Jeremiah 50:2

¹ This is the word that the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans:

“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.’

³ For a nation from the north will come against her; it will make her land a desolation. No one will live in it; both man and beast will flee.”

⁴ “In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the children of Israel and the children of Judah will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the LORD their God.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “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.’
KJV: Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
WEB: “Declare among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don’t conceal; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed! Her images are disappointed. Her idols are dismayed.’
ASV: Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed; her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.
DARBY: Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and lift up a banner; publish, conceal not! Say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed: her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.
BLB: “Declare [it] among the nations, and make [it] heard, and lift up a signal; make [it] heard, [and do] not hide [it]! Say, ‘Is taken Babylon, is put to shame Bel, is dismayed Merodach; are put to shame her idols, are dismayed her images!’

ÅB: Forkynn det iblant folkene og kunngjør det og løft opp banner, kunngjør det, dølg det ikke, si: Babel er inntatt, Bel er blitt til skamme, Merodak er blitt forferdet, dets gudebilder er blitt til skamme, dets avskyelige avguder er forferdet!
OTB: "Forkynn det blant nasjonene og gjør det kjent; reis et banner og skjul det ikke. Si: 'Babylon er blitt erobret; Bel er gjort til skamme, Marduk er forferdet. Hennes avguder er vanæret, hennes bilder er knust.'
B1930: Forkynn det iblandt folkene og kunngjør det og løft op banner, kunngjør det, dølg det ikke, si: Babel er inntatt, Bel er blitt til skamme, Merodak er blitt forferdet, dets gudebilleder er blitt til skamme, dets vederstyggelige avguder er forferdet!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 46:1
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
Read in context
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!”
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:44
I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:47
Therefore, behold, the days are coming when I will punish the idols of Babylon. Her entire land will suffer shame, and all her slain will lie fallen within her.
Read in context
Isaiah 12:4
and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.
Read in context
Jeremiah 46:14
“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.’
Read in context
Jeremiah 43:12–13
I will kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples and take their gods as captives. So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself in his garment, and he will depart from there unscathed.
Read in context
Zephaniah 2:11
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.
Read in context