What does Jeremiah 51:55 mean?

"Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:" - Jeremiah 51:55

Jeremiah 51:55 - "Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:"

Jeremiah 51:55 - "Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:"

Jeremiah 51:55 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "Because the Lord hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered."

The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament and is attributed to the prophet Jeremiah who lived in the seventh and sixth centuries BC. The book is a collection of prophecies, warnings, and lamentations concerning the nation of Judah and its impending destruction by the Babylonians. The verse in question comes from a section of the book that focuses on the judgment and destruction of Babylon, which was a dominant world power at the time.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is declaring the fulfillment of the Lord's judgment against Babylon. The word "spoiled" in this context means to strip of possessions, power, or identity; it speaks to the thoroughness of Babylon's destruction at the hand of God. The "great voice" that has been destroyed from Babylon could refer to the leaders or influential figures who once wielded power and authority in the city. The verse continues to paint a picture of desolation and chaos, with the roaring waves and noise symbolizing the upheaval and destruction that has befallen the once great city.

One of the themes present in this verse is the sovereignty and judgment of God. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, the prophet repeatedly declares the righteousness and power of God in bringing about judgment on nations, including Judah and Babylon. The destruction of Babylon is presented as a direct result of God's intervention and is a fulfillment of his divine purpose. This theme underscores the prophetic message of Jeremiah and serves as a warning to other nations of the consequences of defying God's will.

Another theme in this verse is the transitory nature of human power and glory. Babylon was a symbol of wealth, power, and influence in the ancient world, yet it fell from its lofty position and was ultimately destroyed. The imagery of the great voice being silenced and the roaring waves being hushed conveys the idea that even the mightiest and most imposing civilizations are subject to the ebbs and flows of history. This serves as a sobering reminder of the fleeting nature of human achievements and the ultimate authority of God over the affairs of the world.

The context of this verse is also important for understanding its significance. Babylon had risen to prominence as a dominant world power and had exerted its influence over the surrounding nations, including Judah. The prophet Jeremiah had warned the people of Judah of the impending judgment for their sins and idolatry, and Babylon was the instrument through which God would execute that judgment. The destruction of Babylon, as foretold by Jeremiah, was a sign of God's faithfulness to his word and a demonstration of his power over all earthly powers.

In addition to its thematic significance, this verse also holds symbolic value. Babylon, in the biblical narrative, represents more than just a historical city; it is a symbol of human pride, arrogance, and rebellion against God. Its fall serves as a potent symbol of the inevitable downfall of all those who oppose God and exalt themselves above him. The imagery of the great voice being silenced and the waves roaring like great waters can be seen as symbols of the arrogant boasting and tumultuous power of human empires, which ultimately come to nothing in the face of God's judgment.

In conclusion, Jeremiah 51:55 is a powerful and evocative verse that carries profound thematic, contextual, and symbolic significance. It serves as a reminder of the sovereignty and judgment of God, the transitory nature of human power and glory, and the symbolic significance of Babylon as a representation of human pride and rebellion. As with all scripture, this verse continues to offer rich insights and timeless truths for those who seek to understand and apply its message to their lives.

Jeremiah 51:55 Artwork

Jeremiah 51:55 - "Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:"

Jeremiah 51:55 - "Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:"

Jeremiah 51:18 - "They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish."

Jeremiah 51:18 - "They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish."

Jeremiah 51:51 - "We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house."

Jeremiah 51:51 - "We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house."

Jeremiah 51:61 - "And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;"

Jeremiah 51:61 - "And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;"

Jeremiah 51:38 - "They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps."

Jeremiah 51:38 - "They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps."

Jeremiah 51:60 - "So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon."

Jeremiah 51:60 - "So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon."

Jeremiah 51:42 - "The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof."

Jeremiah 51:42 - "The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof."

Jeremiah 51:37 - "And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant."

Jeremiah 51:37 - "And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant."

Jeremiah 51:4 - "Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets."

Jeremiah 51:4 - "Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets."

Jeremiah 51:32 - "And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted."

Jeremiah 51:32 - "And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted."

Jeremiah 51:40 - "I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats."

Jeremiah 51:40 - "I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats."

Jeremiah 51:54 - "A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:"

Jeremiah 51:54 - "A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:"

.Jeremiah 51:37 Babylon shall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.

.Jeremiah 51:37 Babylon shall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 51:64 - "And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah."

Jeremiah 51:64 - "And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah."

.Jeremiah 51:42 The sea has come up over Babylon; She is covered with the multitude of its waves.

.Jeremiah 51:42 The sea has come up over Babylon; She is covered with the multitude of its waves.

Jeremiah 51:8 - "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed."

Jeremiah 51:8 - "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed."

Jeremiah 51:26 - "And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD."

Jeremiah 51:26 - "And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD."

Jeremiah 51:49 - "As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth."

Jeremiah 51:49 - "As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth."

Jeremiah 51:52 - "Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan."

Jeremiah 51:52 - "Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan."

Jeremiah 51:41 - "How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!"

Jeremiah 51:41 - "How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!"

Jeremiah 51:21 - "And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;"

Jeremiah 51:21 - "And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;"

Jeremiah 51:13 - "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness."

Jeremiah 51:13 - "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness."

Jeremiah 51:19 - "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."

Jeremiah 51:19 - "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."

Jeremiah 51:29 - "And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant."

Jeremiah 51:29 - "And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant."

Jeremiah 51:59 - "¶ The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince."

Jeremiah 51:59 - "¶ The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince."

Jeremiah 51:63 - "And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:"

Jeremiah 51:63 - "And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:"

Jeremiah 51:28 - "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."

Jeremiah 51:28 - "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."

Jeremiah 51:10 - "The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 51:10 - "The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 51:43 - "Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby."

Jeremiah 51:43 - "Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby."

Jeremiah 51:24 - "And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD."

Jeremiah 51:24 - "And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD."