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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Jeremiah 50:33–46. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We have in these verses,
I.Israel's sufferings, and their deliverance out of those sufferings.
God takes notice of the bondage of his people in Babylon, as he did of their bondage in Egypt; he has surely seen it, and has heard their cry. Israel and Judah were oppressed together, Jer 50:33. Those that remained of the captives of the ten tribes, upon the uniting of the kingdoms of Assyria and Chaldea, seem to have come and mingled with t hose of the two tribes, and to have mingled tears with them, so that they were oppressed together. They were humble suppliants for their liberty, and that was all; they could not attempt any thing towards it, for all that took them captives held them fast, and were much too hard for them. But this is their comfort in distress, that, though they are weak, their Redeemer is strong (Jer 50:34), their Avenger (so the word signifies), he that has a right to them, and will claim his right and make good his claim. He is stronger than their enemies that hold them fast; he can overpower all the force that is against them, and put strength into his own people though they are very weak. The Lord of hosts is his name, and he will answer to his name, and make it to appear that he is what his people call him, and will be that to them for which they depend upon him. Note, It is the unspeakable comfort of the people of God that, though they have hosts against them, they have the Lord of hosts for them and he shall thoroughly plead their cause, pleading he shall plead it, plead it with jealousy, plead it effectually, plead it and carry it, that he may give rest to the land, and to his people's land, rest from all their enemies round about. This is applicable to all believers, who complain of the dominion of sin and corruption, and of their own weakness and manifold infirmities. Let them know that their Redeemer is strong; he is able to keep what they commit to him, and he will plead their cause. Sin shall not have dominion over them; he will make them free, and they shall be free indeed; he will give them rest, that rest which remains for the people of God.
II.Babylon's sin, and their punishment for that sin.
1.The sins they are here charged with are idolatry and persecution.
(1.)They oppressed the people of God; they held them fast, and would not let them go. They opened not the house of his prisoners, Isa 14:17. This was God's quarrel with them, as of old with Pharaoh; it cost him dear, and yet they would not take warning. The inhabitants of Babylon must be disquieted (Jer 50:34) because they have disquieted God's people, whose honour and comfort he is jealous for, and therefore will recompense tribulation to those that trouble them, as well as rest to those that are troubled, Th2 1:6, Th2 1:7.
(2.)They wronged God himself, and robbed him, giving that glory to others which is due to him alone; for (Jer 50:38) it is the land of graven images. All parts of the country abounded with idols, and they were mad upon them, were in love with them and doted on them, cared not what cost and pains they were at in the worship of them, were unwearied in paying their respects to them; and in all this they were wretchedly infatuated and acted like men out of their wits; they were carried on in their idolatry without reason or discretion, like men in a perfect fury. The word here used for idols properly signifies terrors - Enim, the name given to giants that were formidable, because they made the images of their gods to look frightful, to strike a terror upon fools and children. Their idols were scarecrows, yet they doted on them. Babylon was the mother of harlots (Rev 17:5), the source of idolatry. Note, It is the maddest thing in the world to make a god of any creature; and those who are proud against the Lord, the true God, are justly given up to strong delusions, to be mad upon idols that cannot profit. But this madness is wickedness, for which sinners will be certainly and severely reckoned with.
2.The judgments of God upon them for these sins are such as will quite lay them waste and ruin them.
(1.)All that should be their defence and support shall be cut off by the sword. The Chaldeans had long been God's sword, wherewith he had done execution upon the sinful nations round about: but now, they being as bad as any of them, or worse, a sword is brought upon them, even upon the inhabitants of Babylon (Jer 50:35), a sword of war; and, as it is in God's hand, sent and directed by him, it is a sword of justice. It shall be,
[1.]Upon their princes; they shall fall by it, and their dignity, wealth, and power, shall not secure them.
[2.]Upon their wise men, their philosophers, their statesmen, and privy-counsellors; their learning and policy shall neither secure them nor stand the public in any stead.
[3.]Upon their soothsayers and astrologers, here called the liars (Jer 50:36), for they cheated with their prognostications of peace and prosperity; the sword upon them shall make them dote, so that they shall talk like fools, and be as men that have lost all their wits. Note, God has a sword that can reach the soul and affect the mind, and bring men under spiritual plagues.
[4.]Upon their mighty men. A sword shall be upon their spirits; if they are not slain, yet they shall be dismayed, and shall be no longer mighty men; for what stead will their hands stand them in when their hearts fail them? [5.] Upon their militia (Jer 50:37): The sword shall be upon their horses and chariots; the invaders shall make themselves masters of all their warlike stores, shall seize their horses and chariots for themselves, or destroy them. The troops of other nations that were in their service shall be quite disheartened: The mingled people shall become as weak and timorous as women. [6.] Upon their exchequer: The sword shall be upon her treasures, which are the sinews of war, and they shall be robbed, and made use of by the enemy against them. See what universal destruction the sword makes when it comes with commission.
(2.)The country shall be made desolate (Jer 50:38): The waters shall be dried up, the water that secures the city. Cyrus drew the river Euphrates into so many channels as made it passable for his army, so that they got with ease to the walls of Babylon, which, if was thought, that river had rendered inaccessible. "The water likewise that made the country fruitful shall be dried up, so that it shall be turned into barrenness, and shall be no more inhabited by the children of men, but by the wild beasts of the desert," Jer 50:39. This was foretold concerning Babylon, Isa 13:19-22. It shall become like Sodom and Gomorrah, Jer 50:40. The same was foretold concerning Edom, Jer 49:18. As the Chaldeans had laid Edom waste, so they shall themselves be laid waste.
(3.)The king and kingdom shall be put into the utmost confusion and consternation by the enemies' invading them, Jer 50:41-43. All the expressions here used to denote the formidable power of the invaders, the terrors wherewith they should array themselves, and the great fright which both court and country should be put into thereby, we met with before (Jer 6:22-24) concerning the Chaldeans' invading the land of Judah. The battle which is there said to be against thee, O daughter of Zion! is here said to be against thee, O daughter of Babylon! to intimate that they should be paid in their own coin. God can find out such as shall be for terror and destruction to those that are for terror and destruction to others; and those who have dealt cruelly, and have shown no mercy, may expect to be cruelly dealt with, and to find no mercy. Only there is one difference between these passages; there it is said, We have heard the fame thereof and our hands wax feeble; here it is said, The king of Babylon has heard the report and his hands waxed feeble, which intimates that that proud and daring prince shall, in the day of his distress, be as weak and dispirited as the meanest Israelites were in the day of their distress.
(4.)That they shall be as much hurt as frightened, for the invader shall come up like a lion to tear and destroy (Jer 50:44) and shall make them and their habitation desolate (Jer 50:45), and the desolation shall be so astonishing that all the nations about shall be terrified by it, Jer 50:46. These three verses we had before (Jer 49:19-21) in the prophecy of the destruction of Edom, which was accomplished by the Chaldeans, and they are here repeated, mutatis mutandis - with a few necessary alterations, in the prophecy of the destruction of Babylon, which was to be accomplished upon the Chaldeans, to show that though the distributions of Providence may appear unequal for a time its retributions will be equal at last; when thou shalt make an end to spoil thou shalt be spoiled, Isa 33:1; Rev 13:10.
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Summary
Jeremiah 50:46 vividly portrays the cataclysmic downfall of Babylon, depicting it not as a localized event but as a global tremor. The verse emphasizes the immense "noise" and "cry" that accompany its collapse, signifying a profound upheaval that resonates across the entire earth and elicits widespread reaction among the nations. It underscores the sovereign hand of God in history, bringing judgment upon even the mightiest empires and demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of His divine decree.
Context
Literary Context
Jeremiah 50-51 constitutes a monumental prophetic oracle dedicated entirely to the judgment and destruction of Babylon. This extended prophecy stands in stark contrast to the earlier chapters of Jeremiah, which primarily focus on Judah's sin and impending exile. Chapters 50 and 51 serve as a divine assurance to the exiled Judahites that their oppressor, Babylon, would not escape God's justice. Jeremiah 50:46 specifically concludes a section detailing the military campaign against Babylon and its devastating effects, acting as a climactic summary of the global impact of this divine judgment. The preceding verses Jeremiah 50:43-45 describe the king of Babylon's terror and the Lord's determined plan against the city, making verse 46 a powerful capstone to this immediate narrative.
Historical & Cultural Context
At the time of Jeremiah's prophecy, Babylon, under the Neo-Babylonian Empire, was the dominant superpower of the ancient Near East. Led by Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple in 586 BC, and exiled its people. The city of Babylon itself was renowned for its immense fortifications, Hanging Gardens, and advanced civilization, making its fall seem improbable to many. The prophecy of its destruction, therefore, was a radical declaration against the prevailing world order, challenging the perceived invincibility of human power. The "nations" mentioned in the verse would include those subjugated by Babylon, those allied with it, and those who simply witnessed its unprecedented rise and fall, all of whom would be affected by such a monumental shift in geopolitical power.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes found throughout Jeremiah and the broader prophetic corpus. Firstly, it highlights Divine Sovereignty and Judgment, demonstrating that no earthly power, however mighty, can withstand God's ultimate decree. Babylon's fall is not merely a political event but a direct act of God's justice against its pride, idolatry, and cruelty towards His people, echoing the principle found in Psalm 75:7. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the Universal Impact of God's Actions, showing that divine judgment has far-reaching consequences that reverberate across the entire known world, affecting "the earth" and "the nations." This signifies a seismic shift in global power dynamics. Finally, it speaks to the Fulfillment of Prophecy, serving as a testament to God's faithfulness to His word, whether in judgment or blessing. The detailed predictions concerning Babylon's demise, also seen in Isaiah 13 and Isaiah 21, underscore that God is in control of history and His revealed word will always come to pass.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From an unused root meaning "to call aloud," this word denotes a "voice" or "sound." In this context, it refers to the tumultuous clamor associated with a catastrophic event – the sounds of battle, the shouts of conquerors, the cries of the vanquished, and the general din of a city being overthrown. It suggests a cacophony of destruction, far from a quiet or unnoticed demise.
A primitive root meaning "to undulate," "tremble," or "shake," often used to describe the earth quaking or a physical tremor. Here, it conveys the idea of a violent, disruptive event that causes a literal and metaphorical shaking of the foundations of the world order. It implies a profound disturbance, akin to an earthquake, that destabilizes the entire geopolitical landscape.
This word refers to a "shriek" or "outcry," typically associated with distress, alarm, or deep anguish. It highlights the profound reaction of astonishment, fear, or even relief among those who witnessed or heard of Babylon's catastrophic collapse, signifying a widespread lamentation or a desperate appeal.
This term refers to a "foreign nation" or "Gentile," often used collectively for the peoples of the world outside of Israel. Its use here underscores the global scope of Babylon's fall, indicating that the news and its implications would not be confined to the immediate region but would be disseminated and felt by peoples across the known world.
Verse Breakdown
"At the noise of the taking of Babylon"
This phrase immediately sets the scene, focusing on the auditory impact of Babylon's capture. The "noise" is not just a sound but a descriptor of the overwhelming, chaotic, and violent nature of its fall. It encompasses the sounds of war – the clash of armies, the breaching of walls, the screams of the dying, and the triumphant roars of the victors. The "taking of Babylon" refers to its military conquest, specifically by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy.
"the earth is moved"
This is a powerful hyperbolic statement, emphasizing the monumental impact of Babylon's collapse. It suggests that the fall of such a dominant empire was so significant that it caused a literal shaking of the ground, implying a disruption of the very stability of the world. Metaphorically, it signifies a profound shift in the geopolitical order, sending shockwaves across all nations and disrupting established power structures.
"and the cry is heard among the nations"
This clause further extends the scope of Babylon's fall, indicating that the news and its accompanying lamentation or alarm would not be confined to Babylon itself but would spread far and wide. The "cry" could be one of distress from those who relied on Babylon, or one of astonishment and fear from those who witnessed the demise of such a formidable power, or even a cry of relief from those who had been oppressed by it. It signifies a universal awareness and reaction to this unprecedented event.
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 50:46 employs several potent literary devices to convey the magnitude of Babylon's fall. Hyperbole is evident in the phrase "the earth is moved," which exaggerates the physical impact to emphasize the profound, world-altering significance of the event. While not a literal earthquake, the collapse of such a dominant empire would indeed send tremors through the geopolitical landscape. Auditory Imagery is central, with "noise" and "cry" vividly engaging the reader's sense of hearing, making the event immediate and visceral. The "noise" suggests the chaos of battle and destruction, while the "cry" evokes widespread lamentation or alarm. Furthermore, a subtle form of Personification is present in "the earth is moved," as the earth itself is depicted as reacting to the event, trembling as if in fear or shock. This device elevates the event from a mere military conquest to a cosmic, divinely orchestrated upheaval.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Jeremiah 50:46 stands as a profound testament to God's absolute sovereignty over human history and the destinies of nations. It underscores the biblical truth that no empire, however mighty or seemingly invincible, is beyond the reach of divine judgment. Babylon, which had served as God's instrument of judgment against Judah, now faces its own reckoning, demonstrating that God holds all nations accountable for their actions, particularly their pride, idolatry, and oppression of His people. This verse reinforces the eschatological hope that God will ultimately bring justice to the earth, dismantle oppressive systems, and vindicate His people, assuring believers that His plans will always prevail over the temporary dominance of worldly powers.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 50:46 serves as a powerful reminder that God remains sovereign over all nations and history. In a world often dominated by seemingly insurmountable powers and complex geopolitical forces, this verse offers both a solemn warning and a profound message of hope. It warns against national pride, injustice, and idolatry, reminding us that even the most formidable human constructs are fragile before the Almighty. For the oppressed and those who feel overwhelmed by the forces of this world, it offers assurance that God sees, hears, and will ultimately act to bring justice. Our trust should not be placed in fleeting human strength, political systems, or economic might, but in the eternal power of God, who "removeth kings, and setteth up kings" Daniel 2:21. This calls us to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that all earthly kingdoms are temporary, but God's kingdom is everlasting.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
When did Babylon actually fall, and was it as dramatic as described?
Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC, roughly 47 years after Jerusalem's destruction. Historical accounts suggest that the city was taken relatively easily, possibly through a strategic diversion of the Euphrates River, allowing Persian troops to enter through the riverbed. While the immediate military conquest might not have been as audibly "noisy" in terms of a protracted siege, the impact of its fall was indeed dramatic and far-reaching. The prophecy in Jeremiah 50:46 uses hyperbolic language to emphasize the significance of the event – the collapse of the world's superpower – which sent shockwaves across all nations and marked a monumental shift in geopolitical power, fulfilling the prophetic word.
Is "Babylon" in the Bible always referring to the literal ancient city?
While Jeremiah 50:46 and much of the Old Testament refer to the literal ancient city and empire of Babylon, the term "Babylon" also takes on a symbolic meaning, particularly in later prophetic literature. In the New Testament, especially in the book of Revelation, "Babylon the Great" symbolizes a global system of spiritual idolatry, economic oppression, and rebellion against God. This symbolic "Babylon" embodies the characteristics of the ancient city – pride, luxury, persecution of God's people – and is also prophesied to suffer a dramatic and universal fall, echoing the language and themes of Jeremiah's prophecy.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The dramatic fall of Babylon, depicted in Jeremiah 50:46, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the triumph of Jesus Christ over all the oppressive powers of sin, death, and the devil. While ancient Babylon represented a formidable earthly empire that stood in opposition to God's people, its collapse foreshadows the definitive victory of God's kingdom over every spiritual and earthly force that exalts itself against Him. Just as the "noise" and "cry" of Babylon's fall reverberated across the nations, so too does the cosmic victory of Christ's cross and resurrection send shockwaves through the spiritual realm, declaring the decisive defeat of the "prince of this world" John 12:31. The "earth is moved" not merely by a geopolitical shift, but by the inauguration of a new creation, where Christ's reign establishes a kingdom that "shall never be destroyed" Daniel 2:44. The ultimate "cry" heard among the nations will be one of either lamentation for those who reject Christ, or joyous acclamation for those who embrace Him as Lord, as every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord Philippians 2:10-11. The prophetic judgment against Babylon prefigures Christ's final judgment of all evil, culminating in the establishment of His perfect and eternal kingdom, where all injustice is vanquished and God's righteous rule prevails forever Revelation 19:11-21.