Jeremiah 51:22

With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;

With thee also will I break in pieces {H5310} man {H376} and woman {H802}; and with thee will I break in pieces {H5310} old {H2205} and young {H5288}; and with thee will I break in pieces {H5310} the young man {H970} and the maid {H1330};

with you I shatter husbands and wives; with you I shatter old and young; with you I shatter young men and virgins;

With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden.

and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and him that rideth therein; and with thee will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces the old man and the youth; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the virgin;

Jeremiah 51:22 is a powerful verse from the prophet Jeremiah's extensive prophecy against Babylon. This verse vividly describes the comprehensive nature of God's impending judgment upon the mighty Babylonian Empire, which had previously been God's instrument to punish Judah.

Context

Chapters 50 and 51 of Jeremiah are dedicated entirely to the pronouncement of God's wrath against Babylon, the nation that had conquered Jerusalem, destroyed its temple, and exiled its people. After using Babylon as a "hammer" to chastise other nations and His own people, God declares that Babylon itself will be "broken in pieces" for its pride, idolatry, and cruelty. The "thee" in this verse refers to the instrument God will use for this judgment—likely the Medes and Persians, who would ultimately overthrow Babylon. This specific verse emphasizes the universality of the destruction, sparing no one regardless of age or gender, highlighting the totality of divine retribution.

Key Themes

  • God's Absolute Sovereignty: This verse underscores that God is ultimately in control of all nations and empires. He raises them up and brings them down, using them as instruments of His will, even against each other. This demonstrates His supreme power over human history and political powers.
  • Total and Indiscriminate Destruction: The repetitive phrase "break in pieces man and woman... old and young... young man and the maid" emphasizes the devastating and comprehensive nature of Babylon's fall. No segment of society would be spared from the divine judgment, illustrating the severity of God's justice against a nation that had shown no mercy.
  • Divine Retribution: Babylon, which had "broken in pieces" many nations and oppressed God's people, would now suffer the same fate. This is a clear manifestation of the principle of sowing and reaping, where actions have consequences, and God ensures justice prevails.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "break in pieces" is naphats (נפץ), which means to shatter, smash, or dash to pieces. Its repeated use in this verse (and throughout Jeremiah 51) creates a powerful and chilling image of complete and utter demolition. It's not just a defeat, but a pulverizing, leaving nothing intact. This strong imagery conveys the brutal and comprehensive nature of the judgment God was bringing upon Babylon, echoing how Babylon itself had treated its conquered foes.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:22 offers timeless lessons for all generations:

  • Justice Prevails: This verse is a powerful reminder that no empire, however mighty or seemingly invincible, can escape divine justice forever. God sees all acts of oppression, pride, and idolatry, and He will ultimately bring accountability.
  • Humility Before God: For nations and individuals alike, this passage serves as a warning against arrogance and self-sufficiency. It encourages humility and recognition of God's ultimate authority, lest one face His severe judgment.
  • Comfort for the Oppressed: For those suffering under oppressive regimes or experiencing injustice, this prophecy provides hope and comfort. It affirms that God is a just God who hears the cries of His people and will ultimately bring down those who oppress them, as seen in the ultimate fall of 'Babylon the Great' in prophetic literature.
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.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:17

    Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave [them] all into his hand.

  • Isaiah 13:18

    [Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

  • Ezekiel 9:6

    Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house.

  • 1 Samuel 15:3

    Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

  • Lamentations 2:11

    Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

  • Jeremiah 6:11

    Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with [him that is] full of days.

  • Isaiah 13:16

    Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

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