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Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Jeremiah 50:9–20. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
God is here by his prophet, as afterwards in his providence, proceeding in his controversy with Babylon. Observe,
I.The commission and charge given to the instruments that were to be employed in destroying Babylon.
The army that is to do it is called an assembly of great nations (Jer 50:9), the Medes and Persians, and all their allies and auxiliaries; it is called an assembly, because regularly formed by the divine will and counsel to do this execution. God will raise them up to do it, will incline them to and fir them for this service, and then he will cause them to come up, for all their motions are under his conduct and direction: he shall give the word of command, shall order them to put themselves in array against Babylon (Jer 50:14), and then they shall put themselves in array (Jer 50:9), for what God appoints to be done shall be done; and thence she shall be quickly taken; from their first sitting down before it they shall be still gaining ground against it till it be taken. God shall bid them shoot at her and spare no arrows (Jer 50:14), and then their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man, that has both skill and strength, a good eye and a good hand (Jer 50:9); none shall return in vain. When God gives commission he will give success. Nay, they are bidden not only to shoot at her (Jer 50:14), but to shout against her (Jer 50:15) with a triumphant shout, as those that are already sure of victory. Those whom God directs to shoot may do so with shouting, for they are sure not to miss the mark.
II.The desolation and destruction itself that shall be brought upon Babylon. This is here set forth in a great variety of expressions.
1.The wealth of Babylon shall be a rich and easy prey to the conquerors (Jer 50:10): Chaldea shall be a spoil to all her destroyers, who shall enrich themselves by plundering her, and, which is strange, all that spoil her shall be satisfied; they shall have so much that even they themselves shall say that they have enough.
2.The country of Babylon shall be depopulated and lie uninhabited: It shall be wholly desolate (Jer 50:13) to such a degree that every one who goes by shall triumph in her fall, and, instead of condoling with them, shall hiss at all her plagues, Jer 50:13.
3.Their ancestors shall be ashamed of their cowardice, in fleeing from the first onset (Jer 50:12), or, Your mother, Babylon itself, the mother-city, shall be confounded, when she sees herself deserted by those that should have been her guards. Thus the former ages of Christians may justly be confounded and ashamed to see how unlike them the latter ages are, and how wretchedly they have degenerated; and no sin brings a surer and sorer ruin upon persons, or people, than apostasy.
4.The great admirers of Babylon shall see it rendered very despicable: the last of kingdoms, the very tail of the nations, shall it be, a wilderness, a dry land, a desert, Jer 50:12. The country that was populous shall be dispeopled, that was enriched with a fertile soil shall become barren.
5.The great city, the head of it, shall be quite ruined. Her foundations have fallen, and therefore her walls are thrown down; for how can the walls stand when divine vengeance is at the door and shakes the very foundations? It is the vengeance of the Lord, which nothing can contend with either in law or battle.
6.There shall not be left in Babylon so much as the poor of the land, for vine-dressers and husbandmen, as there was in Israel (Jer 50:16): The sower shall be cut off from Babylon, and he that handles the sickle; the country shall be so emptied of people that there shall be none to till the ground and gather in the fruits of it. Harvest shall come, and there shall be no reapers; seed-time shall come, but there shall be no sower; God will do his part, but there shall be no men to do theirs.
7.All their auxiliary forces, which they have hired into their service, shall ??desert them, as mercenary men often do upon the approach of danger (Jer 50:16): For fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people. This was threatened before concerning Egypt, Jer 46:16.
III.The procuring provoking cause of this destruction.
It comes from God's displeasure; it is because of the wrath of the Lord that Babylon shall be wholly desolate (Jer 50:13), and his wrath is righteous, for (Jer 50:14) she hath sinned against the Lord, therefore spare no arrows. Note, It is sin that makes men a mark for the arrows of God's judgments. An abundance of idolatry and immorality was to be found in Babylon, yet those are not mentioned as the reason of God's displeasure against them, but the injuries they had done to the people of God, from a principle of enmity to them as his people. They have been the destroyers of God's heritage (Jer 50:11); herein indeed God made use of them for the necessary correction of his people, and yet it is laid to their charge as a heinous crime, because they designed nothing but their utter destruction.
1.What they did against Jerusalem they did with pleasure (Jer 50:11): You were glad, you rejoice. God does not afflict his people willingly, and therefore takes it very ill if the instruments he employs afflict them willingly. When Titus Vespasian destroyed Jerusalem he wept over it, but these Chaldeans triumphed over it.
2.The spoils of Jerusalem they made use of to feed their own luxury: "You have grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; your having conquered Jerusalem has made you very wanton and proud, easy to yourselves and formidable to all about you, and therefore you must be a spoil." Those that have thus swallowed down riches must vomit them up again. Therefore they have given their hand (Jer 50:15); they have surrendered themselves to the conqueror, have tamely yielded so that now you may take vengeance on her, now you may make reprisals and do unto her as she hath done.
3.They aimed at nothing less than the utter ruin of God's Israel: Israel is a scattered sheep, as before (Jer 50:6), that is not only barked at and worried by dogs, but even lions, the most potent adversaries, have roared upon him and driven him away, Jer 50:17. One king of Assyria carried the ten tribes quite away and devoured them; another invaded Judah, and plundered and impoverished it, tore the fleece and flesh of this poor sheep; and now at last this Nebuchadnezzar, that is the terror and plague of all his neighbours, has taken advantage of the low condition to which he is reduced, and he has fallen upon him and broken his bones, has quite ruined him, and therefore the king of Babylon must be punished as the king of Assyria was, Jer 50:18. Note, Those who pursue and prosecute the sins of their predecessors must expect to be pursued and prosecuted by their plagues; if they do as they did, let them fare as they fared.
IV.The mercy promised to the Israel of God, which shall not only accompany, but accrue from, the destruction of Babylon.
1.God will return their captivity; they shall be released out of their bondage, and brought again to their own habitation as sheep that were scattered to their own fold Jer 50:19. They still retained a title to the land of Canaan; it is their habitation still. The discontinuance of their possession was not the destruction of their right. But now they shall recover the enjoyment of it again.
2.He will restore their prosperity; they shall not only live, but live comfortably, in their own land again; they shall feed upon Carmel and Bashan, the richest and most fruitful parts of the country. These sheep shall be gathered from the deserts to which they were dispersed, and put again into good pasture, which their soul shall be satisfied with though they shall come hungry to it, having been so long stinted, and straitened, and kept short, yet they shall find enough to satiate them and shall have hearts to be satiated with it. They enquired the way to Zion (Jer 50:5), where God was to be served and worshipped. This was what they chiefly aimed at in their return; but God will not only bring them thither, but bring them also to Carmel and Bashan, where they shall abundantly feed themselves. Note, Those that return to God and their duty shall find true satisfaction of soul in so doing; and those that seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, that aim to make their habitation in Zion, the holy hill, shall have other things added to them, even all the comforts of Ephraim and Gilead, the fruitful hills.
3.God will pardon their iniquity; this is the root of all the rest (Jer 50:20): In those days the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none. Not only the punishments of their iniquity shall be taken off, but the offence which it gave to God shall be forgotten, and he will be reconciled to them. Their sin shall be before him as if it had never been; it shall be blotted out as a cloud, crossed out as a debt, shall be cast behind his back; nay, it shall be cast into the depth of the sea, shall be no longer sealed up among God's treasures, nor in any danger of appearing again or rising up against them. This denotes how fully God forgives sin; he remembers it no more. Note, Deliverances out of trouble are then comforts indeed when they are the fruits of the forgiveness of sin, Isa 38:17. Judah and Israel were so fully forgiven when they were brought back out of Babylon that they are said to have received of the Lord's hand double for all their sins, Isa 40:2. This may include also a thorough reformation of their hearts and lives, as well as a full remission of their sins. If any seek for idols or any idolatrous customs among them, after their return, there shall be none, they shall not find them; their dross shall be purely purged away, and by that it shall appear that their guilt is so; for I will pardon those whom I reserve; I will be propitious to them (so the word is) and that must be through him who is the great propitiation. Note, Those whose sins God pardons he reserves for something very great; for whom he justifies them he glorifies.
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Summary
Jeremiah 50:17 profoundly portrays Israel's historical suffering through the poignant metaphor of a scattered sheep, relentlessly pursued and ravaged by predatory empires. The verse specifically identifies the king of Assyria as the initial devourer and Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, as the ultimate oppressor who broke Israel's bones, illustrating a progression of escalating severity in divine judgment. This lament serves as a powerful reminder of Israel's vulnerability due to covenant unfaithfulness, while simultaneously setting the stage for the broader prophetic message of Babylon's impending judgment and the eventual restoration of God's scattered people.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is strategically placed within Jeremiah's extensive oracle against Babylon, spanning chapters 50-51. While the overarching theme of these chapters is the pronouncement of God's righteous judgment upon Babylon, Jeremiah 50:17 serves as a crucial retrospective interlude. By recalling the profound historical oppression endured by Israel and Judah at the hands of powerful empires, the prophet underscores the justice and severity of their current exile. This reflection on past suffering is not merely a lament but a narrative device that intensifies the anticipation for Babylon's downfall, creating a dramatic reversal of fortunes where the oppressor will become the oppressed, and the scattered flock will ultimately be gathered. The contrast between Israel's broken state and Babylon's impending ruin highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His unwavering commitment to His covenant purposes.
Historical & Cultural Context
The historical backdrop of Jeremiah 50:17 is the tumultuous period of the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, a time characterized by the decline of the mighty Assyrian Empire and the meteoric rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The "first" oppressor, the king of Assyria, refers to the formidable Assyrian Empire which conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, leading to the dispersion and assimilation of its ten tribes. The "last" oppressor, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, signifies the Babylonian Empire, which decisively defeated the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and its sacred Temple in 586 BC, and carried the remaining population into a seventy-year exile. The imagery of sheep and lions was deeply ingrained in ancient Near Eastern culture. Kings were often depicted as benevolent shepherds protecting their flock (their people), while powerful, aggressive empires or tyrannical rulers were frequently likened to predatory animals, symbolizing their destructive power and ruthless nature. Israel, as God's chosen flock, was meant to be under His divine protection, but their persistent idolatry and covenant disobedience led to the withdrawal of this protective hand, making them vulnerable to these "lions" as instruments of divine judgment.
Key Themes
Jeremiah 50:17 contributes significantly to several foundational themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of Divine Discipline and Consequences, demonstrating that Israel's suffering was not arbitrary misfortune but a direct and just outcome of their covenant unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, as explicitly forewarned in passages like Deuteronomy 28. The "lions" were not acting independently but were instruments of God's judgment, allowed to bring about the necessary discipline. Secondly, the verse emphasizes Vulnerability Without God's Protection, portraying Israel as defenseless "sheep" when they strayed from their divine Shepherd, a concept echoed in Ezekiel 34:6. This underscores the critical importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God for the security and well-being of His people. Thirdly, it speaks to the profound Sovereignty of God over Nations, illustrating how God uses even powerful pagan empires like Assyria and Babylon as tools to accomplish His divine purposes, a truth also articulated in Isaiah 10:5-6. Finally, the progression from "devoured" to "broken his bones" vividly illustrates the Severity of Oppression and the escalating consequences of persistent disobedience, leading to the complete ruin and exile of God's people.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
A primitive root meaning to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty; to disperse or scatter abroad. In Jeremiah 50:17, it vividly describes Israel's state of disarray and dispersion, emphasizing their vulnerability and lack of cohesion, much like a flock of sheep driven apart from its shepherd and from one another. This scattering is a direct consequence of the predatory actions of the "lions," symbolizing the loss of national unity, territory, and identity.
A primitive root meaning to eat (literally or figuratively); to consume, burn up, or devour. When applied to the king of Assyria's actions against Israel, it conveys a sense of total consumption and destruction. This implies that Assyria not only conquered the Northern Kingdom but also sought to obliterate its distinct identity, culture, and very existence as a nation, absorbing its people and resources into its vast empire.
A primitive root meaning to bind fast, i.e., close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; also denominatively (from עֶצֶם, meaning bone), to crunch the bones. In this context, it signifies a brutal, deep, and irreparable damage. Unlike merely "devouring," which implies consumption, "breaking bones" suggests a more profound, painful, and debilitating act of subjugation, crippling the victim and leaving them utterly broken, without strength, and unable to recover. This imagery powerfully conveys the complete and devastating ruin brought upon Judah by Nebuchadrezzar and the Babylonian Empire.
Verse Breakdown
"Israel [is] a scattered sheep;"
This initial clause establishes the central metaphor, portraying the nation of Israel as a vulnerable, dispersed, and disoriented flock. The imagery evokes a profound sense of helplessness, disunity, and lack of direction, highlighting the nation's state of fragmentation and exile. It immediately sets a tone of lament and sorrow for God's chosen people, emphasizing their lost and exposed condition.
"the lions have driven [him] away:"
This clause introduces the agents of Israel's distress: "the lions." These predatory animals powerfully symbolize the ruthless, powerful, and destructive foreign empires that have attacked and dispersed Israel. The verb "driven away" (from the Hebrew nâdach) suggests a forceful expulsion, a violent scattering that dislocates and disorients the "sheep," severing their connection to their land and their sense of security.
"first the king of Assyria hath devoured him;"
This part of the verse specifies the first "lion" and its devastating action. The Assyrian Empire, historically responsible for the conquest and exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) in 722 BC, is depicted as having "devoured" Israel. This implies a complete consumption, a destruction of national identity, sovereignty, and even physical presence, leaving little behind of the original nation.
"and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."
The final clause identifies the second and ultimate "lion," Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, who was responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The action "hath broken his bones" signifies an even more severe, brutal, and agonizing form of destruction than "devouring." It implies a deep, crippling, and irreparable injury, symbolizing the complete subjugation, loss of strength, profound suffering, and utter ruin endured by Judah, including the destruction of their capital city and their sacred Temple.
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 50:17 is rich in Metaphor, primarily portraying Israel as a "scattered sheep" and the oppressive empires of Assyria and Babylon as "lions." This central metaphor effectively conveys Israel's vulnerability, defenselessness, and disarray in the face of overwhelming power, while simultaneously highlighting the predatory, ruthless, and destructive nature of their enemies. The verse also employs a powerful form of Parallelism and Contrast by juxtaposing "first the king of Assyria" with "last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon," and their respective actions, "devoured him" versus "broken his bones." This creates a sense of escalating judgment and suffering, demonstrating a progression of severity and increasing devastation in the divine discipline. Furthermore, the verse uses striking Imagery, particularly the visceral descriptions of being "devoured" and having one's "bones broken." These vivid and painful images evoke a strong emotional response, emphasizing the profound, agonizing, and debilitating impact of the foreign invasions upon God's people, underscoring the completeness of their ruin.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Jeremiah 50:17 is a profound theological statement on divine sovereignty, covenant consequences, and the enduring nature of God's relationship with His people. It underscores that even the most powerful human empires are ultimately instruments in God's hand, used to enact His righteous judgment upon a disobedient Israel. The suffering of Israel, though severe and agonizing, is presented not as arbitrary misfortune but as a direct and just consequence of their unfaithfulness to the covenant, a necessary discipline intended to bring them to repentance and ultimately, restoration. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God's justice is unwavering, and His people are not immune to the consequences of rebellion. Yet, within the broader prophetic context, it also subtly points to God's ultimate redemptive purpose, even when executed through painful means, as He prepares to judge the very nations He used as His instruments.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 50:17 serves as a stark and sobering reminder of the profound consequences of spiritual wandering and the inherent vulnerability of those who stray from God's protective care. Like a scattered sheep, we can become disoriented, defenseless, and susceptible to the destructive forces of the world when we neglect our vital relationship with our divine Shepherd. This verse challenges us to engage in honest self-examination: Are we faithfully abiding in God's will, or are we drifting into areas where we become easy prey for spiritual "lions"—whether they be the subtle temptations of sin, the seductive allure of worldly systems, the corrosive effects of unaddressed bitterness, or the direct schemes of spiritual adversaries? The progression from "devoured" to "broken his bones" warns us that persistent disobedience and neglect of God's ways can lead to increasingly severe and debilitating consequences, eroding our spiritual vitality, fracturing our relationships, and leaving us profoundly broken. Yet, even in this somber reflection, the broader context of Jeremiah's prophecy offers a glimmer of hope: God's discipline, though painful, is ultimately aimed at restoration and drawing His people back to Himself. It calls us to humble repentance, to return to Him, to seek His unfailing protection, and to find our true security not in our own strength or worldly alliances, but in the unwavering, compassionate care of our Good Shepherd.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is Israel called a "scattered sheep" and what does this imagery convey?
Israel is called a "scattered sheep" to vividly portray their state of vulnerability, disarray, and dispersion. In the ancient world, sheep were entirely dependent on their shepherd for protection, guidance, and provision. When scattered from the flock or separated from their shepherd, they become defenseless prey, easily lost or devoured. This metaphor highlights Israel's political and spiritual condition: without God's direct protection due to their covenant disobedience, they were easily dispersed and oppressed by powerful foreign empires, much like a flock without a shepherd. This imagery also points to the physical dispersion of the Israelites through exile, first by Assyria and then by Babylon, fulfilling prophetic warnings of judgment found in passages like Deuteronomy 28:64.
Who are the "lions" mentioned in this verse, and what do their actions ("devoured" and "broken his bones") signify?
The "lions" represent the powerful, predatory empires that attacked and oppressed Israel. Specifically, the verse names "the king of Assyria" and "Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon." These were the two dominant imperial powers that successively conquered and exiled the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, respectively. The actions attributed to them signify the escalating severity of God's judgment. Assyria "devoured" Israel, indicating a complete consumption and destruction of their national identity and land, as seen in the conquest of Samaria in 2 Kings 17:6. Babylon, under Nebuchadrezzar, "broken his bones," which implies an even more brutal, crippling, and irreparable damage. This refers to the utter devastation of Judah, including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the profound suffering of the people during the Babylonian exile, as described in 2 Kings 25.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Jeremiah 50:17, while a lament over Israel's historical suffering and the consequences of their unfaithfulness, finds its ultimate and redemptive fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Israel, as a "scattered sheep," perfectly foreshadows humanity's lost and vulnerable state, scattered by sin, disoriented by rebellion, and preyed upon by spiritual adversaries. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, comes precisely to seek and gather these scattered sheep, promising to lay down His life for them so that they might have abundant life and eternal security. The "lions" of Assyria and Babylon, though instruments of God's temporal judgment, ultimately point to the ultimate spiritual enemies—sin, death, and the devil—whose crushing power Jesus decisively broke through His sacrifice on the cross. Where earthly kings "devoured" and "broken bones," Jesus allowed His own body to be broken and His life "devoured" by death, not as a helpless victim, but as the conquering Lamb of God, who triumphs over all. His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, where prophetically His bones were not broken, yet He endured the full crushing weight of sin and divine wrath, provides profound healing for our brokenness and impenetrable protection from all spiritual predators. Through His glorious resurrection, He established an eternal kingdom that no earthly empire or spiritual foe can ever devour or break, offering true and lasting refuge for all who trust in Him, gathering them into His one, eternal flock, as prophesied in John 10:16.