Jeremiah 51:31

²⁹ And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.

³⁰ The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.

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,

³² And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.

³³ For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall 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 posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
Read in context
2 Samuel 18:19–31
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
Read in context
Jeremiah 4:20
Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:24
I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.
Read in context
Esther 8:14
So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
Read in context
Job 9:25
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
Read in context
Isaiah 21:3–9
Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
Read in context
Esther 3:13–15
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
Read in context