Jeremiah 50:12

Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations [shall be] a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

Your mother {H517} shall be sore {H3966} confounded {H954}; she that bare {H3205} you shall be ashamed {H2659}: behold, the hindermost {H319} of the nations {H1471} shall be a wilderness {H4057}, a dry land {H6723}, and a desert {H6160}.

your mother will be utterly shamed, she who bore you will be disgraced. Here she is! - last among the nations, a desert, parched and barren.

your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who bore you will be disgraced. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

your mother shall be utterly put to shame; she that bare you shall be confounded: behold, she shall be the hindermost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 50:12 (KJV)

Jeremiah 50:12 is a powerful verse from a chapter dedicated to the prophecy of Babylon's downfall and judgment. This specific declaration highlights the shame and utter desolation that would befall the mighty Babylonian Empire, which had previously conquered Judah and taken its people into exile.

Context of Jeremiah 50:12

Chapters 50 and 51 of Jeremiah are a comprehensive oracle against Babylon, detailing its destruction at the hands of other nations, specifically the Medes and Persians (though not named here). This divine judgment is presented as a consequence of Babylon's pride, idolatry, and its cruelty towards God's people. The "mother" in this verse refers to Babylon as a nation, or perhaps the land from which its inhabitants originated, emphasizing the deep humiliation and disgrace that would come upon the entire entity. The prophecy serves as a testament to God's justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all nations, promising an end to the oppressors of His people.

Key Themes in Jeremiah 50:12

  • Divine Judgment: The verse unequivocally declares God's active role in bringing down the arrogant and powerful nation of Babylon. This judgment is not random but a righteous act of God's justice.
  • Utter Desolation: The phrases "hindermost of the nations," "a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert" vividly describe the extent of Babylon's destruction. It implies a complete and irreversible barrenness, turning a once-glorious empire into an uninhabited wasteland, signifying its reduction to nothingness among the nations. For further insights into the prophecy of Babylon's fall, see Jeremiah 50:1-3.
  • Shame and Humiliation: "Sore confounded" and "ashamed" highlight the profound disgrace Babylon would experience. A nation that prided itself on its power and splendor would be publicly stripped of its honor and reduced to utter contempt.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew phrase for "sore confounded" (ื‘ื•ึนืฉื, bosh) implies a deep sense of shame, disgrace, and disappointment. It's a powerful word conveying public humiliation.
  • "Hindermost of the nations" (ืึทื—ึฒืจึดื™ืช ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื, acharit goyim) can be understood as the "end" or "latter part" of the nations, suggesting a state of ultimate ruin, becoming the least significant, or being utterly destroyed. This concept of ultimate destruction is echoed in other prophecies of desolation, such as Isaiah 13:19-22.
  • The triple description "a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert" uses three distinct terms to emphasize the complete barrenness and uninhabitable nature of the land after judgment, leaving no doubt about the severity of its fate.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 50:12 offers timeless lessons about God's character and His interaction with human history:

  • God's Justice Prevails: This verse is a powerful reminder that God is just and will ultimately hold all nations and individuals accountable for their actions. No empire, no matter how powerful, is beyond His reach or judgment.
  • Pride Leads to a Fall: Babylon's downfall, partly due to its arrogance and oppression, serves as a cautionary tale. It underscores the biblical principle that pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
  • Hope for the Oppressed: For those suffering under oppressive powers, this prophecy offers hope. It demonstrates that God sees the affliction of His people and will act on their behalf, bringing down their oppressors in His perfect timing. The ultimate victory of God's kingdom and justice is a recurring theme throughout scripture, culminating in the final judgment of symbolic "Babylon" in Revelation 18:21-23.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 51:43

    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.

  • Jeremiah 25:26

    And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which [are] upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

  • Isaiah 13:20

    It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

  • Isaiah 13:22

    And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

  • Galatians 4:26

    But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

  • Jeremiah 25:12

    And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, [that] I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

  • Isaiah 23:13

    Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, [till] the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin.
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