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.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Cyrus's conquest fulfilled this prophecy precisely. According to Herodotus and the Nabonidus Chronicle, the Persians diverted the Euphrates River and entered Babylon through the riverbed gates—a 'snare' the Babylonians never anticipated. The city fell without prolonged siege in 539 BC. Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5) occurred the very night of conquest—feasting unaware while judgment approached. This unexpected defeat of history's greatest empire demonstrated God's sovereign control over nations.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean to 'strive against the LORD,' and how might nations or individuals do this today?
- How does Babylon's unawareness of God's trap warn against presumption and false security?
- What does this verse teach about God's sovereignty over even the most powerful human institutions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I have laid a snare for thee—God Himself sets the trap (yaqosh, יָקֹשׁ, to ensnare, lay a trap). And thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware—the hunter becomes the hunted. The Hebrew lakad (לָכַד, captured, seized) emphasizes sudden, inescapable capture. Babylon's fall came swiftly; Cyrus conquered the city in one night while Belshazzar feasted (Daniel 5:30-31).
Because thou hast striven against the LORD—the Hebrew garah (גָּרָה, to provoke, challenge, contend) indicates deliberate opposition. Babylon didn't merely conquer nations; it challenged Yahweh's authority, desecrated His temple (2 Kings 25:9), mocked His people, and exalted its own gods (Daniel 3:14-15). This verse echoes the principle that opposing God inevitably leads to destruction. No nation, however powerful, can successfully contend with the Almighty.