Bible Strands
Jeremiah 51:8
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah declares Babylon's abrupt collapse and instructs mourners to seek balm for her pain. The prophet shifts from describing Babylon's past role as a cup of divine wrath to announcing her immediate destruction to a listening audience.
The words — The Hebrew פִּתְאֹם (pit'om) and נָפְלָה (nafelah) literally render "suddenly" and "it will fall," emphasizing the unannounced nature of the city's defeat. The imperative קְחוּ (qehu) paired with צֹרִי (tsoori) means "get balm," directing the response to address a shattered condition.
The thread — The collapse declaration aligns with Isaiah 21:9 and Revelation 14:8, where "Fallen, fallen is Babylon" marks the execution of divine judgment. The futile search for צֹרִי (tsoori) balm parallels Jeremiah 46:11, where applied remedies prove ineffective against a finalized decree.
Why it lands — The text establishes that human remedies cannot reverse a judgment already set in motion. It requires the reader to acknowledge the limits of political or military intervention when divine word is executed.
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
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 21:9 Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
- Jeremiah 46:11 Go up to Gilead for balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt! In vain you try many remedies, but for you there is no healing.
- Revelation 14:8 Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
- Jeremiah 48:20 Moab is put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.
- Jeremiah 50:2 “Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’
- Revelation 18:2 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.
- Isaiah 13:6 Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Isaiah 47:9 These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.
- Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?
- Jeremiah 30:12 For this is what the LORD says: “Your injury is incurable; your wound is grievous.