Bible Strands
Jeremiah 51:28
Prepare the nations for battle against her—the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the lands they rule.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah issues this mobilization order to the nations and their rulers during the active campaign to execute God’s judgment on Babylon. The command occurs at the precise moment of military assembly, following the earlier call to raise a banner and summon kingdoms.
The words — The Hebrew verb קַדְּשׁוּ (qaddəshû) literally means "consecrate" or "set apart," directing the armies to prepare for war. The prepositional phrase עַל־הָ (‘al-hā) specifies that this preparation is directed "against her," identifying Babylon as the target.
The thread — This summons of Media corresponds to Jeremiah 51:11, where the Lord stirs the kings of the Medes to act, and Jeremiah 25:25, which lists Media among the nations facing judgment. The ethnic designation also traces back to Genesis 10:2, where Madai is recorded as a son of Japheth.
Why it lands — The text states that political powers and military forces are mobilized to fulfill a specific divine decree. It requires the reader to acknowledge that historical conquests operate under sovereign direction rather than autonomous human strategy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 51:11 Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD—vengeance for His temple.
- Jeremiah 25:25 all the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media;
- Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- 1 Chronicles 1:5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
- Esther 10:2 And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?
- Isaiah 13:17 Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold.
- Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
- Jeremiah 51:27 “Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.
- Daniel 5:28 PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”