Jeremiah 51:59

¶ The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And [this] Seraiah [was] a quiet prince.

The word {H1697} which Jeremiah {H3414} the prophet {H5030} commanded {H6680} Seraiah {H8304} the son {H1121} of Neriah {H5374}, the son {H1121} of Maaseiah {H4271}, when he went {H3212} with Zedekiah {H6667} the king {H4428} of Judah {H3063} into Babylon {H894} in the fourth {H7243} year {H8141} of his reign {H4427}. And this Seraiah {H8304} was a quiet {H4496} prince {H8269}.

This is the order which Yirmeyahu the prophet gave to S'rayah the son of Neriyah, the son of Machseyah, when he went to Bavel with Tzidkiyahu the king of Y'hudah in the fourth year of his reign. S'rayah was quartermaster.

This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the quartermaster Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.

The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain.

Jeremiah 51:59 serves as a crucial introductory verse, setting the stage for a dramatic symbolic act against Babylon. It highlights the prophet Jeremiah's continued faithfulness in delivering God's severe judgments, even to the very heart of the enemy's empire.

Context of Jeremiah 51:59

This verse is positioned at the end of Jeremiah's extensive prophecies against Babylon (chapters 50-51), which detail the divine judgment and eventual destruction awaiting the powerful empire that had conquered Judah. King Zedekiah, a vassal king installed by Babylon, was making a diplomatic trip to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign (around 593 BC). This was several years before the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in Zedekiah's eleventh year (see 2 Kings 25:1). Jeremiah, unable to go himself, entrusted a significant prophetic scroll and a specific mission to Seraiah, a prominent official.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Commission: The verse emphasizes that Jeremiah's instruction to Seraiah was "the word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded," underscoring the divine origin and authority behind the message. It was not merely a political maneuver but a prophetic act.
  • Proxy Prophecy: Jeremiah, possibly due to his advanced age or restricted movement, sends Seraiah as his representative to deliver God's message. This demonstrates God's ability to use various individuals to accomplish His purposes, even through proxies.
  • Impending Judgment on Babylon: The entire context of Jeremiah 50-51 points to Babylon's downfall. The mission given to Seraiah, further detailed in the subsequent verses, involves a symbolic act affirming Babylon's destruction, as seen in Jeremiah 51:60-64.
  • Seraiah's Character: Seraiah is described as a "quiet prince." This phrase suggests a person of steady, reliable character, suitable for such a sensitive and dangerous mission.

Linguistic Insight: "Quiet Prince"

The Hebrew phrase translated "quiet prince" is sar menucha (שַׂר מְנוּחָה). While "quiet" (menucha) can imply a calm or peaceful disposition, it can also refer to a specific administrative office, such as "prince of rest" or "chief chamberlain," perhaps indicating a quartermaster or an official in charge of lodging or provisions. This nuance suggests Seraiah was not just any prince but held a particular position of trust and responsibility, making him an ideal courier for Jeremiah's weighty message.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God often uses faithful individuals, even those who may seem "quiet" or operate behind the scenes, to carry out His divine will. Seraiah's obedience in delivering a message of judgment against a powerful empire, even while accompanying the king on a diplomatic mission, highlights the importance of steadfastness in serving God, regardless of personal comfort or political implications. It reinforces the truth that God's word will always accomplish its purpose and not return void (Isaiah 55:11).

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 32:12

    And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

  • Jeremiah 36:4

    Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.

  • Jeremiah 28:1

    ¶ And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month, [that] Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

  • Jeremiah 45:1

    ¶ The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

  • Jeremiah 52:1

    ¶ Zedekiah [was] one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

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