Jeremiah 51:58
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
4 of 21
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
בָּבֶ֤ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֤ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
6 of 21
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
הָֽרְחָבָה֙
The broad
H7342
הָֽרְחָבָה֙
The broad
Strong's:
H7342
Word #:
7 of 21
roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or figuratively
יִצַּ֑תּוּ
shall be burned
H3341
יִצַּ֑תּוּ
shall be burned
Strong's:
H3341
Word #:
13 of 21
to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate
וְיִֽגְע֨וּ
shall labour
H3021
וְיִֽגְע֨וּ
shall labour
Strong's:
H3021
Word #:
14 of 21
properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil
עַמִּ֧ים
and the people
H5971
עַמִּ֧ים
and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
15 of 21
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
בְּדֵי
in
H1767
בְּדֵי
in
Strong's:
H1767
Word #:
16 of 21
enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases
רִ֛יק
in vain
H7385
רִ֛יק
in vain
Strong's:
H7385
Word #:
17 of 21
emptiness; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain
Cross References
Jeremiah 51:64And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.Habakkuk 2:13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?Jeremiah 51:44And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.Jeremiah 50:15Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.Psalms 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.Jeremiah 51:9We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.Jeremiah 51:30The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.
Historical Context
Xerxes I (484 BC) demolished significant portions of Babylon's walls after suppressing revolt. Later, Alexander the Great planned to rebuild but died before accomplishing it. Seleucus I built Seleucia nearby, drawing Babylon's population away. The walls' stones were quarried for other projects—literally toiling 'for fire' (destruction).
Questions for Reflection
- What does the demolition of Babylon's walls teach about the futility of human achievements built apart from God?
- How does 'laboring in vain' and 'for fire' apply to modern pursuits of wealth, fame, and cultural legacy?
- In what ways should Christians evaluate their own labor to ensure it's not 'for fire' but for God's glory?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken (חֹמוֹת בָּבֶל הָרְחָבָה עָרֹה תִתְעָרְעַר, chomot Bavel har'chavah aroh tit'ar'ar)—Babylon's rechavah (broad/wide) walls will be utterly demolished (aroh tit'ar'ar, intensive doubling). Archaeology confirms Babylon's walls were massive. Yet God decrees total razing. And her high gates shall be burned with fire (וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ הַגְּבֹהִים בָּאֵשׁ יִצַּתּוּ, ush'areha hag'vohim ba'esh yitsattu)—The lofty gates (like the Ishtar Gate) will be fire-consumed.
And the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary (וְיִגְעוּ עַמִּים בְּדֵי־רִיק וּלְאֻמִּים בְּדֵי־אֵשׁ וְיָעֵפוּ, v'yig'u ammim b'dei-riq ul'ummim b'dei-esh v'yaefu)—Nations labored to build Babylon's grandeur; but they toiled b'dei-riq (for emptiness/vanity) and b'dei-esh (for fire). Their constructions become fuel for flames. This echoes Habakkuk 2:13: 'the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity.' All human glory apart from God ends in ashes.