Jeremiah 51:55
Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שֹׁדֵ֤ד
hath spoiled
H7703
שֹׁדֵ֤ד
hath spoiled
Strong's:
H7703
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
יְהוָה֙
Because the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
Because the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בָּבֶ֔ל
Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֔ל
Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
5 of 16
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְאִבַּ֥ד
and destroyed
H6
וְאִבַּ֥ד
and destroyed
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
מִמֶּ֖נָּה
H4480
מִמֶּ֖נָּה
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
7 of 16
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
גָּד֑וֹל
out of her the great
H1419
גָּד֑וֹל
out of her the great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
9 of 16
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וְהָמ֤וּ
do roar
H1993
וְהָמ֤וּ
do roar
Strong's:
H1993
Word #:
10 of 16
to make a loud sound (like english 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor
גַלֵּיהֶם֙
when her waves
H1530
גַלֵּיהֶם֙
when her waves
Strong's:
H1530
Word #:
11 of 16
something rolled, i.e., a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)
כְּמַ֣יִם
waters
H4325
כְּמַ֣יִם
waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
12 of 16
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
רַבִּ֔ים
like great
H7227
רַבִּ֔ים
like great
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
13 of 16
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
נִתַּ֥ן
is uttered
H5414
נִתַּ֥ן
is uttered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
14 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Historical Context
Babylon's 'voice'—Marduk's cult, royal decrees, commercial activity—did cease. The vibrant city became backwater, then ruins. The 'roaring waves' may reference panic during conquest, or metaphorically, the overwhelming chaos that consumed Babylon's order. Either way, the 'great voice' was indeed silenced.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the silencing of Babylon's 'great voice' teach about the temporal nature of earthly power and culture?
- How does the water/flood imagery connect Babylon's judgment to other biblical judgments (Flood, Red Sea)?
- In what ways does civilization's collapse represent a kind of 'uncreation' under divine curse?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon (כִּי־שֹׁדֵד יְהוָה אֶת־בָּבֶל, ki-shoded YHWH et-Bavel)—Active divine agency: God is the Spoiler. Babylon, archetypal plunderer of nations, is herself plundered by Yahweh personally. And destroyed out of her the great voice (וְאִבַּד מִמֶּנָּה קוֹל גָּדוֹל, v'ibbed mimmenah qol gadol)—The 'great voice' of Babylon (imperial edicts, temple chants, marketplace bustle, military commands) falls silent. Abad (destroy/perish) is total cessation.
When her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered (וְהָמוּ גַלֵּיהֶם כְּמַיִם רַבִּים נִתַּן שְׁאוֹן קוֹלָם, v'hamu galeihem k'mayim rabbim nittan sh'on qolam)—The metaphor shifts: Babylon's 'waves' (armies? populace?) roar like floodwaters, but this roar is death-throe, not triumph. The cacophony of collapse replaces the hum of civilization. Just as God drowned Pharaoh's army in waters (Exodus 15), He drowns Babylon in chaos. The sea-imagery suggests primordial uncreation—Babylon returns to tohu vavohu (Genesis 1:2).