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Jeremiah 51:64

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And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far [are] the words of Jeremiah.

And thou shalt say {H559}, Thus shall Babylon {H894} sink {H8257}, and shall not rise {H6965} from {H6440} the evil {H7451} that I will bring {H935} upon her: and they shall be weary {H3286}. Thus far are the words {H1697} of Jeremiah {H3414}.

and say, 'Like this, Bavel will sink, never to rise again, because of the disaster I am bringing on her; and they will grow weary.'" (Up to here, these have been the words of Yirmeyahu.)

Then you are to say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will grow weary.’” Here end the words of Jeremiah.

and thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise again because of the evil that I will bring upon her; and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

Commentary

Jeremiah 51:64 serves as a powerful and dramatic conclusion to Jeremiah's extensive prophecies against ancient Babylon, emphasizing the certainty and finality of its destruction.

Context

This verse marks the climax of a long prophetic oracle, spanning Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, detailing God's judgment against Babylon, the superpower that had conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 51:59-63) describe a symbolic act: Jeremiah instructs his scribe, Seraiah, to read this entire scroll of prophecy aloud in Babylon, then tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates River. This physical act vividly illustrates the spiritual truth proclaimed in verse 64. The final phrase, "Thus far are the words of Jeremiah," acts as an editorial colophon, indicating the completion of the main prophetic section of the book.

Key Themes

  • Irreversible Divine Judgment: The phrase "Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her" underscores the absolute and permanent nature of God's judgment. Unlike temporary setbacks, Babylon's collapse is depicted as total and without recovery. This highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His justice against those who oppress His people and defy His will. Other prophets also foretold Babylon's irreversible downfall, such as in Isaiah 13:19-22.
  • Symbolic Prophetic Fulfillment: The act of casting the scroll into the Euphrates (Jeremiah 51:63) is a powerful visual metaphor for Babylon's ultimate demise. It's a prophetic sign-act, ensuring that the spoken word of judgment will be realized in history. This method of conveying prophecy through symbolic actions is common in the Old Testament, as seen in Ezekiel's prophecies.
  • The End of an Era: The concluding statement, "Thus far are the words of Jeremiah," acts as a colophon, signifying the completion of Jeremiah's main prophetic messages, particularly those concerning the nations. It signals a definitive end to this major section of the book, setting the stage for the historical appendix in chapter 52.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sink" (טָבַע - tava') literally means to sink or drown, often used for ships. Coupled with "shall not rise" (לֹא יָקוּם - lo yaqum), it conveys a sense of absolute finality. This implies that Babylon's fall is not merely a defeat but an utter annihilation from which it can never recover its former glory or power, a stark contrast to other nations that might experience periods of decline and resurgence.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 51:64 reminds us that earthly powers, no matter how mighty or seemingly invincible, are ultimately subject to God's divine will and judgment. It offers hope to the oppressed, assuring them that God sees injustice and will bring about justice in His time. For believers, it reinforces the certainty of God's promises and warnings, whether concerning judgment or salvation. This principle extends to the ultimate defeat of all evil, foreshadowed in the symbolic fall of "Babylon the Great" in Revelation, demonstrating God's consistent character throughout history and prophecy.

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 51:58 (5 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.

  • Job 31:40 (4 votes)

    Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

  • Revelation 18:21 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Psalms 72:20 (3 votes)

    The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

  • Nahum 1:8 (3 votes)

    But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

  • Nahum 1:9 (3 votes)

    ¶ What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

  • Habakkuk 2:13 (2 votes)

    Behold, [is it] not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?