Jeremiah 51:58
Jeremiah 51:58 in Multiple Translations
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”
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.
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly overthrown, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the peoples shall labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they shall be weary.
The Lord of armies has said: The wide walls of Babylon will be completely uncovered and her high doorways will be burned with fire; so peoples keep on working for nothing, and the weariness of nations comes to an end in the smoke.
This is what the Lord Almighty says: Babylon's massive walls will be knocked down to the ground and her high gates burned. All that the people worked for will be for nothing; other nations who came to help will wear themselves out, only to see what they've done go up in flames.
Thus saith the Lord of hostes, The thicke wall of Babel shalbe broken, and her hie gates shall be burnt with fire, and the people shall labour in vaine, and the folke in ye fire, for they shalbe weary.
Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, the wall of Babylon — The broad one — is utterly made bare, And her high gates with fire are burnt, And peoples labour in vain, And nations in fire, and have been weary!
The LORD of Armies says: “The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown. Her high gates will be burned with fire. The peoples will labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they will be weary.”
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 labor in vain, and the people in the fire, and they shall be weary.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts: That broad wall of Babylon shall be utterly broken down, and her high gates shall be burnt with fire, and the labours of the people shall come to nothing, and of the nations shall go to the fire, and shall perish.
Yahweh also says, “The thick walls around Babylon will be flattened to the ground. The city gates will be burned. People from other countries will work hard to save the city, but it will be ◄in vain/useless►, because everything that they have built will be destroyed by fire.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 51:58
BAB
Word Study
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Jeremiah 51:58 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כֹּֽה
אָמַ֞ר
יְהוָ֣ה
צְבָא֗וֹת
חֹ֠מוֹת
בָּבֶ֤ל
הָֽ/רְחָבָה֙
עַרְעֵ֣ר
תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר
וּ/שְׁעָרֶ֥י/הָ
הַ/גְּבֹהִ֖ים
בָּ/אֵ֣שׁ
יִצַּ֑תּוּ
וְ/יִֽגְע֨וּ
עַמִּ֧ים
בְּ/דֵי
רִ֛יק
וּ/לְאֻמִּ֥ים
בְּ/דֵי
אֵ֖שׁ
וְ/יָעֵֽפוּ
כֹּֽה
kôh
H3541
thus
Adv
אָמַ֞ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
צְבָא֗וֹת
tsâbâʼ
H6635
army
N-cp
חֹ֠מוֹת
chôwmâh
H2346
wall
N-fp
בָּבֶ֤ל
Bâbel
H894
Babylon
N-proper
הָֽ/רְחָבָה֙
râchâb
H7342
broad
Art | Adj
עַרְעֵ֣ר
ʻârar
H6209
to strip
V-l-Ptc
תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר
ʻârar
H6209
to strip
V-f-Imperf-3fs
וּ/שְׁעָרֶ֥י/הָ
shaʻar
H8179
gate
Conj | N-mp | Suff
הַ/גְּבֹהִ֖ים
gâbôahh
H1364
high
Art | Adj
בָּ/אֵ֣שׁ
ʼêsh
H784
fire
Prep | N-cs
יִצַּ֑תּוּ
yâtsath
H3341
to kindle
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וְ/יִֽגְע֨וּ
yâgaʻ
H3021
be weary/toil
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
עַמִּ֧ים
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
N-mp
בְּ/דֵי
day
H1767
sufficiency
Prep | N-ms
רִ֛יק
rîyq
H7385
vain
N-ms
וּ/לְאֻמִּ֥ים
lᵉʼôm
H3816
people
Conj | N-mp
בְּ/דֵי
day
H1767
sufficiency
Prep | N-ms
אֵ֖שׁ
ʼêsh
H784
fire
N-cs
וְ/יָעֵֽפוּ
yâʻaph
H3286
to faint
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 51:58
כֹּֽה
kôh
H3541
"thus"
Adv
This Hebrew word means thus or in this manner. It can also indicate a location or time, such as here or now. The KJV translates it in various ways, including also, here, and so.
Definition: 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542)
Usage: Occurs in 541 OT verses. KJV: also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder. See also: Genesis 15:5; 1 Kings 22:20; Isaiah 7:7.
אָמַ֞ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
יְהוָ֣ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
צְבָא֗וֹת
tsâbâʼ
H6635
"army"
N-cp
This Hebrew word means a large group of people or things, often referring to an army or a campaign, and is also used to describe the Lord's hosts. It appears in the Bible as a name for God, emphasizing His power and authority. In the KJV, it's translated as 'host' or 'army'.
Definition: : army 1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host 1a) army, host 1a1) host (of organised army) 1a2) host (of angels) 1a3) of sun, moon, and stars 1a4) of whole creation 1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war 1c) service
Usage: Occurs in 463 OT verses. KJV: appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare). See also: Genesis 2:1; 1 Samuel 17:55; Psalms 24:10.
חֹ֠מוֹת
chôwmâh
H2346
"wall"
N-fp
A wall of protection, like the walls of Jerusalem, provided safety and security for the people. It appears in the Bible as a physical barrier. The Israelites built walls around their cities for defense.
Definition: wall
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: wall, walled. See also: Exodus 14:22; Nehemiah 6:15; Psalms 51:20.
בָּבֶ֤ל
Bâbel
H894
"Babylon"
N-proper
Babel refers to Babylon, a city and empire in the Bible, meaning confusion or mixing. It appears in Genesis 11:9 and is associated with the tower of Babel. The city was situated on the Euphrates River.
Definition: § Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)" Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
Usage: Occurs in 233 OT verses. KJV: Babel, Babylon. See also: Genesis 10:10; Jeremiah 29:22; Psalms 87:4.
הָֽ/רְחָבָה֙
râchâb
H7342
"broad"
Art | Adj
This word means broad or wide, describing something that is roomy or spacious. It can also mean proud or arrogant, and is used to describe a person's attitude. In the KJV, it is translated as broad or large.
Definition: broad, wide Also means: ra.chav (רָחָב ": arrogant" H7342I)
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: broad, large, at liberty, proud, wide. See also: Genesis 34:21; Job 30:14; Psalms 101:5.
עַרְעֵ֣ר
ʻârar
H6209
"to strip"
V-l-Ptc
This Hebrew word means to strip or make bare, and can also mean to demolish or break something. It is used in various forms throughout the Bible to convey a sense of removal or destruction.
Definition: 1) to strip, make bare, strip oneself 1a) (Qal) to strip, strip oneself 1b) (Poel) to lay bare 1c) (Hithpalpel) to be utterly stripped, be utterly laid bare 1d) (Pilpel) break
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: make bare, break, raise up (perhaps by clerical error for raze), [idiom] utterly. See also: Isaiah 23:13; Isaiah 32:11; Jeremiah 51:58.
תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר
ʻârar
H6209
"to strip"
V-f-Imperf-3fs
This Hebrew word means to strip or make bare, and can also mean to demolish or break something. It is used in various forms throughout the Bible to convey a sense of removal or destruction.
Definition: 1) to strip, make bare, strip oneself 1a) (Qal) to strip, strip oneself 1b) (Poel) to lay bare 1c) (Hithpalpel) to be utterly stripped, be utterly laid bare 1d) (Pilpel) break
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: make bare, break, raise up (perhaps by clerical error for raze), [idiom] utterly. See also: Isaiah 23:13; Isaiah 32:11; Jeremiah 51:58.
וּ/שְׁעָרֶ֥י/הָ
shaʻar
H8179
"gate"
Conj | N-mp | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a gate or door, often referring to city entrances or temple doors, like in Genesis and Exodus. It can also symbolize a meeting place or marketplace. The word is used to describe important locations in the Bible.
Definition: : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven
Usage: Occurs in 302 OT verses. KJV: city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). See also: Genesis 19:1; 1 Chronicles 9:18; Psalms 9:14.
הַ/גְּבֹהִ֖ים
gâbôahh
H1364
"high"
Art | Adj
High means elevated or powerful, like a tall mountain or a proud person, as described in Proverbs where pride comes before a fall.
Definition: adj 1) high, exalted 1a) high, tall 1b) high (in position) 1c) proud, haughty n m 2) loftiness Also means: ga.vah (גָּבֹהַּ "high" H1362)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: haughty, height, high(-er), lofty, proud, [idiom] exceeding proudly. See also: Genesis 7:19; Isaiah 5:15; Psalms 104:18.
בָּ/אֵ֣שׁ
ʼêsh
H784
"fire"
Prep | N-cs
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) fire 1a) fire, flames 1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany) 1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching) 1d) altar-fire 1e) God's anger (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. See also: Genesis 15:17; Joshua 7:15; Psalms 11:6.
יִצַּ֑תּוּ
yâtsath
H3341
"to kindle"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To kindle means to start a fire or burn something, and can also mean to leave something desolate. It appears in various forms, including being kindled or setting something on fire.
Definition: 1) to kindle, burn, set on fire 1a) (Qal) to kindle 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be kindled 1b2) to be left desolate 1c) (Hiphil) to set on fire, kindle
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: burn (up), be desolate, set (on) fire (fire), kindle. See also: Joshua 8:8; Jeremiah 11:16; Isaiah 9:17.
וְ/יִֽגְע֨וּ
yâgaʻ
H3021
"be weary/toil"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to be weary or toil, like in Exodus where the Israelites were exhausted from their labor, and is often translated as faint or labor in the KJV.
Definition: 1) to toil, labour, grow weary, be weary 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to toil, labour 1a2) to grow weary, be weary 1b) (Piel) to weary, make weary, cause to go toilsomely 1c) (Hiphil) to make to toil, make weary, cause to be weary
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: faint, (make to) labour, (be) weary. See also: Joshua 7:3; Isaiah 43:23; Psalms 6:7.
עַמִּ֧ים
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
N-mp
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
בְּ/דֵי
day
H1767
"sufficiency"
Prep | N-ms
This word means enough or sufficiency, like having enough food or water. It is used in phrases like 'according to the abundance of' in 2 Corinthians. The KJV translates it as 'enough' or 'sufficient'.
Definition: 1) sufficiency, enough 1a) enough 1b) for, according to the abundance of, out of the abundance of, as often as
Usage: Occurs in 35 OT verses. KJV: able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient(-ly), too much, very, when. See also: Exodus 36:5; Nehemiah 5:8; Proverbs 25:16.
רִ֛יק
rîyq
H7385
"vain"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means something that is empty, worthless, or done in vain. It is used to describe actions or things that have no value or purpose. The Bible uses it to warn against empty or idle pursuits.
Definition: emptiness, vanity, empty, idle, vain
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: empty, to no purpose, (in) vain (thing), vanity. See also: Leviticus 26:16; Isaiah 30:7; Psalms 2:1.
וּ/לְאֻמִּ֥ים
lᵉʼôm
H3816
"people"
Conj | N-mp
This word refers to a community or nation of people. It is used in the Bible to describe a group of people who share a common identity or culture. The KJV translates it as 'nation' or 'people'.
Definition: a people, nation
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: nation, people. See also: Genesis 25:23; Proverbs 11:26; Psalms 2:1.
בְּ/דֵי
day
H1767
"sufficiency"
Prep | N-ms
This word means enough or sufficiency, like having enough food or water. It is used in phrases like 'according to the abundance of' in 2 Corinthians. The KJV translates it as 'enough' or 'sufficient'.
Definition: 1) sufficiency, enough 1a) enough 1b) for, according to the abundance of, out of the abundance of, as often as
Usage: Occurs in 35 OT verses. KJV: able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient(-ly), too much, very, when. See also: Exodus 36:5; Nehemiah 5:8; Proverbs 25:16.
אֵ֖שׁ
ʼêsh
H784
"fire"
N-cs
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) fire 1a) fire, flames 1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany) 1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching) 1d) altar-fire 1e) God's anger (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. See also: Genesis 15:17; Joshua 7:15; Psalms 11:6.
וְ/יָעֵֽפוּ
yâʻaph
H3286
"to faint"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
To faint means to become weak or tired, often from exertion or stress. In the Bible, this word is used to describe people who are weary or exhausted, like the Israelites in the wilderness. It can also mean to cause someone to become weary or to flee in exhaustion.
Definition: 1) to be or grow weary, be fatigued, be faint 1a) (Qal) to be or grow weary, be fatigued, be faint 1b) (Hophal) wearied (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: faint, cause to fly, (be) weary (self). See also: Judges 8:15; Jeremiah 2:24; Isaiah 40:28.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 51:58
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 51:58 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:58
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:58
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:58
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:58
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
- Sermons on Jeremiah 51:58
Context — Babylon’s Punishment
56For a destroyer is coming against her— 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.
57I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
58This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Babylon’s thick walls will be leveled, and her high gates consumed by fire. So the labor of the people will be for nothing; the nations will exhaust themselves to fuel the flames.”
59This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the quartermaster Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign. 60Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Habakkuk 2:13 | Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain? |
| 2 | Jeremiah 51:64 | Then you are to say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will grow weary.’” Here end the words of Jeremiah. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 51:44 | I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 50:15 | Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her. |
| 5 | Isaiah 45:1–2 | This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 51:9 | “We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds.” |
| 7 | Isaiah 65:23 | They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD— they and their descendants with them. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 51:30 | The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken. |
| 9 | Psalms 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain. |
Jeremiah 51:58 Summary
[This verse is saying that God will destroy the strong city of Babylon, even though it seems impossible to defeat. Just like how God brought down the walls of Jericho in Joshua 6:20, He will bring down Babylon's walls. The people's hard work to build and protect the city will be for nothing, because God is in control. As Romans 11:36 says, 'from Him and through Him and to Him are all things,' including the rise and fall of nations.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for Babylon's thick walls to be leveled and her high gates consumed by fire?
This is a prophecy of God's judgment on Babylon, where its strong defenses will be destroyed, much like the walls of Jericho in Joshua 6:20. This destruction is a result of God's wrath and judgment, as seen in Jeremiah 51:56.
Why will the labor of the people be for nothing and the nations exhaust themselves to fuel the flames?
The labor of the people will be for nothing because their efforts to build and strengthen Babylon will be in vain, as God will destroy it. This is similar to the concept in Psalm 127:1, where unless the Lord builds the house, the labor is in vain.
What is the significance of the LORD of Hosts speaking in this verse?
The title 'LORD of Hosts' emphasizes God's power and authority over all creation, including the armies of heaven and earth, as seen in Isaiah 6:3. When God speaks, His words are powerful and will come to pass, as stated in Isaiah 55:11.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's sovereignty?
This verse demonstrates God's sovereignty over nations and kingdoms, as He is the one who raises them up and brings them down, according to Daniel 2:21 and Romans 13:1-2. God's sovereignty is a theme throughout the Bible, and this verse highlights His power and authority over all things.
Reflection Questions
- What are the strong defenses in my life that I think can protect me from God's judgment, and how can I surrender them to Him?
- How can I apply the concept of God's sovereignty in my own life, recognizing that He is in control of all things?
- What are some ways that I can 'fuel the flames' of God's work in my life, rather than exhausting myself on meaningless pursuits?
- How can I trust in God's power and authority, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, like the thick walls of Babylon?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:58
Thus saith the Lord of hosts,.... Because what follows might seem incredible ever to be effected; it is introduced with this preface, expressed by him who is the God of truth, and the Lord God
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:58
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.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
Incredible things are told us by historians of this great city. They say the compass of it was threescore miles about; that her walls were in height two hundred feet, her breadth such as two chariots might drive abreast upon the top of them; that it had a hundred great gates, many of then of brass. God threatens the breaking down of these walls and the burning of these high gates and towers; and that though the people should labour to quench this fire, or to rebuild this city, yet it would be all lost labour, and they should give over their enterprise, as being weary.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
Jeremiah 51:58 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.Ver. 58. The broad walls of Babylon.] See on Jeremiah 51:44. Or, The walls of broad Babylon, that greatest of all cities, saith Strabo; the compass whereof within the walls was near upon seventy miles, saith Pliny. Lib. xvi. Lib. vi. cap. 26.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
(58) Her high gates shall be burned with fire.—These were part of the works on which Nebuchadnezzar prided himself as the restorer of the city. The inscription already quoted refers to these as well as to the walls: “Babylon is the refuge of the god Merodach. I have finished Imgur Bel, his great enclosure. In the threshold of the great gates I have adjusted folding-doors in brass.” (Oppert, ut supra; Comp. also Records of the Past, v. pp. 125, 127). The people shall labour in vain.—The words are all but verbally identical, in some MSS. absolutely so, with those of Hab 2:13. In both the thought is that the stately edifices which had been raised with so much toil by the slave-labour of Nebuchadnezzar’s subjects and captives should all be fruitless. The walls of Babylon are described by Herod. (1, 173), possibly with some exaggeration, as 50 cubits (= 75 feet) thick and 200 high.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
Verse 58. The broad walls of Babylon] Herodotus, who saw these walls, says, "The city was a regular square, each side of which was one hundred and twenty stadia, the circumference four hundred and eighty stadia. It was surrounded by a wall fifty cubits broad, and two hundred cubits high; and each side had twenty-five brazen gates." - Herod. lib. i. c. 178. Had not Cyrus resorted to stratagem, humanly speaking, he could not have taken this city. For the destruction of this wall and its very vestiges, See Clarke on Isaiah 13:19.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:58
58. The broad walls of Babylon] better than mg. The walls of broad Babylon, We should, with LXX, read wall. According to Herodotus, the outer wall of Babylon was 200 royal cubits (about 373 English feet) high, while it was fifty cubits wide. This, however, both from the nature of the case, and from the conflicting testimony of other writers, seems exaggerated. Probably the height was about 60 or 70 English feet, and the walls perhaps 30 or 40 feet wide, as they allowed of a team of four horses being driven along them. See Herod. I. 178, and Rawlinson’s notes there. utterly overthrown] lit. (as mg.) made bare, destroyed, so that the very foundations shall be uncovered. high gates] “In the circuit of the wall are a hundred gates, all of brass, with brazen lintels and side-posts.” Herod. I. 179. the peoples shall labour, etc.] almost identical with Habakkuk 2:13 (referred to in mg.), transposing, however, the words for “vanity” and for “the fire.” It appears in both places to be a quotation from an older source, and to express a general truth.
We should therefore render (with a slight change of text) by present tenses, the peoples labour for vanity, and the nations weary themselves for the fire.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:58
The broad walls - Herodotus makes the breadth of the walls 85 English feet. Broken - See the margin. i. e., the ground beneath them shall be laid bare by their demolition. The people - Or, peoples.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:58
58. Broad walls… high gates — See the descriptions of Babylon by Strabo and others. According to Herodotus the walls were eighty-five feet thick and three hundred and thirty-seven and a half feet high.
Sermons on Jeremiah 51:58
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(Living as Jesus Lived) 9. the Bride of Christ by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the stark contrast between the Bride of Christ and the Harlot church, illustrating how the Holy Spirit's work results in a glorious, holy city, while Satan's |
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Commentary Notes - Jeremiah by Walter Beuttler | Walter Beuttler preaches about the life and prophecies of the Prophet Jeremiah, highlighting his call at a young age, his tender and retiring personality, and his unwavering commit |
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Battling With God by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the power and sovereignty of God in the context of the Babylonian captivity of Israel. He emphasizes that even though Babylon was immensely p |
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(Through the Bible) Ezra by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker talks about a man who had been bragging to the king about the power and greatness of God. As a result, the king gave him a lot of gold and silver, but n |
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The Sovereignty of God as to the House of God by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a genuine and heartfelt relationship with God. He highlights how the prophets in the Bible, such as Hosea and Ezekie |
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Progress of Redemption #04 by David Shirley | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of the word of God and how it can change people's lives. The sermon takes place in Judea, a Persian province, around 430 BC. T |
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Our Daily Homily - Ezra by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the divine stirring of Cyrus as a fulfillment of prophecy, highlighting the importance of prayer and obedience in responding to God's call. He reflects on the |