Jeremiah 50
BSA1 This is the word [message, declaration] that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] spoke [communicated, uttered] through Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] the prophet [one who speaks for God] concerning Babylon [a city of confusion, Babel] and the land [territory, region] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, known for wisdom and astrology]: word study 2 “Announce [declare openly, proclaim] and declare [make known, publish] to the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Israelites]; lift up [raise high, exalt] a banner [standard, ensign] and proclaim [publish, sound aloud] it; hold nothing back [conceal not, do not hide] when you say [speak, utter], ‘Babylon is captured [seized, taken]; Bel [lord, Babylonian God] is put to shame [disappointed, withered]; Marduk [thy rebellion, Babylonian idol] is shattered [broken in pieces, dismayed], her images [idols, carved representations] are disgraced [put to shame, withered], her idols [false gods, worshiped objects] are broken in pieces [shattered, completely destroyed].’ word study 3 For a nation [a Gentile people] from the north will come against her; it will make her land [a desolate waste, a state of horror] a desolation [a ruin, a place of consternation]. No one [not a single person] will live in it; both man [the human being, Adam] and beast [large quadruped mammals, animals] will flee [wander, move aimlessly, depart].” word study 4 “In those days [at a future time, in the coming era] and at that time [a specific moment, an appointed hour], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], the children [sons, descendants] of Israel and the children [sons, descendants] of Judah will come together [united, as one], weeping [in sorrow, with tears] as they come, and will seek [search for, inquire of] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] their God [Elohim, the supreme deity]. word study 5 They will ask [inquire concerning, seek information about] the way [road, path, or manner of life] to Zion [the city of God, a mountain in Jerusalem] and turn their faces [presence, direction] toward it [hitherward, in that direction]. They will come [approach, enter] and join [unite, cleave to] themselves to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] in an everlasting [perpetual, age-during] covenant [promise, agreement, treaty] that will never [not, under no circumstances] be forgotten [mislayed, overlooked, or disregarded]. word study 6 My people [a nation, a flock] are lost sheep [perishing, wandering]; their shepherds [leaders, rulers] have led them astray [caused them to go astray, to err], causing them to roam [to wander, to go back] the mountains [high places]. They have wandered [gone, strayed] from mountain [hill, elevated place] to hill [small hill]; they have forgotten [been oblivious to, misplaced] their resting place [couch, place of rest]. word study 7 All [every single one] who found [came across, discovered] them devoured [ate, consumed] them, and their enemies [adversaries, foes] said, ‘We are not guilty [do not offend, are not to blame], for they have sinned [gone wrong, missed the mark] against the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], their true [righteous, just] pasture [dwelling place, habitation of justice], the LORD [Yehovah], the hope [confidence, expectation] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers].’ word study 8 Flee [run away quickly, escape] from the midst [center, middle] of Babylon [city of confusion, Babel]; depart [go out, leave] from the land [earth, territory] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, wise men]; be like [similar to, comparable with] the he-goats [male goats, leaders] that lead [guide, direct] the flock [group of sheep or goats, congregation]. word study 9 For behold [look, see], I stir up [rouse, awaken] and bring against Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion] an assembly [gathering, multitude] of great [powerful, mighty] nations from the land [earth, territory] of the north [Zaphon, a direction]. They will line up [arrange, set in order] against her; from the north [Zaphon] she will be captured [seized, taken]. Their arrows [sharp projectiles] will be like skilled [expert, mighty] warriors [fighters, champions] who do not return [turn back, come back] empty-handed [without purpose, in vain]. word study 10 Chaldea [a region in Mesopotamia, Babylonia] will be plundered [spoiled, preyed upon]; all [everything, every person] who plunder [spoil, take by force] her will have their fill [be satisfied, have enough],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 11 “Because you rejoice [are glad, celebrate], because you sing in triumph [exult, jump for joy]— you who plunder [destroy, waste] My inheritance [heritage, special people]— because you frolic [leap, play] like a heifer [young female calf] treading grain [new growth, tender grass] and neigh [cry out, bellow] like stallions [strong horses, mighty ones], word study 12 your mother [the one who gave birth to you, maternal figure] will be greatly [exceedingly, very] ashamed [to be ashamed, feeling guilt or disappointment]; she who bore [gave birth to] you will be disgraced [confounded, put to shame]. Behold [look, see], she will be the least [hindermost, last] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people], a wilderness [desert, dry land], a dry [barren, without water] land, and a desert [uninhabited, desolate place]. word study 13 Because of the wrath [anger, fierce indignation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God], she will not be inhabited [dwelt in, lived in]; she will become completely desolate [wholly devastated, wasted]. All [every one, everything] who pass through [cross over, transition] Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion] will be horrified [astonished, overcome with wonder] and will hiss [whistle, express scorn] at all [every, each] her wounds [plagues, punishments]. word study 14 Line up in formation [set yourselves in array, prepare for battle] around Babylon, all you who draw the bow [bend the bow, archers]! Shoot at her [shoot, let loose your arrows]! Spare no arrows [do not keep any back, have no pity on the arrow]! For she has sinned [gone wrong, missed the mark] against the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 15 Raise a war cry [shout against her round about] against her on every side [surrounding her, from all directions]! She has thrown up her hands [given herself up, submitted] in surrender; her towers [strongholds, fortresses] have fallen; her walls [barriers, defenses] are torn down [overthrown, demolished]. Since this is the vengeance [punishment, retribution] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], take out your vengeance [revenge, punishment] upon her; as she has done [acted, committed], do the same to her [in like manner, accordingly]. word study 16 Cut off [destroy, eliminate] the sower [planter of seed, farmer] from Babylon [the city of confusion], and the one who wields [handles, controls] the sickle [a tool for harvesting] at harvest time [the time of gathering, the season of reaping]. In the face [presence, sight] of the oppressor’s [one who treats others violently, a tyrant] sword [a cutting instrument], each will turn [return, face] to his own people [nation, family], each will flee [escape, run away] to his own land [country, territory]. word study 17 Israel is a scattered flock [like a hunted sheep, wandering], chased away [driven, banished] by lions. The first [primary, initial] to devour him was the king [royal ruler] of Assyria [Asshur, the ancestor of the Assyrians]; the last [final, concluding] to crush his bones [break, shatter] was Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon] king of Babylon [a city and empire of confusion].” word study 18 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of Israel, says: “I will punish [visit, reckon with] the king [ruler, monarch] of Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion] and his land [territory, earth] as I punished [visited, oversaw] the king of Assyria [Asshur, a nation]. word study 19 I will return [bring back, restore] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] to his pasture [habitation, dwelling place], and he will graze [feed, tend to] on Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field] and Bashan [a fertile region]; his soul [the essence of a person, living being] will be satisfied [filled, content] on the hills [mountains, high points] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel] and Gilead [a rocky region, a mountainous area]. word study 20 In those days [at that future time, in the coming era] and at that time [the appointed moment, the specific season], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], a search [a thorough investigation, a careful examination] will be made for Israel’s [the symbolic name of Jacob, the descendants of Jacob] guilt [iniquity, moral evil], but there will be none [nothing, no sin found], and for Judah’s [the tribe descended from Judah] sins [transgressions, rebellions], but they will not be found [discovered, seen]; for I will forgive [pardon, show mercy to] the remnant [the remaining ones, those who survive] I preserve [keep safe, spare, reserve]. word study 21 Go up [ascend, rise] against the land [territory, region] of Merathaim [double rebellion, Babylon], and against the residents [inhabitants, dwellers] of Pekod [visitation, a people in the Babylonian army]. Kill [slay, destroy] them and devote [utterly destroy, dedicate to destruction] them to destruction [desolation, ruin]. Do [make, fulfill] all that I have commanded [given orders, appointed] you,” declares [utters, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 22 “The noise [sound, cry] of battle [war, conflict] is in the land [country, territory]— the noise [sound, clamor] of great [extensive, severe] destruction [breaking, shattering]. word study 23 How [in what manner, to what extent] the hammer [tool of power, instrument of destruction] of the whole [entire, all-encompassing] earth [land, world] lies broken [shattered, cut asunder] and shattered [broken into pieces, completely destroyed]! What a horror [desolation, state of ruin] Babylon [city of confusion, center of idolatry] has become [been made, turned into] among [in the midst of, surrounded by] the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrew countries]! word study 24 I laid a snare [to trap, using cunning] for you, O Babylon [city of confusion, Babel], and you were caught [taken, seized] before you knew it [were aware, had knowledge]. You were found [discovered, uncovered] and captured [taken, seized] because you challenged [stirred up, striven against] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 25 The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has opened [unlocked, brought forth from His treasure] His armory [storehouse, treasury] and brought out [unleashed, revealed] His weapons [instruments, tools] of wrath [indignation, fierce anger], for this is the work [task, mission] of the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Lord] GOD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] in the land [territory, region] of the Chaldeans [Babylonians, inhabitants of Mesopotamia]. word study 26 Come against her from the farthest [utmost, extreme] border. Break open her granaries [storehouses]; pile her up like mounds [heaps] of grain. Devote [destroy utterly, set apart for destruction] her to destruction; leave her no [not any, none] survivors [remnant, what is left]. word study 27 Kill [slay, destroy] all her young bulls [bullocks, oxen]; let them go down [descend, fall] to the slaughter [place of killing]. Woe [oh, sorrow] to them, for their day [time, period] has come— the time [season, occasion] of their punishment [visitation, reckoning]. word study 28 Listen to the fugitives [those who have escaped, refugees] and refugees [survivors, escapees] from the land [earth, territory] of Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion], declaring [telling, proclaiming] in Zion [the mountain of Jerusalem, God’s holy city] the vengeance [punishment, avengement] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] our God [Elohim, the one true God], the vengeance [revenge, retribution] for His temple [the sacred building, God’s dwelling place]. word study 29 Summon [call together, gather] the archers [skilled bowmen, warriors] against Babylon [the city of confusion], all who string [bend, prepare] the bow [a weapon of war, strength]. Encamp [set up camp, besiege] all around her; let no one escape [flee, survive]. Repay [give back, reward] her according to her deeds [works, actions]; do to her as she has done [acted, behaved]. For she has defied [been proud, rebelled] the LORD [Yehovah], the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [God’s chosen people]. word study 30 Therefore [for this reason, as a result], her young men [youth, chosen ones] will fall [be defeated, come to an end] in the streets [public areas, plazas], and all [every one, everything] her warriors [men of war, soldiers] will be silenced [brought to an end, cut off] in that day [specific time, appointed hour],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 31 “Behold [look, take notice], I am against you, O [thou, you] arrogant one [proud, insolent],” declares the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], “for your day [appointed time, season] has come, the time [moment, occasion] when I will punish [visit, reckon with] you. word study 32 The arrogant one [full of pride, insolent] will stumble [lose balance, falter] and fall [be defeated, fail] with no one [none, nothing] to pick him up [raise, lift]. And I will kindle [start, ignite] a fire [flame, burning] in his cities [towns, settlements] to consume [devour, eat] all [everything, everyone] those around him [surrounding, neighboring].” word study 33 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] says: “The sons [descendants, a nation] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] are oppressed, and the sons [descendants, a nation] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] as well. All [everything] their captors [those who took them captive, prisoners of war] hold them fast [strengthen, seize or conquer], refusing [to say no, reject] to release [to send, depart] them. word study 34 Their Redeemer [strong Savior, powerful Deliverer] is strong [powerful, severe]; the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, large groups] is His name. He will fervently plead [thoroughly contend, argue] their case [cause, lawsuit] so that He may bring rest [peace, settlement] to the earth [land, ground], but turmoil [trouble, disquiet] to those who live [dwell, inhabit] in Babylon [confusion, Babel]. word study 35 A sword [weapon of war, cutting instrument] is against [upon, towards] the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, a region in Mesopotamia], declares [utterance, declaration] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], against [upon, towards] those who live [dwell, reside] in Babylon [a city and empire, meaning confusion or mixing], and against [upon, towards] her officials [rulers, leaders] and wise men [intelligent, skilled, or crafty individuals]. word study 36 A sword [cutting instrument, tool for destruction] is against her false prophets [liars, boasters, soothsayers], and they will become fools [senseless, acting wickedly]. A sword [weapon of war] is against her warriors [mighty men, strong champions], and they will be filled with terror [dismayed, broken, shattered]. word study 37 A sword [cutting instrument, weapon of war] is against her horses [chariot horses, cavalry] and chariots [vehicles, teams of horses] and against all [every, the whole] the foreigners [mixed people, diverse crowd] in her midst [center, middle], and they will become like [resemble, be similar to] women [females, weak ones]. A sword [weapon of destruction] is against her treasuries [storehouses, repositories], and they will be plundered [robbed, violently taken]. word study 38 A drought [severe dryness, desolation] is upon her waters [sources of refreshment, life], and they will be dried up [withered, exhausted]. For it is a land [territory, region] of graven images [idols, carved representations of false gods], and the people go mad [are foolish, act wildly] over idols [false objects of worship, terror-inspiring images]. word study 39 So the desert creatures [wild beasts of the desert] and hyenas [wolves, wild beasts of the islands] will live there and ostriches [daughters of the ostrich, possibly another type of bird] will dwell there [inhabit, remain]. It will never again be inhabited [lived in, dwelt] or lived in from generation [a period of time, a group of people] to generation [perpetuity, everlastingness]. word study 40 As God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] overthrew [completely destroyed, like Sodom and Gomorrah] Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness] and Gomorrah [a city in ancient Palestine, ultimately destroyed by God] along with their neighbors [fellow citizens, neighboring towns],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “no one [not a single person] will dwell [live, remain, abide] there [in that place, at that location]; no man [human being, male person] will abide [stay, sojourn, remain] there [in that place, at that location]. word study 41 Behold [look, see], an army [a people, a great nation] is coming [approaching, advancing] from the north [Zaphon, the direction of darkness]; a great [large, powerful] nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew] and many [numerous, abundant] kings [royal rulers, monarchs] are stirred up [roused, awakened] from the ends [uttermost parts, flanks] of the earth [land, territory]. word study 42 They grasp the bow [a weapon for battle] and spear [javelin, a type of dart]; they are cruel [harsh, unkind, merciless] and merciless [showing no pity or compassion]. Their voice [sound, roar] roars like the sea [a large body of water, turbulent and powerful], and they ride upon horses [chariot horses, swift and strong], lined up like men [arranged in formation, prepared for battle] in formation against you, O Daughter [a female child, a woman, or a city personified] of Babylon [a city of confusion, a place of turmoil]. word study 43 The king [ruler, monarch] of Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion] has heard [listened, given attention to] the report [sound, rumor, announcement], and his hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] hang limp [have become feeble, weakened]. Anguish [deep distress, sorrow] has gripped [seized, taken hold of] him, pain [agony, intense suffering] like that of a woman [a female, in a state of] in labor [childbirth, travail]. word study 44 Behold [look, take notice], one will come up like a lion from the thickets [dense, overgrown areas] of the Jordan [a key location, a river] to the watered pasture [a pleasant, nourishing place]. For in an instant [suddenly, without warning] I will chase Babylon [a powerful, yet idolatrous nation] from her land [their territory, inheritance]. Who is the chosen one [a select, appointed individual] I will appoint [assign, designate] for this? For who is like Me [having God’s nature, divine characteristics], and who can challenge Me [oppose, stand against]? What shepherd [a caregiver, leader] can stand [endure, remain] against Me [in My presence, before Me]?” word study 45 Therefore hear [listen carefully, pay attention to] the plans [counsel, advice] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has drawn up [devised, planned] against Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion] and the strategies [purposes, plots] He has devised [thought out, contrived] against the land [earth, territory] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Chaldea, a region in Mesopotamia]: Surely [certainly, without a doubt] the little ones [young, insignificant] of the flock [sheep, people] will be dragged away [pulled, torn apart]; certainly [without a doubt, surely] their pasture [dwelling place, home] will be made desolate [empty, devastated] because of them [on their account, for their sake]. word study 46 At the sound [noise, voice] of Babylon’s [Babel, city of confusion] capture [being taken, seized] the earth [land, ground] will quake [shake, tremble]; a cry [outcry, shriek] will be heard [listened to, obeyed] among the nations [Gentiles, foreign peoples]. word study