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.

For, lo, I will raise {H5782} and cause to come up {H5927} against Babylon {H894} an assembly {H6951} of great {H1419} nations {H1471} from the north {H6828} country {H776}: and they shall set themselves in array {H6186} against her; from thence she shall be taken {H3920}: their arrows {H2671} shall be as of a mighty {H1368} expert man {H7919}{H7921}; none shall return {H7725} in vain {H7387}.

for I will stir up and bring against Bavel an alliance of great nations from the country to the north. They will array themselves against her; from there she will be captured. Their arrows are like those of a death-dealing warrior; none will return in vain.

For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.

For, lo, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company 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 an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain.

Jeremiah 50:9 is a powerful prophetic declaration detailing God's impending judgment against Babylon, the dominant empire of Jeremiah's time and the oppressor of Judah. This verse, part of a larger oracle against Babylon in Jeremiah chapters 50-51, reveals the divine instrument chosen to bring about its downfall.

Context

The Book of Jeremiah chronicles the prophet's warnings to Judah before its fall to Babylon and the subsequent Babylonian captivity. Chapters 50 and 51 are dedicated to prophecies against Babylon itself, offering a message of hope and vindication to the exiled Israelites. Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, had destroyed Jerusalem and taken its people captive. This prophecy assures God's people that their oppressors would also face divine reckoning. The "north country" here specifically refers to the Medes and Persians, who, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, would conquer Babylon in 539 BC, fulfilling this precise prediction. This divine decree against Babylon is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, assuring God's people of ultimate justice and the certainty of His judgment against oppressive empires.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The declaration "I will raise and cause to come up" powerfully asserts God's absolute control over nations and historical events. Babylon's rise and fall are not random occurrences but part of God's overarching plan.
  • Inevitable Judgment: The detailed description of the attacking forces—"set themselves in array," "from thence she shall be taken"—underscores the certainty and thoroughness of Babylon's defeat. God's word concerning judgment is unfailing.
  • Justice for Oppression: This prophecy serves as a testament to God's justice, providing comfort and hope to the exiled Israelites who were suffering under the Babylonian captivity. Their oppressors would not escape consequence.

Linguistic Insights

  • "assembly of great nations": The Hebrew word for "assembly" (qahal) suggests a deliberate and organized gathering of forces, not a random horde. These "great nations" primarily refer to the coalition of Medes and Persians, a formidable power that indeed rose from the north.
  • "from the north country": This phrase is a consistent geographical marker in Jeremiah's prophecies, often indicating the direction from which God's instruments of judgment would emerge, in this case, the Medo-Persian Empire.
  • "their arrows [shall be] as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain": This vivid military imagery highlights the precision, power, and overwhelming effectiveness of the invading forces. The phrase "none shall return in vain" (Hebrew: lo tashuv reqam) emphasizes that every action, every "arrow," would achieve its intended purpose without failure or wasted effort, signifying a decisive and complete victory.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 50:9 offers timeless truths for believers today. It reminds us that God remains sovereign over all nations and history, even when circumstances seem chaotic or oppressive. It assures us that divine justice will ultimately prevail, and that those who oppress or act with arrogance against God's purposes will face consequences. This verse encourages trust in God's faithfulness to fulfill His word, providing hope in times of difficulty and reinforcing the truth that no empire or power can stand against the will of the Almighty.

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.

  • Jeremiah 51:1

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;

  • Jeremiah 51:4

    Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and [they that are] thrust through in her streets.

  • Jeremiah 15:14

    And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you.

  • 2 Samuel 1:22

    From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

  • Isaiah 21:2

    A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

  • Jeremiah 50:3

    For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

  • Jeremiah 50:29

    Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

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