Question 1

What is happening in this prophecy about Babylon being judged?

Accepted Answer

This passage describes God announcing judgment on Babylon through the prophet. God calls attacking armies to go up against the land, pictured with names like Merathaim and Pekod, and commands them to completely destroy it. Babylon had been like “the hammer of the whole earth,” powerful and feared. But God says He has set a trap for Babylon because it fought against Him, oppressed Israel and Judah, and chased idols. The armies from the north, including the Medes and Persians, are His tools. In the end Babylon is left desolate, while God’s people hear the news and give Him praise for His justice.

Question 2

What does it mean that Babylon was the “hammer of the whole earth”?

Accepted Answer

Calling Babylon the “hammer of the whole earth” means it was a strong empire that had crushed many nations. Its kings, like Nebuchadnezzar, broke other kingdoms and ruled by force. The surprise in the passage is that this powerful hammer is now cut in pieces and broken. God is showing that no matter how strong a nation or ruler seems, they are still under His rule. When pride, cruelty, and rebellion rise too high, God can break what seemed unbreakable. The title that once showed Babylon’s power becomes a way to highlight how complete its fall will be.

Question 3

Why does God judge Babylon so severely in this passage?

Accepted Answer

God’s judgment on Babylon is severe because of several clear reasons. Babylon had “striven against the LORD,” meaning it set itself against God, not just other nations. It oppressed the children of Israel and Judah and refused to let them go. It was full of idols, called “the land of graven images,” and its people were described as being mad over their idols. Babylon also acted in pride against the Lord, called here “the most proud.” Because of this mix of pride, oppression, and idolatry, God repays Babylon “according to all that she hath done,” showing that His justice fits their deeds.

Question 4

What does “Their Redeemer is strong” tell us about God in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The line “Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name” shows God as the defender of His oppressed people. Israel and Judah had been held as captives, and their captors refused to release them. In this setting, God steps in as a Redeemer, someone who has the right and power to buy back and rescue. Calling Him “strong” and “the LORD of hosts” reminds us that He commands armies and can move nations. He will fully argue their case, give rest to the land, and trouble the people of Babylon. It shows that even when God’s people feel powerless, He is not.

Question 5

Who are Merathaim and Pekod, and why are they mentioned here?

Accepted Answer

Merathaim and Pekod are names tied to Babylon in this prophecy. Merathaim seems to picture Babylon as a land of double rebellion or deep bitterness, stressing how great its sin is. Pekod points to a group or region within Babylon that is also marked for judgment. By using these names, God is not talking about random places. He is pointing at Babylon itself and its proud, stubborn character. The command to go up against Merathaim and the inhabitants of Pekod underlines that all of Babylon, in its rebellion and cruelty, is under His judgment and will not escape when the attack comes.

Question 6

What is the meaning of the repeated phrase “a sword is upon” in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The repeated phrase “a sword is upon” shows how complete and wide God’s judgment on Babylon will be. The sword is pictured falling on the Chaldeans, the people in the city, the princes, wise men, liars, mighty men, horses, chariots, mixed peoples, and treasures. Nothing that Babylon trusts in is safe. Its leaders, soldiers, and even its wealth are all touched. This repetition stresses that God has not forgotten any part of their sin and that no part of their strength can protect them. It also reminds God’s people that the fall of Babylon is not by chance but by God’s clear and detailed decision.

Question 7

Why is Babylon compared to Sodom and Gomorrah becoming desolate?

Accepted Answer

Babylon is compared to Sodom and Gomorrah to show how final and serious its judgment will be. Sodom and Gomorrah were known for being overthrown so completely that no one lived there afterward. In the same way, God says that wild animals and owls will live in Babylon and that it will not be inhabited again from generation to generation. This picture tells us that the city that once seemed full of life, power, and idols will be left empty. It is a warning about where stubborn sin and pride lead and a comfort that God fully deals with those who oppress His people.

Question 8

How does God use other nations and armies in His plan in this passage?

Accepted Answer

In this passage, God clearly uses other nations and armies as instruments of His judgment, even if they do not know Him. He calls archers and warriors to surround Babylon, speaks of a people from the north, and mentions many kings raised up from distant coasts. God says He has opened His armoury and brought out the weapons of His anger. This means the Medes, Persians, and their allies are not acting on their own in the final sense. God guides their actions to carry out His justice on Babylon. It shows that He rules over human plans and even over powerful empires.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about pride and how God responds to it?

Accepted Answer

This passage teaches that pride against God leads to downfall. Babylon is called “the most proud,” and it had lifted itself up against “the Holy One of Israel.” Because of that, God says, “Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud,” and promises that the proud one will stumble and fall with no one to lift him up. The once strong city ends in fear, with its king’s hands growing weak and pains like childbirth coming on him. The lesson is simple: when a person or a nation sets itself high against God, that pride will not stand. God resists pride and brings it low.

Question 10

How can this prophecy about Babylon’s fall encourage believers today?

Accepted Answer

This prophecy can encourage believers by showing that God sees oppression, pride, and false worship, and He does not ignore them. Israel and Judah were held down and could not free themselves, but God called their Redeemer strong and promised to plead their cause. Even when Babylon seemed unshakable, God already had His plan, His “armoury,” and His chosen time for judgment. For believers facing injustice or feeling small in a world that seems powerful and proud, this passage reminds them that God rules over nations, keeps account of wrongs, and in His time brings down the proud and gives rest to His people.

Jeremiah 50:21

¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the Lord, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

The Destruction of Babylon

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Jeremiah 50:21

¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the Lord, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

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The Destruction of Babylon

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