Jeremiah 50:38
A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
Original Language Analysis
מֵימֶ֖יהָ
is upon her waters
H4325
מֵימֶ֖יהָ
is upon her waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
3 of 10
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְיָבֵ֑שׁוּ
and they shall be dried up
H3001
וְיָבֵ֑שׁוּ
and they shall be dried up
Strong's:
H3001
Word #:
4 of 10
to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 10
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֶ֤רֶץ
for it is the land
H776
אֶ֤רֶץ
for it is the land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
6 of 10
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
הִ֔יא
H1931
הִ֔יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
8 of 10
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
Cross References
Revelation 16:12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.Isaiah 44:27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:Jeremiah 50:2Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.Jeremiah 51:47Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.Jeremiah 51:52Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.
Historical Context
Babylon's Processional Way featured images of gods in glazed brick. The Esagila (Marduk's temple) and ziggurats dominated the cityscape. Yet these gods could not prevent Cyrus's conquest. Isaiah 46:1-2 mocks these gods needing to be carried into exile, unable to save themselves or Babylon.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the 'drying of waters' metaphor apply to the collapse of human systems and securities apart from God?
- What does it mean to be 'mad' over idols, and how do modern idolatries produce similar insanity?
- Why is idolatry consistently portrayed as the root cause of national judgment throughout Scripture?
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Analysis & Commentary
A drought is upon her waters (חֹרֶב אֶל־מֵימֶיהָ, chorev el-meimeha)—The chorev can mean drought or sword; both readings are apt. Babylon's strength was the Euphrates River and irrigation canal system supporting agriculture and defense. God will 'dry up' (yavashu) these waters—literally fulfilled when Cyrus diverted the Euphrates to enter Babylon (Herodotus 1.191), and prophetically symbolizing the drying up of Babylon's vitality and power.
For it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols (כִּי אֶרֶץ פְּסִלִים הִיא וּבָאֵימִים יִתְהֹלָלוּ, ki erets p'silim hi uva'eimim yithollalu)—This explains the judgment: Babylon was a 'land of carved images,' and they 'boasted' or 'acted like madmen' over their eimim (terrors/idols). Idolatry is insanity—worshipping creatures/creations instead of Creator (Romans 1:22-23). Babylon's elaborate pantheon (Marduk, Ishtar, Nabu) and New Year's festival (Akitu) testify to this theological madness. Just verdict: the idol-mad nation loses its water source and sanity.