Jeremiah 51:11
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
Original Language Analysis
הַחִצִּים֮
the arrows
H2671
הַחִצִּים֮
the arrows
Strong's:
H2671
Word #:
2 of 21
properly, a piercer, i.e., an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of god) thunder-bolt; the shaft of a spear
מִלְא֣וּ
gather
H4390
מִלְא֣וּ
gather
Strong's:
H4390
Word #:
3 of 21
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
הַשְּׁלָטִים֒
the shields
H7982
הַשְּׁלָטִים֒
the shields
Strong's:
H7982
Word #:
4 of 21
probably a shield (as controlling, i.e., protecting the person)
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
ר֙וּחַ֙
the spirit
H7307
ר֙וּחַ֙
the spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
8 of 21
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בָּבֶ֥ל
is against Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֥ל
is against Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
13 of 21
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
מְזִמָּת֖וֹ
for his device
H4209
מְזִמָּת֖וֹ
for his device
Strong's:
H4209
Word #:
14 of 21
a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity)
לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ
to destroy
H7843
לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ
to destroy
Strong's:
H7843
Word #:
15 of 21
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
16 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נִקְמַ֖ת
it because it is the vengeance
H5360
נִקְמַ֖ת
it because it is the vengeance
Strong's:
H5360
Word #:
17 of 21
avengement, whether the act of the passion
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
18 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הִ֔יא
H1931
הִ֔יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
19 of 21
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
Jeremiah 46:4Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.Jeremiah 50:45Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.Jeremiah 46:9Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.Jeremiah 50:9For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
Historical Context
The Medes were historical partners with Persians in the coalition that conquered Babylon. Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) unified Median and Persian territories, creating the empire that conquered Babylon in 539 BC. The reference to "kings" (plural) may indicate the coalition's multiethnic leadership. The specific mention of temple vengeance recalls Babylon's 586 BC destruction of Solomon's temple and theft of sacred vessels. Cyrus's decree allowing temple rebuilding (Ezra 1:1-4) directly reversed Babylon's temple desecration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God 'raise up the spirit' of rulers to accomplish His purposes while respecting human agency?
- What does divine vengeance for temple desecration teach about the seriousness of dishonoring God's worship?
- How should Christians understand God using pagan rulers (like Cyrus) to accomplish His redemptive purposes?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields—the command to polish arrows (Hebrew בָּרוּ, baru, polish, sharpen) and gather shields prepares for battle. The LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes—God's sovereignty extends to pagan rulers' motivations. The phrase "raised up the spirit" (הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחַ, he'ir et-ruach) indicates divine stirring of human will without violating agency. Cyrus the Persian led the Medo-Persian coalition; Isaiah 45:1 calls him God's "anointed" (משִׁיחַ, mashiach).
For his device is against Babylon, to destroy it—God's purpose (מְזִמָּה, mezimmah, plan, purpose) explicitly targets Babylon's destruction. Because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple—the double emphasis on "vengeance" (נִקְמַת יְהוָה, niqmat YHWH) grounds judgment in Babylon's temple desecration (2 Kings 25:9; Daniel 1:2). God avenges His sanctuary's profanation and His people's suffering.