What does Jeremiah 50:21 mean?
"¶ 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." - Jeremiah 50:21
Jeremiah 50:21 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "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."
To truly understand the meaning and context of this verse, it is important to understand the historical and cultural context of the time in which it was written. The book of Jeremiah is attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied during the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. This was a time of great turmoil and upheaval for the people of Israel, as they faced the threat of invasion and exile at the hands of the Babylonian Empire.
In this particular verse, Jeremiah is speaking on behalf of the Lord, urging the people of Judah to take action against the land of Merathaim and the inhabitants of Pekod. The Lord commands them to "waste and utterly destroy after them," indicating a harsh and destructive judgment upon these nations.
The land of Merathaim and the inhabitants of Pekod are likely symbolic representations of the Babylonian Empire and its allies, who were threatening the people of Judah with destruction and exile. The Lord's command to "waste and utterly destroy after them" reflects the severity of the judgment that He is pronouncing upon these nations.
From a thematic standpoint, this verse speaks to the concept of divine judgment and the consequences of human actions. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, there is a recurring theme of God's judgment upon the nations for their disobedience and sin. The destruction of Merathaim and Pekod is seen as a manifestation of this divine judgment, as they have incurred the wrath of the Lord through their actions.
The language used in this verse is powerful and evocative, emphasizing the severity of the judgment that is to come. The command to "waste and utterly destroy after them" conveys the all-encompassing nature of the judgment that the Lord is pronouncing upon these nations.
Symbolically, the land of Merathaim and the inhabitants of Pekod represent the forces of evil and oppression that threaten God's people. By commanding the people of Judah to take action against these nations, the Lord is calling for them to stand up against the forces of darkness and fight for their freedom and survival.
In a broader sense, this verse can be seen as a reflection of the ongoing struggle between good and evil, and the ultimate victory of God's righteousness over the forces of darkness. It serves as a reminder that God is ultimately in control of the affairs of humanity and that He will bring judgment upon those who seek to oppose His will.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 50:21 is a powerful and evocative verse that speaks to the concept of divine judgment and the consequences of human actions. It reflects the historical context of the time in which it was written, as well as the broader thematic and symbolic significance of the ongoing struggle between good and evil. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder of the sovereignty of God and the ultimate victory of His righteousness.
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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."
"¶ 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." - Jeremiah 50:21
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 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 50:10 - "And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD."
Jeremiah 50:23 - "How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!"
"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 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 50:8 - "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."
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 51:50 - "Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind."
Jeremiah 50:30 - "Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD."
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."
Jeremiah 50:28 - "The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple."
Jeremiah 50:34 - "Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon."
Jeremiah 50:18 - "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria."
Jeremiah 50:19 - "And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead."
Jeremiah 50:43 - "The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail."
Jeremiah 50:25 - "The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans."
Jeremiah 50:5 - "They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten."
Jeremiah 50:11 - "Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;"
Jeremiah 50:26 - "Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left."
Jeremiah 50:13 - "Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues."
Jeremiah 50:12 - "Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert."
Genesis 50:21 - "Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
Jeremiah 50:32 - "And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him."