Jeremiah 51:59
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.
Original Language Analysis
הַדָּבָ֞ר
The word
H1697
הַדָּבָ֞ר
The word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
1 of 23
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ
which Jeremiah
H3414
יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ
which Jeremiah
Strong's:
H3414
Word #:
4 of 23
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
8 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
10 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בְּלֶכְתּ֞וֹ
H1980
בְּלֶכְתּ֞וֹ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
12 of 23
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
13 of 23
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
יְהוּדָה֙
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָה֙
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
16 of 23
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
בָּבֶ֔ל
into Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֔ל
into Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
17 of 23
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
לְמָלְכ֑וֹ
of his reign
H4427
לְמָלְכ֑וֹ
of his reign
Strong's:
H4427
Word #:
20 of 23
to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel
Cross References
Jeremiah 32:12And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.Jeremiah 36:4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.Jeremiah 28:1And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,Jeremiah 45:1The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
Historical Context
Zedekiah's trip to Babylon (594 BC) was a loyalty visit during his early reign, before his later rebellion that triggered Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC). Seraiah's participation shows Jeremiah's prophetic network extended even to royal delegations. This daring symbolic act occurred in Babylon's zenith—audacious faith.
Questions for Reflection
- Why would God have Jeremiah send a prophecy of Babylon's doom into Babylon itself during Babylon's peak power?
- What does Seraiah's character (quiet, peaceable) teach about the diverse ways God uses His servants?
- How does this symbolic act demonstrate faith—performing an apparently futile gesture trusting God to vindicate it?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah (הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֶת־שְׂרָיָה בֶן־נֵרִיָּה, haddavar asher-tsivvah Yirmeyahu hannavi et-Serayah ben-Neriyyah)—Jeremiah commissions Seraiah, brother of Baruch (Jeremiah's scribe, 32:12). This was a prophetic symbolic act. When he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign (בְּלֶכְתּוֹ אֶת־צִדְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה בָבֶלָה בִּשְׁנַת הָרְבִעִית לְמָלְכוֹ, b'lekhto et-Tzidqiyyahu melekh-Y'hudah Bavelah bish'nat harevi'it l'malkho)—594/593 BC: Zedekiah traveled to Babylon, likely to reaffirm vassalage and quell Nebuchadnezzar's suspicions.
And this Seraiah was a quiet prince (וּשְׂרָיָה שַׂר מְנוּחָה, uS'rayah sar m'nuchah)—Either 'prince of rest' (a title, perhaps quartermaster) or 'a quiet/peaceable official.' Seraiah's character enabled him to carry this subversive prophetic message into Babylon itself without arousing suspicion. God uses diverse personalities for diverse missions.