Jeremiah 51:11

Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device [is] against Babylon, to destroy it; because it [is] the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.

Make bright {H1305} the arrows {H2671}; gather {H4390} the shields {H7982}: the LORD {H3068} hath raised up {H5782} the spirit {H7307} of the kings {H4428} of the Medes {H4074}: for his device {H4209} is against Babylon {H894}, to destroy {H7843} it; because it is the vengeance {H5360} of the LORD {H3068}, the vengeance {H5360} of his temple {H1964}.

Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! ADONAI roused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because he plans to destroy Bavel. This is the vengeance of ADONAI vengeance over his temple.

Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD— vengeance for His temple.

Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple.

Jeremiah 51:11 is a powerful declaration of God's impending judgment against Babylon, explicitly stating the divine strategy and the instruments He will use to execute His righteous wrath.

Context

This verse is part of a lengthy prophecy in Jeremiah chapters 50-51, detailing the comprehensive destruction of Babylon, the dominant world power that had conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC. The prophecies serve as both a warning to Babylon and an assurance to the exiled Israelites that their oppressors would face divine retribution. Here, the focus narrows on the specific agents God will employ: the Medes. Historically, the Medes, in alliance with the Persians under Cyrus the Great, would indeed conquer Babylon in 539 BC, fulfilling these very words.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in History: The verse clearly states, "the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes." This emphasizes that God is not merely an observer but an active orchestrator of world events, using nations as instruments of His will, even those unaware of His purpose. This echoes God's raising up of Cyrus, who was instrumental in Babylon's fall.
  • God's Righteous Vengeance: The destruction of Babylon is explicitly called "the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple." This is not a capricious act, but a just response to Babylon's idolatry, pride, and especially their brutal treatment of God's people and the desecration of His holy sanctuary in Jerusalem. It underscores God's commitment to justice for His covenant people.
  • Certainty of Prophecy: The command "Make bright the arrows; gather the shields" is a direct prophetic instruction to the Medes, indicating the certainty of their coming military action against Babylon. Jeremiah’s detailed prophecies regarding Babylon's ultimate destruction were given decades before their fulfillment.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "device" in "for his device [is] against Babylon" is the Hebrew machashabah (מַחֲשָׁבָה), which signifies a thought, plan, or purpose. It highlights God's deliberate and well-considered intention to bring about Babylon's downfall, not a sudden impulse. The repeated "vengeance of the LORD" (Hebrew naqam, נָקָם) emphasizes a righteous retribution, a divine act of justice that restores balance and upholds God's honor, rather than mere human revenge.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:11 reminds us that God remains sovereign over all nations and world powers. No empire or individual can ultimately thwart His plans or escape His justice. For those experiencing oppression or injustice, this verse offers comfort that God sees and will ultimately act on behalf of His people and His name. It also serves as a warning against pride and cruelty, as those who exalt themselves against God or oppress the vulnerable will ultimately face His righteous judgment. We are called to trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering commitment to justice, knowing that He is working out His purposes, even through seemingly unlikely means.

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 46:4

    Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with [your] helmets; furbish the spears, [and] put on the brigandines.

  • Jeremiah 50:45

    Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make [their] habitation desolate with them.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 46:9

    Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow.

  • 1 Kings 11:14

    ¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he [was] of the king's seed in Edom.

  • Isaiah 21:5

    Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield.

  • Jeremiah 51:24

    And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.

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