Jeremiah 50:21

¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, [even] against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

Go up {H5927} against the land {H776} of Merathaim {H4850}, even against it, and against the inhabitants {H3427} of Pekod {H6489}: waste {H2717} and utterly destroy {H2763} after {H310} them, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, and do {H6213} according to all that I have commanded {H6680} thee.

"Attack the land of Meratayim; attack it and those living in P'kod. Waste them, utterly destroy them; do all I have ordered you," says ADONAI.

Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,” declares the LORD.

Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: slay and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

Jeremiah 50:21 is a powerful prophetic declaration of God's impending judgment against specific regions associated with Babylon. This verse is part of a larger oracle in Jeremiah chapters 50-51, detailing the complete downfall of Babylon, the empire that had conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem.

Context

This verse is situated within Jeremiah's extensive prophecies concerning the fall of Babylon. While Babylon had been used by God as an instrument of judgment against Judah (Jeremiah 25:9), the Lord now turns His wrath against Babylon itself for its arrogance and cruelty, particularly for its actions against God's people. Merathaim and Pekod are symbolic or regional names for areas within or closely associated with Babylonia, targeted for utter destruction as part of this divine retribution.

Key Themes

Several significant themes emerge from this verse:

  • Divine Judgment: The verse highlights God's absolute justice and His readiness to punish nations that defy Him and oppress His people. The command to "waste and utterly destroy" underscores the severity and totality of this judgment.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This oracle serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in executing His word. The detailed nature of the prophecy emphasizes that God's plans for nations, both for judgment and restoration, will be carried out (Isaiah 46:10).
  • God's Sovereignty: The repeated phrase "saith the LORD" and the command "do according to all that I have commanded thee" emphasize God's supreme authority and control over human history and the destinies of nations.

Linguistic Insights

The names "Merathaim" and "Pekod" carry significant symbolic weight:

  • Merathaim (מְרָתַיִם): This Hebrew name likely means "double rebellion" or "double bitterness." It powerfully signifies the extreme level of Babylon's defiance against God and its oppressive actions, warranting a severe, double measure of divine retribution.
  • Pekod (פְּקוֹד): Meaning "visitation" or "punishment," this name directly foreshadows the judgment that will befall these regions. It suggests that the Lord is "visiting" them to hold them accountable for their sins, bringing the promised punishment. This concept of divine "visitation" often carries the connotation of judgment in the Old Testament.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 50:21 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering justice and His sovereign control over all nations. While specific to ancient Babylon, the principles resonate universally:

  • God holds nations accountable: No empire or power, no matter how mighty, stands outside the purview of God's moral law and ultimate judgment (Psalm 9:8).
  • God's word is sure: What God declares, He will bring to pass. His prophecies are not mere predictions but divine decrees that will be fulfilled in His timing.
  • Justice will prevail: For those who suffer under oppression, this verse offers assurance that God sees and will ultimately bring justice, even if it seems delayed. It points to a day when all wrongs will be made right (Romans 12:19).

This passage encourages believers to trust in God's perfect justice and to live in obedience to His commands, knowing that He is the ultimate arbiter of all things.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 23:23

    The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, [and] all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.

  • 2 Samuel 16:11

    And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now [may this] Benjamite [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

  • 1 Samuel 15:11

    It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

  • 1 Samuel 15:24

    ¶ And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

  • Isaiah 10:6

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

  • Jeremiah 50:15

    Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it [is] the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

  • Jeremiah 50:9

    ¶ For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows [shall be] as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

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