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.

And I will make drunk {H7937} her princes {H8269}, and her wise {H2450} men, her captains {H6346}, and her rulers {H5461}, and her mighty men {H1368}: and they shall sleep {H3462} a perpetual {H5769} sleep {H8142}, and not wake {H6974}, saith {H5002} the King {H4428}, whose name {H8034} is the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}.

"I will intoxicate her leaders and sages, her governors, deputies and warriors. They will sleep forever and never wake up," says the king, whose name is ADONAI-Tzva'ot.

I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

And I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, her governors and her deputies, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.

Commentary

Jeremiah 51:57 is a powerful declaration of God's impending judgment against the mighty nation of Babylon, specifically targeting its leadership and military strength. This verse assures the complete and irreversible downfall of those who were once considered invincible.

Context of Jeremiah 51:57

This verse is part of a lengthy prophetic oracle in Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, dedicated entirely to the destruction of Babylon. God's judgment is pronounced against Babylon for its immense pride, its idolatry, and particularly for its cruel oppression of God's people, Judah, and its role in destroying Jerusalem and the Temple. The prophecy depicts Babylon as a mighty hammer used by God, but now destined to be broken (Jeremiah 50:23). Verse 57 vividly portrays the fate of Babylon's elite – its princes, wise men, captains, rulers, and mighty men – who would be rendered utterly helpless and brought to ruin by the sovereign hand of God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The verse powerfully underscores God's absolute control over nations and history. He is "the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts," signifying His supreme authority and power to execute His will against even the most formidable empires.
  • The Futility of Human Power Against God: Babylon's formidable military and intellectual leadership are depicted as being "made drunk" and falling into a "perpetual sleep." This imagery highlights their complete inability to resist God's judgment, rendering their wisdom and strength useless. This echoes the historical account of Belshazzar's feast in Daniel 5, where the city fell during a night of revelry.
  • Certainty of Prophecy: The phrase "saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts" serves as a divine seal of certainty. What God declares will undoubtedly come to pass, regardless of human perception or power.

Linguistic Insights

The title "the LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is highly significant here. Yahweh is God's personal covenant name, and Sabaoth means "armies" or "hosts." This title emphasizes God's supreme power and authority as the commander of heavenly armies and all creation. It reinforces that the judgment against Babylon is not merely a human conflict but an act of the Almighty God, who marshals all forces to accomplish His purposes.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:57 serves as a timeless reminder that all human power, wisdom, and might are ultimately subordinate to God's will. For believers, it offers comfort that God is just and will ultimately bring down oppressive powers and vindicate His people, as promised in passages like Revelation 18:8 regarding the symbolic Babylon. For those in positions of power, it is a sober warning against pride, self-reliance, and injustice, urging humility and recognition of God's ultimate authority. It teaches that true security lies not in human strength but in acknowledging and obeying the sovereign "King, whose name is the LORD of hosts."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 46:18

    [As] I live, saith the King, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor [is] among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, [so] shall he come.

  • Jeremiah 48:15

    Moab is spoiled, and gone up [out of] her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, 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.

  • Psalms 76:5

    The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

  • Psalms 76:6

    At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

  • Jeremiah 51:39

    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.

  • Daniel 5:30

    ¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
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