Jeremiah 51:21

And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

And with thee will I break in pieces {H5310} the horse {H5483} and his rider {H7392}; and with thee will I break in pieces {H5310} the chariot {H7393} and his rider {H7392};

with you I shatter horses and their riders; with you I shatter chariots and their drivers;

With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver.

and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider;

Context of Jeremiah 51:21

Jeremiah 51 continues the powerful prophecy against Babylon, foretelling its complete destruction as God's judgment for its pride, idolatry, and especially its cruel treatment of Judah and other nations. This chapter serves as a stark warning to any nation that would exalt itself against the Lord and oppress His people. The "thee" in verse 21 refers to the instrument God uses to bring about this devastation. In Jeremiah 51:20, God declares, "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations..." While initially Babylon was God's tool to punish other nations, this verse turns that same destructive power back upon Babylon itself, often understood as fulfilled through the Medes and Persians under Cyrus.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty Over Nations: This verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute control over all earthly powers. He raises up and casts down empires according to His sovereign will, even using one nation as an instrument of judgment against another, or against itself. No military might or political power can ultimately withstand His decree.
  • Total Defeat of Babylon: The imagery of "breaking in pieces the horse and his rider" and "the chariot and his rider" vividly portrays the complete dismantling of Babylon's formidable military strength. Horses and chariots were the pinnacle of ancient warfare, representing speed, power, and overwhelming force. God declares that He will utterly neutralize this might, leaving Babylon defenseless.
  • Justice and Retribution: Babylon's fall is presented as a righteous act of divine justice. Having been an instrument of God's wrath against Judah, Babylon now faces its own judgment for its excessive cruelty and defiance of the Lord. This theme echoes through other prophetic books detailing Babylon's desolation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "break in pieces" is naphatz (נָפַץ), which conveys the idea of shattering, dashing to pieces, or scattering. It implies a violent and complete destruction, leaving nothing intact. The repetition of the phrase "break in pieces" emphasizes the totality and certainty of Babylon's military collapse. The specific mention of "horse and his rider" and "chariot and his rider" uses a figure of speech known as a merism, where two contrasting or complementary parts represent the whole—in this case, the entirety of a military force.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:21 offers enduring lessons for all generations. It reminds us that no earthly power, no matter how dominant or seemingly invincible, is beyond the reach of God's ultimate judgment. For those who feel oppressed by powerful systems or nations, this verse offers hope that God sees injustice and will, in His perfect timing, bring about justice. It also serves as a warning to any who would wield power unjustly, that accountability before a sovereign God is inevitable. Our trust should ultimately be placed not in human strength or military might, but in the omnipotent God who removes kings and sets up kings.

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.

  • Exodus 15:1

    ¶ Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

  • Zechariah 10:5

    ¶ And they shall be as mighty [men], which tread down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD [is] with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

  • Zechariah 12:4

    In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

  • Micah 5:10

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:

  • Nahum 2:13

    Behold, I [am] against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

  • Haggai 2:22

    And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

  • Revelation 19:18

    That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

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