Jeremiah 50:35
A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
Original Language Analysis
חֶ֥רֶב
A sword
H2719
חֶ֥רֶב
A sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
1 of 12
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים
is upon the Chaldeans
H3778
כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים
is upon the Chaldeans
Strong's:
H3778
Word #:
3 of 12
a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י
and upon the inhabitants
H3427
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י
and upon the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
7 of 12
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בָבֶ֔ל
of Babylon
H894
בָבֶ֔ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
8 of 12
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
Cross References
Jeremiah 47:6O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.Jeremiah 51:57And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.Hosea 11:6And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.Daniel 5:30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Historical Context
Babylon's fall to the Medo-Persian coalition (539 BC) was both military conquest and divine judgment. Cyrus's forces diverted the Euphrates and entered through Babylon's river gates. The 'sword' was literal (though Babylon fell with minimal bloodshed) and symbolic (God's judicial sentence executed through Persia).
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God use the same 'sword' metaphor for both executing judgment and receiving judgment?
- What does the targeting of Babylon's 'wise men' teach about the limitations of human wisdom apart from God?
- How does the repetitive 'sword upon' formula emphasize the comprehensive and inescapable nature of divine judgment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD (חֶרֶב עַל־כַּשְׂדִּים, cherev al-Kasdim)—The fivefold anaphora 'a sword upon' creates relentless drumbeat of judgment. Babylon, who wielded God's sword against nations (27:6-8), now faces that same weapon turned against them. The cherev (sword) represents both military conquest and divine judgment. Upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men—comprehensive targeting: general population, political rulers, and intellectual elite. Babylon's famed wisdom tradition (Daniel 1:20, 2:2) cannot avert this sword.