Jeremiah 51:42

The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.

The sea {H3220} is come up {H5927} upon Babylon {H894}: she is covered {H3680} with the multitude {H1995} of the waves {H1530} thereof.

The sea has flooded Bavel, overwhelmed her with its raging waves.

The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.

The sea is come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.

Context

Jeremiah 51:42 is part of a lengthy prophetic oracle against Babylon, found in chapters 50 and 51 of the book of Jeremiah. These prophecies were delivered during a time when Babylon was the dominant world power, having destroyed Jerusalem and taken many Israelites into exile. Far from being a minor nation, Babylon was considered impregnable, protected by massive walls and the Euphrates River. Yet, Jeremiah foretells its complete and utter downfall, a message of hope and vindication for the exiled Israelites. This specific verse vividly describes the overwhelming nature of Babylon's impending destruction by the Medes and Persians, which historically occurred in 539 BC under Cyrus the Great.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully portrays God's righteous judgment against Babylon for its pride, idolatry, and brutal treatment of other nations, particularly Judah. It emphasizes that no earthly power, however mighty, can stand against God's justice.
  • Overwhelming Destruction: The imagery of the "sea" and "multitude of waves" signifies a force that is irresistible, all-encompassing, and utterly destructive. Babylon, despite its defenses, would be completely submerged and overwhelmed by its enemies.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: This verse underscores the certainty of God's prophetic word. What God declares through His prophets will inevitably come to pass, demonstrating His sovereign control over history and empires. It underscores the theme of God's sovereign control over history and His ability to declare the end from the beginning.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof" uses a potent metaphor. Babylon was an inland city, situated on the Euphrates River, not a sea. Therefore, the "sea" (Hebrew: yam) and "waves" (Hebrew: gallim) are not literal bodies of water. Instead, they symbolize the vast, overwhelming, and unstoppable armies of invaders—primarily the Medes and Persians—that would metaphorically "flood" over the city. This imagery evokes a sense of chaos, inundation, and complete submersion, signifying Babylon's utter and irreversible ruin. This imagery powerfully foreshadows the complete and irreversible destruction of Babylon, echoing similar prophetic language found in the book of Revelation regarding the symbolic 'Babylon'.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:42 offers several timeless lessons:

  • God's Justice Prevails: It reassures believers that God is just and will ultimately deal with all forms of evil, oppression, and pride, even when human powers seem invincible.
  • Warning Against Arrogance: It serves as a stark warning to nations and individuals who act with arrogance, cruelty, or forgetfulness of God's sovereignty. No power is beyond divine accountability.
  • Trust in God's Word: The fulfillment of this prophecy about Babylon's fall reinforces the reliability and truthfulness of God's promises and warnings recorded in Scripture. What God says, He will do. For more on the prophetic judgment against Babylon, see also Jeremiah 50:23.
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.

  • Isaiah 8:7

    Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

  • Isaiah 8:8

    And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach [even] to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

  • Daniel 9:26

    And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

  • Ezekiel 27:26

    ¶ Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.

  • Ezekiel 27:34

    In the time [when] thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.

  • Psalms 65:7

    Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

  • Psalms 18:4

    The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

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