Jeremiah 51:3
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Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The prophet, in this chapter, goes on with the prediction of Babylon's fall, to which other prophets also bore witness. He is very copious and lively in describing the foresight God had given him of it, for the encouragement of the pious captives, whose deliverance depended upon it and was to be the result of it. Here is, I. The record of Babylon's doom, with the particulars of it, intermixed with the grounds of God's controversy with her, many aggravations of her fall, and great encouragements given thence to the Israel of God, that suffered such hard things by her (v. 1-58). II. The representation and ratification of this by the throwing of a copy of this prophecy into the river Euphrates (Jer 51:59-64).
Open source ↗51:3-4 God took the role of commander and ordered the destroyer to wipe out the Babylonians. • completely destroyed: See Lev 27:28-29; 1 Sam 15:3.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD.
Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor!
Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,” declares the LORD.
Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.
For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares.
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come— the time of their punishment.
Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.