Jeremiah 51:63

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, [that] thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end {H3615} of reading {H7121} this book {H5612}, that thou shalt bind {H7194} a stone {H68} to it, and cast {H7993} it into the midst {H8432} of Euphrates {H6578}:

When you finish reading this scroll, tie a rock to it, throw it into the middle of the Euphrates,

When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates.

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates:

Jeremiah 51:63 concludes a lengthy prophetic section (chapters 50-51) detailing God's impending judgment against Babylon, the mighty empire that had conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. This verse describes a powerful symbolic act designed to underscore the certainty and finality of Babylon's downfall.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophet Jeremiah had dictated a scroll containing prophecies against Babylon to Seraiah, a quartermaster accompanying King Zedekiah to Babylon. This act takes place around 593 BC, well before Babylon's actual fall to the Medes and Persians in 539 BC. The instruction to cast the scroll into the Euphrates River, Babylon's lifeblood and symbol of its power, was a dramatic visual aid. This type of prophetic action was common among Israelite prophets, intended to vividly convey God's message beyond mere words, much like Ezekiel's various enactments of judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Certainty of Divine Judgment: The primary message is the absolute assurance that Babylon, despite its immense power and perceived invincibility, would be utterly destroyed. The act of sinking the scroll symbolizes that Babylon would "sink" and "never rise again."
  • God's Sovereignty Over Empires: This prophecy affirms God's ultimate control over the nations. Even the most formidable empires, like Babylon, are subject to His will and judgment. This is a recurring theme throughout prophetic books, demonstrating that no human power can thwart God's plans.
  • Symbolic Action as Prophecy: The physical act of binding a stone to the scroll and casting it into the Euphrates served as a potent, non-verbal prophecy. It conveyed the message of irreversible doom more powerfully than words alone, emphasizing the complete and final end of Babylon's reign.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "book" here is sepher (סֵפֶר), which refers to a scroll or written document. The instruction to "bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates" is not just a casual act but a deliberate, ritualistic prophecy. The Euphrates River was central to Babylon's existence, providing water, trade routes, and defense. Casting the scroll into its depths symbolized the very source of Babylon's strength becoming the instrument of its symbolic burial.

Related Scriptures

This dramatic symbolic act finds a parallel in the New Testament's prophecy concerning the fall of "Babylon the Great" in Revelation 18:21, where a mighty angel casts a great millstone into the sea, declaring, "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." This echoes Jeremiah's prophecy, suggesting a recurring pattern of divine judgment against oppressive world systems.

For believers today, Jeremiah 51:63 is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness to His word. What God declares will surely come to pass, whether it is a promise of blessing or a pronouncement of judgment. It encourages trust in His ultimate justice and sovereignty, assuring us that all earthly powers will ultimately submit to His rule. It also serves as a warning against pride and rebellion, as no nation or individual is exempt from divine accountability.

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.

  • Revelation 18:21

    And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

  • Jeremiah 19:10

    ¶ Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,

  • Jeremiah 19:11

    And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as [one] breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury [them] in Tophet, till [there be] no place to bury.

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