What does Jeremiah 50:35-38 mean?
"A sword is against the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her princes, and against her wise men. A sword is against the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is against her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. A sword is against their horses, and against their chariots, and against all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is against her treasures; and they shall be robbed. A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols." - Jeremiah 50:35-38
Jeremiah 50:35-38 in the King James Version of the Bible reads:
"35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.
37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.
38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
The book of Jeremiah is attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who is known for his messages of warning and judgment against the Israelites for their disobedience and idolatry. In this passage, Jeremiah is prophesying about the impending destruction of Babylon and the punishment that will fall upon its people.
The overarching theme of this passage is the divine judgment of God upon the wicked. The impending destruction and punishment described in these verses are the result of the Chaldeans' and Babylonians' rebellion against God and their worship of false idols. The language used is forceful and ominous, emphasizing the severity of the coming judgment.
The passage begins with the proclamation that a sword is upon the Chaldeans, the inhabitants of Babylon, its princes, and wise men. This imagery of the sword conveys the violent and devastating nature of the judgment that is to come. It is a symbol of warfare and destruction that will be brought upon them as a result of their wickedness.
The mention of "liars" who will be "doting" as a result of the sword emphasizes the moral corruption and deceitfulness of the Babylonians, which will ultimately lead to their downfall. The mighty men, horses, chariots, and mingled people will all be affected by the sword, highlighting the comprehensive and all-encompassing nature of God's judgment.
The reference to the Babylonians becoming "as women" further conveys the humiliation and disgrace that they will experience. In ancient Near Eastern culture, being likened to women was often associated with weakness and vulnerability, indicating the complete debasement that the Babylonians will suffer.
Additionally, the mention of a drought upon their waters symbolizes the loss of sustenance and abundance, further emphasizing the desolation and devastation that will befall Babylon. The reason for this punishment is identified as the land of graven images and their idolatry. The Babylonians' worship of false gods has driven them to madness, leading them to forsake the true God and embrace empty and futile idols.
The context of this passage is essential for understanding its significance. The book of Jeremiah was written during a tumultuous time in Israel's history when the nation was facing the impending threat of invasion and captivity by the Babylonians. The prophet Jeremiah was tasked with delivering God's messages of warning and judgment to the people, urging them to turn away from their wicked ways and return to God.
In this particular passage, Jeremiah is prophesying the downfall of Babylon, the great superpower of the time. The Babylonians were known for their cruelty, oppression, and idolatry, and their impending destruction was seen as a form of divine justice for their sins.
The symbolism used in these verses serves to convey the severity and inevitability of God's judgment. The sword, drought, and humiliation all represent the consequences of the Babylonians' disobedience and idolatry. Ultimately, this passage serves as a warning to all who turn away from God and embrace false idols, emphasizing the futility of such actions and the inevitable judgment that will follow.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 50:35-38 is a powerful and foreboding proclamation of divine judgment upon the wicked. The imagery and symbolism used in these verses serve to emphasize the severity and comprehensiveness of the impending destruction of Babylon and the punishment that will befall its people. This passage serves as a warning to all who forsake God and embrace false idols, emphasizing the inevitable consequences of such actions. It stands as a timeless reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God and the futility of worshiping empty and futile idols.
Have questions about Jeremiah 50:35-38?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Jeremiah 50:35-38 Artwork
Jeremiah 50:35-38 - "A sword is against the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her princes, and against her wise men. A sword is against the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is against her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. A sword is against their horses, and against their chariots, and against all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is against her treasures; and they shall be robbed. A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
"A sword is against the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her princes, and against her wise men. A sword is against the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is against her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. A sword is against their horses, and against their chariots, and against all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is against her treasures; and they shall be robbed. A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols." - Jeremiah 50:35-38
Jeremiah 50:38 - "A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
Jeremiah 50:35 - "¶ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men."
"A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols." - Jeremiah 50:38
"¶ A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men." - Jeremiah 50:35
Jeremiah 50:1 - "The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet."
Jeremiah 50:22 - "A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction."
Jeremiah 35:12 - "¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,"
Job 38:35 - "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?"
Jeremiah 38:13 - "So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison."
Jeremiah 38:1–13
Jeremiah 50:46 - "At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations."
"A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction." - Jeremiah 50:22
Jeremiah 38:24 - "¶ Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die."
Jeremiah 50:10 - "And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD."
Jeremiah 38:6 - "Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire."
Jeremiah 50:23 - "How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!"
Jeremiah 38:28 - "So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken."
Jeremiah 32:38 - "And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:"
"The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet." - Jeremiah 50:1
Jeremiah 50:36 - "A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed."
Jeremiah 38:12 - "And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so."
Jeremiah 50:8 - "Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks."
"¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying," - Jeremiah 35:12
Jeremiah 35:1 - "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,"
Jeremiah 50:27 - "Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation."
Jeremiah 50:41 - "Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth."
Jeremiah 35:3 - "Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;"
Jeremiah 38:19 - "And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me."