Jeremiah 51:22
With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Jeremiah delivered this oracle during Babylon's zenith (605-562 BCE under Nebuchadnezzar), when Babylon functioned as God's chosen instrument to judge Judah (Jeremiah 25:9, 27:6) and surrounding nations. The Babylonian Empire systematically conquered the ancient Near East, breaking in pieces kingdoms from Egypt to Elam.
Yet even as Babylon executed God's judgments, its brutality, pride, and idolatry accumulated divine wrath. The catalog of destruction in verses 22-23 describes what Babylon inflicted on others—particularly Jerusalem in 586 BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed the temple, killed young and old, and deported survivors (2 Kings 25; Lamentations). The prophecy announces that Babylon will experience similar comprehensive devastation—fulfilled when Cyrus conquered in 539 BCE.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's use of Babylon as a judgment tool, followed by Babylon's own judgment, demonstrate divine justice?
- What does the comprehensive nature of judgment (all ages, genders, roles) teach about the seriousness of corporate sin?
- How should Christians understand God's sovereignty over nations that don't acknowledge Him?
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Analysis & Commentary
With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid—This verse begins a relentless catalog of categories God will shatter using Babylon (the "thee") as His battle-axe (v. 20). The Hebrew verb naphats (נָפַץ, "break in pieces") appears twelve times in verses 20-23, creating a rhythmic, hammer-like effect that mirrors the destruction being described.
The comprehensive pairings—man/woman, old/young, young man/maid—emphasize totality: no demographic is exempt when God executes judgment. This divine use of Babylon as an instrument paradoxically precedes Babylon's own destruction (v. 24), demonstrating God's sovereign ability to employ evil nations as tools of judgment before judging them for their wickedness. The same principle appears in Isaiah 10:5-19 with Assyria as "the rod of mine anger."
Theologically, this passage reveals: