Jeremiah 51:3

1 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;

2 And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.

Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.

4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.

5 For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

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
Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!
KJV
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
WEB
Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow, also against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. Don’t spare her young men! Utterly destroy all her army!
ASV
Against [him that] bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against [him that] lifteth himself up in his coat of mail: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
DARBY
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his coat of mail; and spare not her young men: destroy utterly all her host.
BLB
Do not let bend the one bending his bow, and let him not bring himself up in his armor; do not spare toward her young men, devote to destruction all of her army!
ÅB
Mot den som spenner bue, skal bueskytteren spenne sin bue, og mot den som kneiser i sin brynje; spar ikke dets unge menn, slå hele dets hær med bann!
OTB
For en nasjon fra nord har kommet opp mot henne; den vil gjøre hennes land til en ødemark, en skrytende horde; hennes innbyggere vil bli drevet bort, både mann og dyr.
B1930
Mot den som spenner bue, skal bueskytteren spenne sin bue, og mot den som kneiser i sin brynje; spar ikke dets unge menn, slå hele dets hær med bann!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 50:14

    Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 46:4

    Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 50:21

    Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 50:41–42

    Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

    Read in context
  • James 2:13

    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 50:29–30

    Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 9:21

    For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 13:10–18

    For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

    Read in context