Jeremiah 51:30

KJV

The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in [their] holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.

KJV (with Strong's)

The mighty men {H1368} of Babylon {H894} have forborn {H2308} to fight {H3898}, they have remained {H3427} in their holds {H4679}: their might {H1369} hath failed {H5405}; they became as women {H802}: they have burned {H3341} her dwellingplaces {H4908}; her bars {H1280} are broken {H7665}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Bavel's warriors have given up fighting; they remain in their fortresses; their courage has failed; they are now like women. Her homes are on fire, her gate-bars broken.

Berean Standard Bible

The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken.

American Standard Version

The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they remain in their strongholds; their might hath failed; they are become as women: her dwelling-places are set on fire; her bars are broken.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 51:30 delivers a stark prophetic declaration of Babylon's catastrophic downfall, depicting its once-formidable military as utterly paralyzed and demoralized. The verse vividly portrays the unexpected failure of the Babylonian "mighty men" to engage in battle, their retreat into fortified positions, the complete collapse of their strength and courage, and the subsequent internal chaos marked by the burning of their dwellings and the breaking of their defenses. This imagery underscores the divine orchestration of Babylon's demise, highlighting God's sovereign power over even the most dominant empires.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 51:30 is embedded within a lengthy prophetic oracle against Babylon, spanning chapters 50 and 51. This "burden of Babylon" (Jeremiah 50:1) serves as a counterpoint to the prophecies of Judah's restoration, emphasizing God's comprehensive justice. While Judah faced judgment through Babylon, Babylon itself would face even more severe retribution for its pride, cruelty, and idolatry. The immediate context of verse 30 describes the advance of the invading forces and the terror that grips Babylon, leading to a state of utter confusion and helplessness. The preceding verses detail the instruments of God's wrath (the Medes and other nations) and the ultimate desolation of Babylon, making verse 30 a vivid illustration of the internal collapse preceding the final conquest.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar II, was the dominant superpower of the ancient Near East in Jeremiah's time, renowned for its immense wealth, military might, and seemingly impregnable fortifications, including massive walls and the Euphrates River flowing through its heart. The prophecy against Babylon, culminating in its historical fall to Cyrus the Great and the Medo-Persian Empire in 539 BC, was a shocking declaration. Culturally, "mighty men" (gibbôrim) were celebrated warriors, and their failure to fight, becoming "as women," was the ultimate insult and symbol of emasculation and cowardice in a patriarchal society that valued martial prowess above all else. This cultural understanding amplifies the humiliation and supernatural nature of Babylon's collapse, suggesting a divine hand at work that transcends mere military strategy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, demonstrating that God holds ultimate authority over all nations, using and then judging even the most powerful empires according to His righteous will, as seen in His judgment against other nations throughout the book (e.g., [Jeremiah 46-49](/jeremiah/46 "Jeremiah 46-49 - Oracles Against the Nations")). Secondly, it underscores the **Futility of Human Might and Pride**, illustrating that even the strongest human defenses and armies are powerless when confronted with God's determined judgment. This theme resonates with the humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar in [Daniel 4:37](/daniel/4-37 "Daniel 4:37 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation and Praise of God"), where he acknowledges God's supreme dominion. Thirdly, the verse vividly portrays **Humiliation and Demoralization**, emphasizing the psychological and spiritual collapse that precedes and accompanies physical defeat, a common motif in prophetic literature describing the downfall of arrogant powers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mighty men (Hebrew, _gibbôwr'_):** From the root meaning "powerful," this term denotes a warrior, champion, or valiant man, emphasizing strength, prowess, and courage. In this context, it highlights the shocking reversal: those renowned for their might are rendered utterly impotled, underscoring the supernatural nature of their failure.
* **Forborn (Hebrew, _châdal'_):** A primitive root meaning "to desist," "cease," or "be lacking." It implies an active cessation, a deliberate choice or inability to act, rather than merely being defeated. The mighty men *forbore* to fight, indicating a paralysis of will or spirit, a complete abandonment of their primary duty.
* **Women (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** This term, the feminine of "man," is used here as a powerful and culturally charged metaphor for extreme weakness, cowardice, and loss of virility. For warriors to become "as women" signified the ultimate humiliation and complete collapse of their martial spirit, rendering them utterly incapable of defense.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight":** This opening clause presents a shocking and counter-intuitive image. Babylon's celebrated warriors, known for their aggressive military campaigns, are depicted as having ceased or refused to engage in battle. This suggests a profound psychological paralysis or a divinely imposed inability to resist, rather than a conventional military defeat in combat.
* **"they have remained in [their] holds":** Instead of confronting the enemy, the warriors retreated to their fortified positions (holds/strongholds). This action signifies a defensive posture born of fear and a lack of will to fight, effectively ceding the battlefield to the invaders without a struggle. It highlights their abandonment of offensive action.
* **"their might hath failed":** This clause directly states the consequence of their inaction and retreat. Their inherent strength, courage, and military capability—the very essence of their "might"—has completely dried up or vanished. This is not merely a physical exhaustion but a spiritual and mental collapse, rendering them impotent.
* **"they became as women":** This is a potent and culturally significant simile. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, comparing warriors to women was the ultimate expression of humiliation, cowardice, and loss of martial spirit. It implies a complete emasculation and a profound state of terror that stripped them of their ability to fight, reducing them to a state of utter helplessness.
* **"they have burned her dwellingplaces":** This phrase points to internal chaos and destruction within Babylon itself. This could refer to the invaders setting fire to parts of the city, or perhaps even a desperate, self-destructive act by the Babylonians themselves in their panic, or the general breakdown of order leading to widespread devastation. It signifies the breakdown of civil order and the onset of ruin.
* **"her bars are broken":** The "bars" refer to the strong bolts and defensive mechanisms of the city gates. Their breakage symbolizes the complete breach of Babylon's formidable defenses. This signifies that the city's perceived invincibility is shattered, leaving it open and vulnerable to conquest, confirming the utter collapse of its security.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 51:30 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the depth of Babylon's impending collapse. The most striking is the **simile** "they became as women," which functions as a profound **metaphor** for utter weakness, cowardice, and the complete loss of martial spirit. This comparison is deeply ironic, given Babylon's reputation for having "mighty men," thus creating a stark **contrast** between their former glory and their prophesied humiliation. The entire verse functions as a form of **hyperbole**, exaggerating the extent of their paralysis and the ease of their defeat to emphasize the divine power at work. The description of "her dwellingplaces" being burned and "her bars" broken also uses **synecdoche**, where parts (dwellings, bars) represent the whole city's destruction and vulnerability. The overall effect is one of dramatic **irony** and profound humiliation, underscoring the absolute certainty of God's judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 51:30 serves as a profound theological statement on God's absolute sovereignty over human kingdoms and His unwavering commitment to justice. It vividly illustrates that no human power, no matter how formidable or seemingly impregnable, can withstand the purposes of God when His judgment is determined. Babylon's fall is not merely a military defeat but a divinely orchestrated humiliation, demonstrating that pride and oppression ultimately lead to downfall. This passage reaffirms the biblical principle that God raises up and casts down nations according to His righteous will, holding even the mightiest empires accountable for their actions, particularly their treatment of His people and their defiance of His law. It underscores that true security lies not in human strength or fortifications, but in the Lord.

* [Isaiah 13:6-8](/isaiah/13-6-8 "Isaiah 13:6-8 - Prophecy of Babylon's Fall and Fear") - A parallel prophecy against Babylon, describing men in anguish and terror, their hearts melting, and being seized by pangs like a woman in labor, further emphasizing the theme of fear and weakness.
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction") - "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." This proverb perfectly encapsulates the theological principle demonstrated by Babylon's collapse, a nation characterized by its arrogance and self-reliance.
* [Daniel 5:25-31](/daniel/5-25-31 "Daniel 5:25-31 - The Writing on the Wall and Belshazzar's Fall") - The historical account of Babylon's fall, where King Belshazzar's pride leads to the famous "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" prophecy and the city's capture in a single night, confirming Jeremiah's prophecy of its sudden and complete collapse.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 51:30 offers timeless lessons for believers today. Firstly, it powerfully reminds us that all earthly power, wealth, and security are ultimately transient and subject to God's sovereign will. In a world that often places its trust in military might, economic strength, or political influence, this verse calls us to re-evaluate where our ultimate confidence lies. It challenges us to recognize that true security and lasting peace are found only in God, who can humble the proudest and strongest adversaries with effortless ease. For individuals, this means acknowledging our own limitations and resisting the temptation to rely on our own strength, intellect, or resources above God. It encourages a posture of humility and dependence, reminding us that pride often precedes a fall, both for nations and for individual lives. When we face seemingly insurmountable challenges or oppressive forces, this prophecy offers comfort that God is still on the throne, capable of bringing down any "Babylon" that stands against His purposes. It also serves as a sobering warning against arrogance and injustice, urging us to live righteously and to champion God's justice in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to rely on my own "might" or "holds" rather than on God's sovereign power?**
* **How does the swift and unexpected fall of Babylon challenge my understanding of security and strength in the world today?**
* **What "bars" or defenses might I be building in my life that God intends to break down to bring about His purposes?**
* **How can I cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence on God, rather than succumbing to pride or self-reliance?**

### FAQ
**Why does Jeremiah emphasize the Babylonian warriors' failure to fight and their becoming "as women"?**

Answer: Jeremiah's vivid description of the "mighty men" of Babylon forgoing battle and becoming "as women" serves to underscore the utterly unexpected and humiliating nature of Babylon's fall. In ancient Near Eastern culture, warriors were symbols of strength and virility, and for them to cease fighting and be compared to women was the ultimate expression of cowardice, emasculation, and complete demoralization. This imagery highlights that Babylon's defeat was not merely a conventional military loss but a divinely orchestrated collapse of will and spirit, demonstrating God's supernatural power to dismantle even the most formidable human empires. It shows that their "might" (H1369, *gᵉbûwrâh*) truly "failed" (H5405, *nâshath*), drying up completely.

**What is the significance of "her dwellingplaces" being burned and "her bars" broken in the context of Babylon's fall?**

Answer: The burning of Babylon's "dwellingplaces" (H4908, *mishkân*) and the breaking of "her bars" (H1280, *bᵉrîyach*) signify the complete internal chaos and the utter breakdown of the city's defenses. "Dwellingplaces" refers to residences, implying widespread destruction of the city's infrastructure and the lives within it. The "bars" were the strong bolts securing the city gates, and their breakage indicates that Babylon's renowned fortifications, once thought impregnable, were rendered useless. This imagery emphasizes that the city was not just conquered from the outside, but experienced a total collapse from within, leaving it vulnerable and completely exposed to its destroyers. This aligns with prophecies of total desolation for Babylon, as seen in [Jeremiah 50:3](/jeremiah/50-3 "Jeremiah 50:3 - Babylon Becomes a Desolation").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 51:30, with its depiction of a mighty empire's sudden and humiliating collapse, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the triumph of God's kingdom over all earthly and spiritual opposition through Jesus Christ. Babylon, as a symbol of human pride, oppressive power, and rebellion against God, foreshadows the "Babylon" of Revelation, representing the world system arrayed against God and His people. Just as Babylon's "mighty men" became paralyzed and powerless, so too did the spiritual "mighty men"—the powers of sin, death, and the devil—find their might utterly failed in the face of Christ's cross and resurrection. On the cross, Jesus, the true "mighty man" (cf. [Isaiah 9:6](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God")), did not "forbear to fight" but actively engaged and disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities, triumphing over them (cf. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). He broke the "bars" of death and the grave, rising victorious (cf. [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ Destroys Death's Power")). The burning of Babylon's dwelling places and the breaking of its bars prefigure the ultimate destruction of all that opposes God's righteous rule, culminating in the final judgment of spiritual Babylon and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom, where all human and demonic might will be utterly vanquished by the Lamb (cf. [Revelation 18:2](/revelation/18-2 "Revelation 18:2 - Fall of Babylon")). Christ's victory, achieved not through worldly power but through humble obedience and self-sacrifice (cf. [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")), stands as the ultimate reversal of human pride, demonstrating that true power belongs to God alone.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nahum 3:13

Behold, thy people in the midst of thee [are] women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.

Jeremiah 50:36

A sword [is] upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword [is] upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

Jeremiah 50:37

A sword [is] upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that [are] in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword [is] upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

Lamentations 2:9

Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes [are] among the Gentiles: the law [is] no [more]; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.

Isaiah 19:16

In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

Isaiah 13:7

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

Isaiah 13:8

And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames.