Jeremiah 51:36

Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Zion and Jerusalem, responding to their plea for justice against Babylon’s violence. This declaration functions as the divine verdict within a broader oracle detailing Babylon’s imminent destruction.

The words — The Hebrew רִיב (riḇ) means a legal case or dispute, while the verb רָב (rav) indicates pleading or contending on someone’s behalf. Paired with הִנֵּה (hinnēh, “behold”), these terms frame the intervention as an immediate judicial defense.

The thread — The motif of drying up waters reappears in Jeremiah 50:38 as judgment on a land of idols, while Romans 12:19 assigns vengeance to God alone and Psalm 140:12 describes God upholding justice for the poor and defending the needy.

Why it lands — The text states that God will personally vindicate the oppressed and execute judgment on the oppressor. It asks the reader to acknowledge divine control over retribution and to expect the fulfillment of declared judgment.

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

לָכֵ֗ןla./Khen<to>/ therefore כֹּ֚הkohthus אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh הִנְנִי־hi./ni-here/ I רָב֙rav[am] about to conduct אֶת־'et-<obj.>רִיבֵ֔ךְri.Ve/khcase/ your וְנִקַּמְתִּ֖יve./ni.kam.Tiand/ I will avenge אֶת־'et-<obj.>נִקְמָתֵ֑ךְnik.ma.Te/khvengeance/ your וְהַחֲרַבְתִּי֙ve./ha.cha.rav.Tiand/ I will dry up אֶת־'et-<obj.>יַמָּ֔הּya.Ma/hsea/ its וְהֹבַשְׁתִּ֖יve./hoash.Tiand/ I will make dry אֶת־'et-<obj.>מְקוֹרָֽהּ׃me.ko.Ra/hspring/ its

King James Version

Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.
Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
Psalms 140:12 I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.
Isaiah 44:27 who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Psalms 94:1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
Psalms 107:33 He turns rivers into deserts, springs of water into thirsty ground,
Proverbs 22:23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.