Bible Strands
Jeremiah 51:54
“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Jeremiah delivers this declaration from the LORD regarding the impending fall of Babylon. The message addresses the nations and the exiles, announcing the city's collapse after detailing its inevitable judgment.
The words — The Hebrew term זְעָקָה (ze'akah) denotes a cry of distress, paired with שֶׁבֶר (shever), meaning a violent breaking or destruction. These terms appear alongside קֹל (kol, sound) and גָּדוֹל (gadol, great) to emphasize the scale of Babylon's downfall.
The thread — This announcement echoes the pattern of divine judgment found in Jeremiah 50:22 and Jeremiah 50:46, where the noise of battle and the cry of capture spread among the nations. It also parallels the devastation motif in Jeremiah 48:3 concerning Moab.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human fortifications cannot withstand divine judgment. It requires the reader to accept that the proclaimed destruction of Babylon is an accomplished fact decreed by God.
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
A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 50:22 “The noise of battle is in the land—the noise of great destruction.
- Jeremiah 48:3 A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’
- Jeremiah 50:46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.
- Isaiah 13:6 Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Isaiah 15:5 My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.
- Jeremiah 50:27 Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come—the time of their punishment.
- Jeremiah 50:43 The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
- Zephaniah 1:10 On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.
- Revelation 18:17 For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance