Jeremiah 51:39

KJV

In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

In their heat {H2527} I will make {H7896} their feasts {H4960}, and I will make them drunken {H7937}, that they may rejoice {H5937}, and sleep {H3462} a perpetual {H5769} sleep {H8142}, and not wake {H6974}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When they are hot with desire, I will prepare them a drink. I will make them so drunk they will have convulsions, sleep forever and never wake up," says ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD.

American Standard Version

When they are heated, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 51:39 delivers a potent prophetic declaration from the Lord, foretelling the imminent and irreversible downfall of Babylon. It vividly illustrates God's sovereign hand in orchestrating their demise, transforming their characteristic revelry and self-indulgence into the very instruments of their destruction. Through striking ironic imagery, the verse predicts a sudden, divinely induced drunken stupor leading to a "perpetual sleep," signifying the complete and final cessation of Babylon's power and existence as a dominant empire—a judgment from which there will be no awakening.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the extensive and detailed prophecy against Babylon, encompassing [Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51](/jeremiah/50 "Jeremiah 50-51 - Prophecy Against Babylon"). These chapters function as a divine counter-narrative to Babylon's perceived invincibility, asserting Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over the most formidable empire of the ancient world. Specifically, [Jeremiah 51:39](/jeremiah/51-39 "Jeremiah 51:39 - Babylon's Perpetual Sleep") is part of a series of pronouncements detailing the methods and finality of Babylon's judgment, often employing vivid, sometimes ironic, imagery. The verses immediately preceding this one (e.g., [Jeremiah 51:37-38](/jeremiah/51-37-38 "Jeremiah 51:37-38 - Babylon's Desolation and Roar")) describe God's intention to lay waste to Babylon, making it a desolation, a dwelling for wild animals, and a place of terror. The subsequent verses (e.g., [Jeremiah 51:40-44](/jeremiah/51-40-44 "Jeremiah 51:40-44 - Babylon's Utter Destruction")) continue to elaborate on the utter destruction and desolation that will befall the city, emphasizing its complete and irreversible ruin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar II, had ascended to become the dominant superpower of the ancient Near East, notably responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah. It was renowned for its immense wealth, architectural marvels (such as the Hanging Gardens and the Ishtar Gate), and a culture characterized by lavish feasts, widespread idolatry, and a profound sense of impregnable security derived from its formidable walls and the protective Euphrates River. Historical accounts of Babylon's fall to Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC, particularly those from Herodotus and Xenophon, frequently describe the city's inhabitants, including King Belshazzar, engaging in a grand feast on the very night the city was breached (as dramatically recounted in [Daniel 5](/daniel/5 "Daniel 5 - Belshazzar's Feast and the Fall of Babylon")). This historical backdrop provides a chilling fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, where Babylon's very indulgence and self-assuredness contributed directly to its vulnerability and ultimate demise.
* **Key Themes:** [Jeremiah 51:39](/jeremiah/51-39 "Jeremiah 51:39 - Babylon's Perpetual Sleep") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Retribution**, demonstrating that God is not a passive observer but an active agent in history, bringing justice upon nations for their pride, idolatry, and oppression of His people. Babylon's judgment is presented as a direct consequence of their actions against Judah, fulfilling the promise of divine recompense (e.g., [Jeremiah 50:15](/jeremiah/50-15 "Jeremiah 50:15 - Vengeance for the Lord")). Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of **Ironic Reversal**. What Babylon considered its strength—its revelry and self-assuredness—becomes the instrument of its downfall, a common motif in prophetic literature where human pride is brought low by divine design. Lastly, the phrase "perpetual sleep" emphasizes the **Finality of God's Judgment** against Babylon, signifying an irreversible end to its imperial dominion, a stark contrast to the hope of restoration offered to Israel (e.g., [Jeremiah 30:18-22](/jeremiah/30-18-22 "Jeremiah 30:18-22 - Restoration of Jacob's Tents")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **heat (Hebrew, _chôm'_):** From H2527, meaning "heat," "ardor," or "feverish excitement." In this context, it describes the intense, almost frenzied passion and abandon with which the Babylonians engaged in their feasts and revelry. It implies a state of heightened, perhaps even reckless, indulgence that precedes their downfall, a "hot" pursuit of pleasure.
* **feasts (Hebrew, _mishteh'_):** From H4960, referring to "drink," "drinking (the act)," or by implication, a "banquet" or "feast." This word highlights the cultural practice of lavish banquets that were characteristic of Babylonian society, especially among the elite. God's declaration to "make their feasts" implies taking control of these very occasions, turning them into instruments of judgment rather than pleasure, thereby subverting their intended purpose.
* **drunken (Hebrew, _shâkar'_):** From H7937, meaning "to become tipsy" or "to satiate with a stimulating drink." Here, it signifies a state of profound intoxication that renders one incapacitated and utterly vulnerable. The active voice, "I will make them drunken," emphasizes God's direct agency in bringing about this state, not merely allowing it, but orchestrating it as a precise component of His judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In their heat I will make their feasts":** This clause sets the stage, declaring that God's judgment will unfold precisely within the context of Babylon's characteristic revelry and passionate indulgence. The divine "I will make" signifies God's active, sovereign control over the situation, transforming their celebrations into the very prelude of their doom. It implies a divine manipulation of their own tendencies.
* **"and I will make them drunken":** This further emphasizes God's direct and intentional agency. The state of intoxication is not accidental but divinely ordained. This condition renders them disoriented, incapacitated, and utterly incapable of defending themselves or their formidable city, perfectly aligning with historical accounts of Babylon's fall during a night of revelry.
* **"that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake":** This phrase reveals the ironic and devastating outcome of God's intervention. Their initial "rejoicing" in their drunken stupor will transition seamlessly and tragically into a "perpetual sleep"—a powerful metaphor for utter destruction, the death of their empire, and the permanent cessation of their power. The emphatic "and not wake" underscores the irreversible nature of this judgment, signifying no possibility of recovery, resurgence, or a return to their former imperial glory for Babylon.
* **"saith the LORD":** This concluding phrase serves as a divine imprimatur, authenticating the prophecy as a direct, unalterable word from Yahweh (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_), the self-existent and eternal God, whose word is sovereign, unfailing, and certain to be fulfilled. It removes any doubt about the source or the absolute certainty of this pronouncement.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 51:39 is profoundly rich in literary devices that amplify its message of divine judgment and the finality of Babylon's fall. The most prominent is **Irony**, where the very source of Babylon's pleasure, self-assurance, and perceived security—their lavish feasts and unrestrained revelry—becomes the precise instrument of their downfall. Their "heat" for indulgence leads directly to their "drunkenness" and ultimate destruction. This is powerfully reinforced by the central **Metaphor** of "perpetual sleep," which vividly conveys the idea of irreversible death and the complete cessation of their imperial power. Unlike a temporary slumber, this sleep has no awakening, emphasizing the absolute finality of God's judgment. The phrase "I will make them drunken" also employs a form of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human action (making someone drunk) to God, highlighting His active, intentional, and personal involvement in orchestrating Babylon's fate. Furthermore, the concept of a "perpetual sleep" can be seen as **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used to stress the absolute, total, and eternal nature of Babylon's desolation, ensuring the reader grasps the totality of their ruin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 51:39 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and empires, demonstrating that no earthly power, no matter how formidable or self-assured, can ultimately defy His will or escape His righteous judgment. It serves as a stark reminder that pride, self-indulgence, spiritual complacency, and the oppression of God's people inevitably lead to divine reckoning. God's justice is not merely punitive but also redemptive, as the downfall of oppressors like Babylon ultimately serves to vindicate His covenant people and establish His righteous kingdom. This verse assures believers that God sees the suffering of His people and will act decisively to bring justice and deliver them from their oppressors, even when the oppressors seem invincible, thereby upholding His covenant faithfulness.

* [Isaiah 13:19-22](/isaiah/13-19-22 "Isaiah 13:19-22 - Babylon's Desolation")
* [Daniel 5:30-31](/daniel/5-30-31 "Daniel 5:30-31 - Belshazzar's Death and Darius's Reign")
* [Revelation 18:2-3](/revelation/18-2-3 "Revelation 18:2-3 - Fall of Babylon the Great")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 51:39 offers timeless truths for profound reflection and contemporary application. It powerfully reminds us that God remains sovereign over all human affairs, and even the most seemingly secure and powerful earthly systems are ultimately subject to His divine decree and judgment. For us, this means we should never place our ultimate trust or security in worldly power, fleeting wealth, or transient pleasures, which, like Babylon's feasts, can become the very instruments of our spiritual undoing. Instead, we are called to live with spiritual vigilance, humility, and sobriety, recognizing that true and lasting security, joy, and purpose are found only in God and His eternal kingdom. The judgment on Babylon also provides immense comfort and hope for those who are oppressed, marginalized, or feel overwhelmed by the injustices of the world, assuring them that God sees, hears, and will ultimately act to bring justice and deliverance, vindicating His people and His righteousness in His perfect timing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be indulging in "heat" or "feasts" that could lead to spiritual complacency, vulnerability, or a distorted view of true security?**
* **How does the certainty of God's judgment on powerful, oppressive systems encourage my faith and trust in His ultimate justice and His commitment to His people?**
* **What does "sleeping a perpetual sleep" mean for nations or individuals who persistently reject God's ways, and how should this shape my priorities and my witness to others?**
* **How can I cultivate a life of spiritual vigilance, humility, and sobriety in a world often characterized by self-indulgence, pride, and a false sense of invincibility?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of God "making" Babylon drunken and causing their "perpetual sleep"?**

Answer: The phrases "I will make their feasts" and "I will make them drunken" emphatically highlight God's direct and active agency in Babylon's downfall. This is not merely a passive allowance of their self-indulgence but a divine orchestration, where God uses their own "heat" (ardor for revelry) and their characteristic feasts as the very context and means of their judgment. This underscores His absolute sovereignty, demonstrating that even the most powerful human empires are subject to His will and can be undone by their own vices when God so determines. The "perpetual sleep" is a powerful metaphor for their complete and irreversible destruction as a dominant power, a judgment from which there is no recovery or awakening, signifying the finality of God's decree against them.

**Does "perpetual sleep" imply annihilation or eternal damnation for the Babylonians?**

Answer: In the context of [Jeremiah 51:39](/jeremiah/51-39 "Jeremiah 51:39 - Babylon's Perpetual Sleep"), "perpetual sleep" (Hebrew: _shenat 'olam_) is primarily a metaphor for the complete and irreversible end of Babylon as an empire and political power. It signifies the permanent cessation of its dominion, influence, and historical existence, a judgment from which it would not rise again as a world power. While it certainly implies the death of many individuals within the city, the primary focus of the prophecy is on the empire's political and historical demise. The Old Testament often uses "sleep" as a euphemism for death (e.g., [Job 14:12](/job/14-12 "Job 14:12 - Man Lies Down and Does Not Rise")). While the verse doesn't directly address the eternal destiny of individual Babylonians, it powerfully conveys the finality of God's judgment on the oppressive system they represented, a system that would never again threaten God's people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 51:39, with its vivid portrayal of God's judgment on Babylon, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the triumph of Jesus Christ over all opposing powers and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Just as God orchestrated Babylon's downfall during their revelry, so too does Christ, the true King, conquer the forces of sin, death, and the devil, often in ways that expose the folly and fragility of worldly power and pride. The "perpetual sleep" of Babylon foreshadows the ultimate and irreversible defeat of all evil and rebellion against God, culminating in Christ's final victory. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the principalities and powers, leading them in triumph as a public spectacle (as described in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Powers")). The prophetic imagery of Babylon's fall also points forward to the eschatological judgment of "Babylon the Great" in the book of [Revelation](/revelation/18 "Revelation 18 - The Fall of Babylon the Great"), a symbolic representation of all worldly systems that oppose God and persecute His people throughout history. This ultimate "Babylon" will also experience a sudden, irreversible judgment, brought about by the Lamb of God, who is King of kings and Lord of lords ([Revelation 17:14](/revelation/17-14 "Revelation 17:14 - The Lamb Will Conquer")). Thus, Jeremiah's prophecy assures us that all earthly powers and their fleeting pleasures will eventually give way to the everlasting reign of Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world and will never end ([Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - Everlasting Dominion of the Son of Man")), bringing eternal justice and peace.

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

Jeremiah 51:57

And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise [men], her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 25:27

Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

Nahum 1:10

For while [they be] folden together [as] thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

Isaiah 22:14

And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Nahum 3:11

Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.

Daniel 5:1

¶ Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.