Jeremiah 50:27

Authorized King James Version

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Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

Original Language Analysis

חִרְבוּ֙ Slay H2717
חִרְבוּ֙ Slay
Strong's: H2717
Word #: 1 of 12
to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 2 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
פָּרֶ֔יהָ all her bullocks H6499
פָּרֶ֔יהָ all her bullocks
Strong's: H6499
Word #: 3 of 12
a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)
יֵרְד֖וּ let them go down H3381
יֵרְד֖וּ let them go down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 4 of 12
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
לַטָּ֑בַח to the slaughter H2874
לַטָּ֑בַח to the slaughter
Strong's: H2874
Word #: 5 of 12
properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly butchery (or concretely, a place of slaughter)
ה֣וֹי woe H1945
ה֣וֹי woe
Strong's: H1945
Word #: 6 of 12
oh!
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 7 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 8 of 12
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בָ֥א is come H935
בָ֥א is come
Strong's: H935
Word #: 9 of 12
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יוֹמָ֖ם unto them! for their day H3117
יוֹמָ֖ם unto them! for their day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 10 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
עֵ֥ת the time H6256
עֵ֥ת the time
Strong's: H6256
Word #: 11 of 12
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
פְּקֻדָּתָֽם׃ of their visitation H6486
פְּקֻדָּתָֽם׃ of their visitation
Strong's: H6486
Word #: 12 of 12
visitation (in many senses, chiefly official)

Analysis & Commentary

Slay all her bullocks—the parim (פָּרִים, young bulls) likely symbolize Babylon's warriors and princes (Jeremiah 46:21, 50:11). Bulls represented strength and virility; calling warriors 'bullocks' both acknowledges their power and ironically depicts their slaughter like sacrificial animals. Let them go down to the slaughter—the Hebrew tebach (טֶבַח, slaughter, butchering) often refers to preparing animals for sacrifice or meat.

Woe unto them! for their day is come—the yom (יוֹם, day) is the appointed time of divine visitation and judgment. The time of their visitation—pekudah (פְּקֻדָּה, reckoning, accounting, judgment) from the root paqad, meaning God's direct intervention to punish or reward. Babylon's 'day' of unchallenged dominance ends; God's 'day' of reckoning arrives.

Historical Context

During the conquest of Babylon, significant military losses occurred. The Nabonidus Chronicle records that Nabonidus fled, his army was defeated, and Babylon fell to Cyrus without prolonged resistance. Later Babylonian revolts against Persian rule (522 BC and 484 BC) resulted in severe Persian reprisals, decimating Babylon's population and military strength. The 'slaughter' came in stages, fulfilling this prophecy completely.

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