Jeremiah 51:52
Wherefore, 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.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֞ן
H3651
לָכֵ֞ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 13
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
יָמִ֤ים
Wherefore behold the days
H3117
יָמִ֤ים
Wherefore behold the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 13
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
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּפָקַדְתִּ֖י
that I will do judgment
H6485
וּפָקַדְתִּ֖י
that I will do judgment
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
7 of 13
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 13
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וּבְכָל
H3605
וּבְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 13
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
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 50:38A 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.
Historical Context
When Xerxes I suppressed a Babylonian revolt (484 BC), he demolished religious structures and melted down Marduk's golden statue—fulfilling the judgment on idols. Later conquests further damaged Babylon's temples. The groaning of wounded throughout the land occurred across multiple invasions: Cyrus (539 BC), Xerxes (484 BC), Alexander (323 BC).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judgment on Babylon's idols vindicate His own sanctuary's honor?
- What does the principle of measure-for-measure judgment reveal about God's justice?
- In what ways should Christians anticipate God avenging wrongs done to His people and His name?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images (לָכֵן הִנֵּה־יָמִים בָּאִים וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־פְּסִילֶיהָ, lakhen hinneh-yamim ba'im ufaqadti al-pesileha)—God's paqad (visitation/judgment) will target Babylon's idols. Since they violated God's sanctuary, He'll destroy theirs. And through all her land the wounded shall groan (וּבְכָל־אַרְצָהּ יֶאֱנֹק חָלָל, uv'khol-artsah ye'enoq chalal)—Babylon's entire territory will echo with groans of the chalal (pierced/slain).
This verse connects temple desecration (v. 51) to idol judgment—measure for measure. Babylon's gods couldn't prevent their own temples' downfall (Isaiah 46:1-2 mocks Bel and Nebo being carted into exile). The groan of Babylon's wounded answers the groan of Jerusalem's slain. God's justice is precise: the punishment fits the crime. This principle, terrifying for perpetrators, comforts victims: God sees every injustice and will balance the scales. No wound goes unavenged; no tear unnoticed.