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Jeremiah 50:31

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Behold, I [am] against thee, [O thou] most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time [that] I will visit thee.

Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud {H2087}, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} of hosts {H6635}: for thy day {H3117} is come {H935}, the time {H6256} that I will visit {H6485} thee.

"I am against you, arrogant [nation]," says Adonai ELOHEI-Tzva'ot. "For your day has come, the time for you to be punished.

“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, “for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.

Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud one, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.

Commentary

Context

Jeremiah 50:31 is part of a significant prophetic oracle (Jeremiah chapters 50-51) detailing God's impending judgment against Babylon. This powerful nation, which God had used as an instrument to punish Judah and bring about the Babylonian exile, had grown exceedingly proud and oppressive. Having fulfilled its role, Babylon itself was now ripe for divine retribution. This specific verse highlights the direct confrontation between the Almighty God and the epitome of human arrogance embodied by Babylon.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Pride: The central theme is God's unwavering opposition to arrogance. Babylon's "most proud" nature (Hebrew: zadon, signifying insolence and presumptuousness) is explicitly identified as the reason for its downfall. This mirrors the biblical principle that pride goes before destruction.
  • God's Sovereignty: The declaration, "saith the Lord GOD of hosts," emphasizes God's absolute authority over all nations and events. Even powerful empires like Babylon are subject to His will and timing.
  • The Inevitable Day of Visitation: The phrase "thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee" signifies a moment of divine reckoning. In prophetic language, "visitation" often denotes God's intervention, bringing either blessing or, as here, severe judgment. It indicates that Babylon's period of unchecked power is over, and its appointed time for punishment has arrived.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "O thou most proud" translates the Hebrew word zadon (זָדוֹן), which conveys a strong sense of insolence, arrogance, and presumptuousness, often in defiance of God. This is not merely self-confidence but an inflated pride that leads to oppression and rebellion against divine order. The title "Lord GOD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Elohim Sabaoth) underscores God's immense power and authority as the commander of heavenly armies, capable of executing His judgments against any earthly power, no matter how formidable.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 50:31 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of pride, whether in individuals, institutions, or nations. It teaches us several crucial lessons:

  • Humility is Essential: God consistently resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This verse reminds us that true strength and stability come from acknowledging God's sovereignty and living in humility before Him.
  • Justice Will Prevail: For those who feel oppressed or witness injustice, this prophecy offers assurance that God sees and will ultimately bring justice. There is an appointed "day" for every form of arrogance and oppression.
  • Beware of Arrogance in Success: Babylon's pride swelled after its conquests. This verse cautions against allowing success or power to lead to arrogance, as it is a direct affront to God and precipitates a fall.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 50:29 (4 votes)

    Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

  • Jeremiah 21:13 (4 votes)

    Behold, I [am] against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, [and] rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

  • James 4:6 (3 votes)

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

  • Habakkuk 2:4 (3 votes)

    Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

  • Habakkuk 2:5 (3 votes)

    ¶ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

  • Ezekiel 39:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

  • Nahum 2:13 (3 votes)

    Behold, I [am] against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.