD will answer.
Jeremiah 51:36-40, Babylon Like Lambs to the Slaughter
Jeremiah 51:36-40, “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.”
The LORD promises, “I will plead thy cause.” God becomes the advocate and avenger of Zion. He will take vengeance for His people.
He will dry up Babylon’s sea and springs. Babylon depended on waters, but God can dry what men depend on. The city will become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, a hissing, and without inhabitant.
Babylon roars like lions, but God will turn their roaring into helplessness. He will make them drunk at their feasts, and they will sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake. This connects strongly with the fall of Babylon in Daniel 5, when Belshazzar’s feast was interrupted by divine judgment.
Daniel 5:30-31, “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.”
The proud lions become lambs to the slaughter. The arrogant empire becomes helpless prey.
Jeremiah 51:41-48, Punishing Babylon and Her Idols
Jeremiah 51:41-48, “How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby. And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler. Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD.”
Babylon is called Sheshach, a coded name used for Babylon. The praise of the whole earth is taken. The city admired by nations becomes an astonishment among nations.
The sea comes up over Babylon, covering her with waves. Though Babylon was not a coastal city, the image shows overwhelming judgment. Her cities become dry land and wilderness, without man passing through.
Bel is punished in Babylon. God brings out of Bel’s mouth what he swallowed. This likely means Babylon’s god and empire must disgorge what they consumed from the nations and from God’s people. The nations will no longer stream to him. The wall of Babylon will fall.
Again God says, “My people, go ye out of the midst of her.” This is both historical instruction and prophetic principle. God’s people must not identify with Babylon under judgment.
Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people...”
Rumors and violence will come. Ruler will rise against ruler. God will judge Babylon’s graven images. Her land will be ashamed, and her slain will fall.
Then heaven and earth sing over Babylon. This is not joy in cruelty. It is joy in righteousness, justice, and the end of a wicked oppressor.
Jeremiah 51:49-56, Babylon That Plundered the LORD’s House Will Be Plundered
Jeremiah 51:49-56, “As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house. Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan. Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD. A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans: 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: 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.”
Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall. Therefore the slain of all the earth will fall at Babylon. This is recompense.
Those who escape the sword are told to go away and not stand still. They must remember the LORD from afar and let Jerusalem come into their mind. Even while scattered, they must orient their hearts toward God and His city.
The shame of Judah is remembered. Strangers came into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house. The temple was defiled and destroyed. God had allowed it as judgment, but He did not forget the reproach.
Babylon may try to mount up to heaven and fortify the height of her strength, but spoilers will come from the LORD. This recalls Babel’s ancient pride.
Genesis 11:4, “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven...”
Babylon’s great voice is destroyed. Her roaring waves cannot save her. Her mighty men are taken. Every bow is broken.
The reason is final: “the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.” God repays. He does not overlook evil forever.
Jeremiah 51:57-58, Babylon’s Broken Walls
Jeremiah 51:57-58, “And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.”
God will make Babylon’s princes, wise men, captains, rulers, and mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake. Again this fits the judgment atmosphere of Daniel 5, where Babylon’s rulers feasted while the kingdom was taken.
The speaker is “the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.” Babylon had a king, but the LORD is the true King.
The broad walls of Babylon will be utterly broken, and her high gates burned with fire. The people labor in vain. The nations exhaust themselves for what fire consumes.
Babylon was famous for strength, walls, gates, wealth, and grandeur. God says all of it will fail. Human greatness built against God ends in weariness and fire.
Jeremiah 51:59-60, Zedekiah’s Visit to Babylon
Jeremiah 51:59-60, “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. So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.”
The chapter now gives a historical postscript. Jeremiah commands Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he goes with Zedekiah king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.
Seraiah is called “a quiet prince.” He seems to have had an official role connected to the king’s journey. He was also related to Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, since both are sons of Neriah.
Jeremiah writes in a book all the evil that will come upon Babylon. This written prophecy includes the words against Babylon from Jeremiah 50 and 51.
This is remarkable because Jeremiah was still counseling Judah to submit to Babylon at that time. Submission to Babylon was God’s command for Judah’s immediate situation. But Babylon’s future destruction was also certain. Faith obeys God’s present command while trusting God’s future judgment.
Jeremiah 51:61-64, A Graphic Illustration of Babylon’s Coming Judgment
Jeremiah 51:61-64, “And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.”
Jeremiah instructs Seraiah to read the words when he arrives in Babylon. He must confess that the LORD has spoken against that place to cut it off, leaving neither man nor beast, making it desolate forever.
After reading the book, Seraiah is to bind a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates. This is a prophetic sign act. The scroll sinks into the river and does not rise. So Babylon will sink and not rise from the evil God brings upon her.
The symbolic act is later echoed in Revelation.
Revelation 18:21, “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”
The chapter ends, “Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” This marks the conclusion of Jeremiah’s prophetic words, with chapter 52 serving as a historical appendix.
Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry ends with Babylon sinking under judgment. The empire that seemed permanent is not permanent. The word of the LORD is permanent. Babylon falls. The LORD reigns.
Doctrinal and Practical Notes
Jeremiah 51 teaches that God may use an empire as His instrument and then judge that empire for its own sin.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that God’s people are chastened but not forsaken. Israel and Judah sinned, but the LORD did not abandon them.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that Babylon is both historical and prophetic. Ancient Babylon fell, but the final Babylon system will also fall.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that God’s people must come out of Babylon. They must not share in her sins or her judgment.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that idols are breathless, false, vain, and doomed. The living God made the earth by power, wisdom, and understanding.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that God repays evil done to Zion. Babylon’s violence against Jerusalem and the temple is remembered.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that pride may mount up to heaven, but it cannot escape God. Babel and Babylon both fall under divine judgment.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that the LORD is the God of recompenses. He surely repays.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that God’s judgments can make heaven and earth rejoice because justice is restored and oppression is ended.
Jeremiah 51 teaches that the word of the LORD outlasts every empire. Babylon sinks. God’s word stands.
Summary
Jeremiah 51 continues the word of judgment against Babylon. The LORD raises up a destroying wind and sends fanners to winnow Babylon and empty her land. Her army will be destroyed, but Israel and Judah are not forsaken, though their land was filled with sin.
God commands His people to flee from Babylon and not be cut off in her iniquity. Babylon had been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, making the nations drunk, but she suddenly falls and cannot be healed. The nations abandon her, and God raises the kings of the Medes because His plan is to destroy Babylon as vengeance for His temple. Babylon’s end has come, and the measure of her covetousness is full.
Jeremiah contrasts Babylon’s idols with the living God. The LORD made the earth by His power, established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out heaven by His understanding. Idols are falsehood, without breath, vanity, and the work of errors. The portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the Maker of all things.
God speaks of His battle axe and weapons of war, breaking nations, kingdoms, horses, riders, chariots, men, women, old, young, shepherds, flocks, farmers, captains, and rulers. He will repay Babylon and Chaldea for all the evil done in Zion. Babylon is called a destroying mountain, but God will roll it down and make it a burnt mountain. Nations including Ararat, Minni, Ashchenaz, and the kings of the Medes are summoned against her. Babylon’s warriors fail, her gates are broken, messengers run with news that the city is taken, and the men of war are terrified.
Babylon is like a threshing floor at harvest time. Nebuchadrezzar had devoured Zion like a monster and made Jerusalem an empty vessel, so violence and blood will return upon Babylon. The LORD pledges to plead Zion’s cause and take vengeance. Babylon becomes heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and a hissing. Her rulers are made drunk and sleep a perpetual sleep.
Sheshach, Babylon, is taken. The sea overwhelms her, her cities become desolate, Bel is punished, and the wall of Babylon falls. God again calls His people to go out from her. He will judge Babylon’s graven images, and heaven and earth will sing over her fall.
Babylon caused Israel’s slain to fall, so the slain of all the earth will fall at Babylon. Those who escape are told to remember the LORD and Jerusalem. Though Babylon mounts up to heaven and fortifies her strength, spoilers come from the LORD. Babylon’s great voice is silenced, her mighty men are taken, and every bow is broken, because the LORD God of recompenses will surely repay. Her broad walls will be broken and her high gates burned with fire.
The chapter ends with Jeremiah commanding Seraiah to take the written prophecy to Babylon during Zedekiah’s fourth year. Seraiah is to read the words, confess that the LORD has spoken against Babylon, then bind a stone to the book and cast it into the Euphrates. As the scroll sinks, so Babylon will sink and not rise from the evil God brings upon her. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
