Jeremiah 51:61
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;
Original Language Analysis
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ
And Jeremiah
H3414
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ
And Jeremiah
Strong's:
H3414
Word #:
2 of 12
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
כְּבֹאֲךָ֣
When thou comest
H935
כְּבֹאֲךָ֣
When thou comest
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
5 of 12
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בָבֶ֔ל
to Babylon
H894
בָבֶ֔ל
to Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
6 of 12
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְֽרָאִ֔יתָ
and shalt see
H7200
וְֽרָאִ֔יתָ
and shalt see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
7 of 12
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וְֽקָרָ֔אתָ
and shalt read
H7121
וְֽקָרָ֔אתָ
and shalt read
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
8 of 12
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
אֵ֥ת
H853
אֵ֥ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Public reading of prophetic scrolls was established practice (see Jeremiah 36:6-10). Seraiah likely read this privately or semi-publicly, perhaps to fellow Jews, not in Nebuchadnezzar's throne room. Still, the act was risky. Any informer could have reported seditious content, endangering Zedekiah's delegation.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the command to 'see' Babylon before pronouncing judgment teach about faith's relationship to visible reality?
- How does Seraiah's obedience model costly faithfulness to God's word even when personally dangerous?
- In what ways are Christians called to proclaim God's judgments on worldly systems that seem secure and dominant?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words (וַיֹּאמֶר יִרְמְיָהוּ אֶל־שְׂרָיָה כְּבֹאֲךָ בָבֶל וְרָאִיתָ וְקָרָאתָ אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, vayyomer Yirmeyahu el-S'rayah k'vo'akha Vavel v'ra'ita v'qarata et kol-had'varim ha'elleh)—Three imperatives: arrive, see, read. Seraiah must publicly proclaim these judgments in Babylon. This was enormously dangerous—denouncing an empire at its capital while part of a vassal king's entourage.
The requirement to 'see' suggests Seraiah should observe Babylon's grandeur before pronouncing its doom—heightening the prophetic audacity. Babylon at its zenith, seemingly invincible, is declared doomed by a foreign prophet's scroll read by a mid-level official. This reverses human wisdom: the world sees power; faith sees coming judgment. The act models Christian proclamation: we announce God's verdicts regardless of visible circumstances, trusting His word over appearances.