Jeremiah 51:55
53 Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens and fortifies her lofty stronghold, the destroyers I send will come against her,” declares the LORD.
54 “The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. The waves will roar like great waters; the tumult of their voices will resound.
56 For a destroyer is coming against her— against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.
57 I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
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
- For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. The waves will roar like great waters; the tumult of their voices will resound.
- KJV
- Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
- WEB
- For the LORD lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered.
- ASV
- For Jehovah layeth Babylon waste, and destroyeth out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is uttered:
- DARBY
- for Jehovah spoileth Babylon, and he will destroy out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like great waters, the noise of their voice resoundeth.
- BLB
- For YHWH is destroying Babylon, and He has destroyed from her the great voice; and have sounded their waves like great waters, and has given forth their voice a roar.
- ÅB
- For Herren ødelegger Babel og gjør ende på den sterke larm i byen; og deres[^7] bølger skal bruse som store vann, deres larmende røst skal la seg høre.
- OTB
- Dere som har unnsluppet kaldeernes sverd, Seil bort for å bo hos dem, Og grav ned i jorden deres plagg, Skjul det fra undertrykkerens ansikt.
- B1930
- For Herren ødelegger Babel og gjør ende på den sterke larm i byen; og deres bølger skal bruse som store vann, deres larmende røst skal la sig høre. / < fiendenes.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 25:10
Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
Read in contextIsaiah 17:13
The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.
Read in contextPsalms 18:4
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
Read in contextJeremiah 50:10–15
Chaldea will be plundered; all who plunder her will have their fill,” declares the LORD.
Read in contextIsaiah 15:1
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!
Read in contextIsaiah 24:8–11
The joyful tambourines have ceased; the noise of revelers has stopped; the joyful harp is silent.
Read in contextEzekiel 26:3
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, O Tyre, I am against you, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
Read in contextJeremiah 51:42
The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.
Read in context