Jeremiah 51:40

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.

I will bring them down {H3381} like lambs {H3733} to the slaughter {H2873}, like rams {H352} with he goats {H6260}.

"I will drag them down like lambs to be slaughtered, like rams and male goats."

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.

Jeremiah 51:40 is a powerful prophetic declaration, part of a larger oracle detailing God's impending and decisive judgment against Babylon, the mighty empire that had devastated Judah and exiled its people.

Context

This verse is found within Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, which comprise an extensive prophecy against Babylon. While Babylon had served as God's instrument for disciplining Judah (as seen in the Babylonian captivity), its own pride, idolatry, and cruel oppression of other nations, including God's chosen people, ensured its ultimate downfall. The imagery of leading animals to slaughter underscores the complete helplessness and inevitability of Babylon's destruction, contrasting sharply with its former power and arrogance. This prophecy would eventually be fulfilled by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse unequivocally declares God's active role in bringing down Babylon. It highlights His sovereignty over nations and His commitment to execute justice against wickedness and oppression.
  • Inevitable Doom: The metaphor of "lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats" vividly portrays Babylon's complete lack of defense and the certainty of its demise. Despite its military might, Babylon is depicted as utterly helpless before God's decree.
  • Retribution for Oppression: This judgment serves as divine retribution for Babylon's cruelty and pride, particularly against Judah and the Lord's temple. It reinforces the principle that those who sow destruction will reap destruction.
  • Reversal of Fortunes: The mighty empire that brought down kingdoms will itself be brought low, demonstrating that no earthly power can ultimately stand against the will of the Almighty.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used for "lambs" (כבשים - kevasim), "rams" (אילים - eyalim), and "he goats" (עתודים - attudim) are common names for domestic animals often used for sacrifice or consumption. The choice of these specific animals emphasizes their vulnerability and the ease with which they are led to their end. The phrase "I will bring them down" (הורדתים - horidatim) signifies a decisive, forceful act initiated by God Himself, ensuring the complete and utter defeat of Babylon.

Related Scriptures

  • This prophecy finds parallels in other Old Testament declarations of judgment against proud empires, such as the pronouncements against Tyre and Egypt. See Isaiah 13:1-22 for another significant prophecy against Babylon.
  • The theme of God bringing down the proud and exalting the humble is a recurring motif throughout Scripture, as seen in Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1:52.
  • The ultimate symbolic "fall of Babylon" is also prophesied in the New Testament, signifying the final judgment on all systems that oppose God, as described in Revelation 18:2.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:40 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  1. God's Sovereignty and Justice: It affirms that God is in ultimate control of history and nations. No power, no matter how formidable, can escape His justice. This provides comfort for those who feel oppressed and a warning for those who wield power unjustly.
  2. Patience in Suffering: While God's justice may seem delayed, this verse reminds us that it is certain. For those experiencing injustice, it encourages trust in God's perfect timing and His promise to right all wrongs.
  3. Humility: The fate of Babylon serves as a stark reminder against pride and arrogance. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
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 50:27

    Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

  • Psalms 37:20

    But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

  • Isaiah 34:6

    The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

  • Psalms 44:22

    Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

  • Ezekiel 39:18

    Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
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