Question 1

What is the main message of Jeremiah 51 about Babylon?

Accepted Answer

The passage announces the LORD’s judgment on Babylon and the Chaldeans. God says He will raise up a destroying wind and nations against her, so that her land is emptied and her warriors fall in the streets. Babylon had been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand that made the nations drunk, but now she is suddenly fallen and destroyed. The LORD will render to Babylon and all Chaldea all the evil they did in Zion. In contrast, the passage says that Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, even though their land was filled with sin.

Question 2

What does it mean to "flee out of the midst of Babylon"?

Accepted Answer

The LORD says, “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity.” Later He repeats, “My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.” In the passage this is a command for those in Babylon to leave so they are not swept away in the judgment that is coming on her iniquity.

Question 3

How can Israel be "not forsaken" while Babylon is judged?

Accepted Answer

Verse 5 says, “For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.” Even while judgment falls on Babylon and their own land has been full of sin, the LORD of hosts is still called their God. Later, the people say, “We are confounded, because we have heard reproach… for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’s house,” and the LORD responds that days are coming when He will do judgment upon Babylon’s graven images. So the passage places Israel’s shame and Babylon’s fall side by side, showing that the LORD still owns Israel as His inheritance.

Question 4

What does Babylon as a "golden cup" in the Lord's hand mean?

Accepted Answer

Verse 7 says, “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.” The image shows Babylon as something valuable and powerful in God’s hand, through which the nations are made drunk and driven into confusion. The same Babylon that once affected “all the earth” in this way is then said to be “suddenly fallen and destroyed,” so the picture prepares for her downfall.

Question 5

What does this passage say about idols and the true God?

Accepted Answer

The passage says that every maker of a graven image is brutish, and that his molten image is falsehood with no breath in it. These images are called vanity and a work of errors that will perish in the time of their visitation. In contrast, “the portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.” It also says that He made the earth by His power, established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out the heaven by His understanding.

Question 6

Who are the "kings of the Medes" in this prophecy?

Accepted Answer

The text says, “the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.” Later, it adds, “Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.” In the passage, they are rulers whose spirits the LORD stirs up to carry out His judgment against Babylon.

Question 7

Why does God call Babylon a "destroying mountain" and a "burnt mountain"?

Accepted Answer

In verse 25 the LORD says, “Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.” Babylon is addressed as a destroying mountain that destroys all the earth, but the LORD promises to roll her down and make her a burnt mountain, so that no stone from her is taken for a corner or for foundations and she is desolate for ever.

Question 8

What is the meaning of Jeremiah throwing the scroll into the Euphrates?

Accepted Answer

Near the end of the chapter Jeremiah gives Seraiah a book containing “all the evil that should come upon Babylon.” He is to read all these words in Babylon and then bind a stone to the book and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, saying, “Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary.” The act of sinking the scroll with a stone is a sign of Babylon’s own sinking and not rising from the judgment God will bring.

Question 9

How does this chapter show God as a God of recompense?

Accepted Answer

The passage says, “the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.” It also has the LORD say, “I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight.” The inhabitant of Zion and Jerusalem speak of the violence and blood done to them being upon Babylon and the inhabitants of Chaldea, and the LORD answers, “I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee.” These statements show that He will give back to Babylon what she has done.

Question 10

What call is given to those who escape from Babylon?

Accepted Answer

The text says, “Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.” Those who escape are told to depart, not to remain, and to remember the LORD from afar and let Jerusalem be in their thoughts.

Jeremiah 51:1

Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;

Judgment on Babylon

Praise to the God of Jacob

Babylon’s Punishment

Jeremiah’s Message to Seraiah

Judgment on Babylon

metadata.crossReferences

Jeremiah 51:1

Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;

share.title

share.allVerses

share.verseWithContext

share.currentVerse

Judgment on Babylon

Praise to the God of Jacob

Babylon’s Punishment

Jeremiah’s Message to Seraiah

Judgment on Babylon

metadata.crossReferences