Jeremiah 51:31
29 The earth quakes and writhes because the LORD’s intentions against Babylon stand: to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
30 The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken.
One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.
32 The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified.”
33 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.”
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
- One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.
- KJV
- One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,
- WEB
- One runner will run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter.
- ASV
- One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to met another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter:
- DARBY
- Courier runneth to meet courier, and messenger to meet messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city is taken from end to end;
- BLB
- Runner runs to meet runner, and messenger to meet messenger, to declare to the king of Babylon that his city is captured at the extremity;
- ÅB
- Løper løper mot løper og bud mot bud for å melde Babels konge at hans stad er inntatt på alle kanter,
- OTB
- «‘Og Babylon skal bli en haug i det øde landet, Et bytte og et dilemma for nasjonene.
- B1930
- Løper løper mot løper og bud mot bud for å melde Babels konge at hans stad er inntatt på alle kanter,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Chronicles 30:6
So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.
Read in context2 Samuel 18:19–31
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
Read in contextJeremiah 4:20
Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment.
Read in contextJeremiah 50:24
I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD.
Read in contextEsther 8:14
The couriers rode out in haste on their royal horses, pressed on by the command of the king. And the edict was also issued in the citadel of Susa.
Read in contextJob 9:25
My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
Read in contextIsaiah 21:3–9
Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.
Read in contextEsther 3:13–15
And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
Read in context