Jeremiah 51:60

KJV

So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, [even] all these words that are written against Babylon.

KJV (with Strong's)

So Jeremiah {H3414} wrote {H3789} in a {H259} book {H5612} all the evil {H7451} that should come {H935} upon Babylon {H894}, even all these words {H1697} that are written {H3789} against Babylon {H894}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yirmeyahu had written on a separate scroll all the above words describing the disaster that was to befall Bavel.

Berean Standard Bible

Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon.

American Standard Version

And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 51:60 marks a pivotal moment in the extensive divine oracle against Babylon, emphasizing the prophet Jeremiah's faithful and meticulous act of committing God's comprehensive judgment to writing. This verse underscores the divine origin and certain fulfillment of the prophecies detailed in the preceding chapters, ensuring that the pronouncements of Babylon's impending destruction were preserved as an authoritative and permanent record of God's sovereign will and righteous justice against a proud and oppressive empire.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 51:60 serves as a concluding statement to the lengthy and detailed oracle against Babylon found in [Jeremiah 50](/jeremiah/50 "Jeremiah 50 - Prophecy Against Babylon") and [Jeremiah 51](/jeremiah/51 "Jeremiah 51 - Further Prophecies Against Babylon"). These chapters constitute the longest single prophecy in the Old Testament, meticulously detailing the reasons for Babylon's downfall and the manner of its destruction. The instruction for Jeremiah to "write in a book" (v. 60) immediately precedes the account of Seraiah's mission to Babylon, where he was to read this very scroll aloud and then sink it into the Euphrates as a symbolic act of Babylon's complete and irreversible demise ([Jeremiah 51:61-64](/jeremiah/51-61 "Jeremiah 51:61-64 - Seraiah's Mission to Babylon")). This literary placement highlights the divine authority and the certainty of the written word, transitioning from the pronouncement of judgment to its symbolic enactment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies in Jeremiah were delivered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning from the late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE. Judah had fallen under the oppressive dominion of the neo-Babylonian Empire, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BCE and the exile of its people. Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, was the dominant world power, renowned for its military might, vast empire, and grand architectural achievements, including the Hanging Gardens and the Ishtar Gate. Culturally, Babylon was deeply polytheistic, worshipping a vast pantheon of gods, with Marduk as its chief deity. The prophecies against Babylon, therefore, were not merely political predictions but theological declarations against a proud, idolatrous, and oppressive empire that had dared to touch God's chosen people. The act of writing down such a damning prophecy against the reigning superpower was an act of profound faith and obedience, carrying significant personal risk for Jeremiah.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores God's **sovereignty over nations**, demonstrating that even the most formidable empires like Babylon are mere instruments in His hands, subject to His divine judgment for their pride, idolatry, and cruelty ([Jeremiah 25:12](/jeremiah/25-12 "Jeremiah 25:12 - Babylon's Punishment") foreshadows this). Secondly, the emphasis on writing "in a book" highlights the **authority and reliability of God's written word**. It signifies that these are not fleeting human predictions but immutable divine decrees, ensuring their preservation and future verification. This aligns with the broader biblical emphasis on the enduring nature of God's word, which "stands forever" ([Isaiah 40:8](/isaiah/40-8 "Isaiah 40:8 - The Enduring Word of God")). Finally, the verse reinforces the theme of **divine justice and retribution**, assuring the exiled Israelites that their oppressors would face a just recompense for their actions, offering a glimmer of hope amidst their suffering.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **wrote (Hebrew, _kâthab'_):** H3789, a primitive root meaning "to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)." This word emphasizes the deliberate, formal, and permanent nature of Jeremiah's action. It was not a casual note but a divinely commanded inscription, signifying the authority and immutability of the message. The act of writing ensures the prophecy's preservation and its eventual verification.
* **book (Hebrew, _çêpher'_):** H5612, properly "writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book." This term refers to a scroll or any written document. In this context, it denotes a formal, comprehensive record of the prophecy. The "book" serves as a tangible testament to God's word, a legal and prophetic document that would bear witness to His justice and faithfulness when its contents came to pass.
* **words (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** H1697, from דָבַר; "a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing." This term encompasses not just individual words but the entire message, the "affair" or "matter" of the prophecy against Babylon. It highlights the comprehensive nature of the divine communication that Jeremiah was tasked with recording, ensuring that "all the evil" was fully documented.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So Jeremiah wrote in a book":** This opening clause establishes the prophet's obedient action, emphasizing the divine mandate behind the recording of the prophecy. The act of writing signifies the importance, permanence, and authority of the message. It was a deliberate, formal inscription, not a casual utterance, ensuring the preservation of God's word.
* **"all the evil that should come upon Babylon,":** This specifies the comprehensive and severe nature of the content being written. "Evil" (Hebrew, _ra'_) here refers to calamity, disaster, and judgment, encompassing the full scope of destruction and desolation prophesied against the Babylonian empire. It underscores that God's judgment would be total and inescapable.
* **"[even] all these words that are written against Babylon.":** This final clause reiterates and reinforces the previous statement, emphasizing the totality and specificity of the recorded prophecy. The repetition of "all" and "Babylon" underscores the singular focus and comprehensive nature of the judgment. It confirms that the written document contained every detail of God's pronouncement against the empire, leaving no aspect of its impending doom unrecorded.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is prominent, with "Babylon" appearing twice, emphasizing the specific target of God's wrath and the comprehensive nature of the judgment directed against it. The phrase "all the evil" and "all these words" also uses **hyperbole** to stress the totality and inevitability of the impending destruction. Furthermore, the act of writing "in a book" serves as a powerful **symbolism** for the permanence and authority of God's word. The physical record ensures that the prophecy is not forgotten and stands as an enduring testimony to God's faithfulness in executing His declarations. This act of recording also functions as **foreshadowing**, pointing to the certain future fulfillment of the detailed judgments against Babylon, which would indeed come to pass historically.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 51:60 profoundly illustrates the reliability and authority of God's prophetic word. It demonstrates that divine declarations are not fleeting pronouncements but immutable decrees, meticulously recorded to ensure their certain fulfillment. This act of writing underscores God's meticulous justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all nations, even the most powerful empires like Babylon. The preservation of this prophecy in written form ensures that future generations can witness God's faithfulness in executing both judgment and salvation, reinforcing the foundational truth that God's word will always accomplish His purposes.

* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "God is Not a Man That He Should Lie")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "God's Word Accomplishes His Purpose")
* [2 Peter 1:20-21](/2_peter/1-20 "Prophecy from God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 51:60 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, injustice, and the rise and fall of human powers, this verse serves as a powerful anchor, reminding us of the unwavering certainty of God's word. Just as God's detailed prophecies against Babylon were meticulously recorded and perfectly fulfilled, we can place our absolute trust in every promise and warning found within the Scriptures. This passage calls us to a deeper reverence for the Bible, recognizing it not merely as ancient literature but as the living, active, and authoritative word of God, fully capable of guiding, correcting, and sustaining us. It reassures us that no empire or individual, no matter how powerful, stands outside the purview of God's righteous judgment, offering comfort to the oppressed and a solemn warning to those who would act in pride or injustice. Our response should be one of humble submission to His revealed will and confident expectation of His ultimate triumph.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous recording of God's judgment against Babylon strengthen your trust in the reliability of all Scripture?**
* **In what ways might we, individually or corporately, exhibit the kind of pride or idolatry that led to Babylon's downfall?**
* **How does the certainty of God's judgment on unrighteousness encourage you to live justly and righteously in a broken world?**
* **What practical steps can you take to deepen your reverence for and obedience to God's written word?**

### FAQ
**Why was it important for Jeremiah to write down the prophecy against Babylon?**

Answer: The act of writing down the prophecy was crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it underscored the **divine authority and permanence** of the message. Unlike an oral pronouncement that could be forgotten or distorted, a written record served as an undeniable, tangible testament to God's word. Secondly, it ensured the **preservation and accurate transmission** of the prophecy for future generations. This allowed for verification of God's faithfulness when the detailed judgments against Babylon came to pass historically. Finally, the written word provided a **legal and prophetic document** that could be publicly read and symbolically enacted, as seen in [Jeremiah 51:61-64](/jeremiah/51-61 "Jeremiah 51:61-64 - Seraiah's Mission to Babylon"), signifying the certainty of Babylon's doom.

**Did Babylon truly fall as prophesied by Jeremiah?**

Answer: Yes, the prophecies against Babylon were dramatically and precisely fulfilled. Jeremiah prophesied Babylon's downfall at the hands of a northern nation ([Jeremiah 50:3](/jeremiah/50-3 "Jeremiah 50:3 - Babylon's Desolation")), specifically the Medes ([Jeremiah 51:11](/jeremiah/51-11 "Jeremiah 51:11 - The Medes Against Babylon")). Historically, Babylon fell to the Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, in 539 BCE. The Medes were a significant part of Cyrus's coalition, fulfilling the prophecy. The city was captured with surprising ease, as prophesied, and eventually fell into ruin, becoming a desolate place as described in [Jeremiah 50:39-40](/jeremiah/50-39 "Jeremiah 50:39-40 - Babylon's Desolation"). This historical fulfillment stands as powerful evidence of God's sovereign control over human history and the reliability of His prophetic word.

**How does God's judgment on Babylon in this passage relate to His character of love and mercy?**

Answer: While Jeremiah 51:60 focuses on judgment, it's essential to understand that God's judgment is an expression of His **justice and holiness**, which are inseparable from His love and mercy. God's judgment on Babylon was not arbitrary; it was a righteous response to their profound pride, idolatry, and brutal oppression of His people, Judah ([Jeremiah 50:7](/jeremiah/50-7 "Jeremiah 50:7 - Babylon's Guilt")). His mercy had been extended to Judah through repeated warnings and calls to repentance, which they largely ignored. The judgment on Babylon, therefore, served to vindicate God's people, demonstrate His ultimate control over all nations, and uphold His moral order. It was an act of both justice for the wicked and deliverance for the oppressed, ultimately revealing a God who is both perfectly just and perfectly loving, even in His wrath.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 51:60, with its emphasis on the written prophecy of Babylon's destruction, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. Firstly, the meticulous recording of God's judgment points to the ultimate and final judgment executed by Christ. Just as Babylon's evil was fully documented and met with divine retribution, so too will all sin and unrighteousness be judged by the [Son of Man, who comes in His glory](/matthew/25-31 "Matthew 25:31 - The Son of Man's Glory"). Christ Himself is the embodiment of God's righteous judgment and the fulfillment of all prophecy ([Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Christ Fulfills Scripture")). Secondly, the fall of Babylon, a symbol of worldly power, pride, and opposition to God, foreshadows Christ's decisive victory over all spiritual "Babylon"—the systems of evil, sin, and rebellion that dominate the fallen world. The book of Revelation portrays a final, complete overthrow of this spiritual Babylon by the [Lamb of God](/revelation/17-14 "Revelation 17:14 - The Lamb's Victory"), whose victory is assured because He is the [King of kings and Lord of lords](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - Christ, King of Kings"). Finally, the "book" in which Jeremiah's words were written symbolizes the entire written revelation of God, the Scriptures, which consistently bear witness to Christ. From the earliest prophecies to the New Testament accounts, the Bible is ultimately a Christ-centered book, revealing the plan of salvation through the [Living Word, Jesus Christ](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God"), who is the ultimate fulfillment of all that is "written against" sin and for the redemption of humanity.

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

Habakkuk 2:2

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Isaiah 30:8

¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Jeremiah 36:32

Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

Jeremiah 30:2

Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

Jeremiah 30:3

For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;