Jeremiah 51:64
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
כָּ֠כָה
H3602
תִּשְׁקַ֨ע
sink
H8257
תִּשְׁקַ֨ע
sink
Strong's:
H8257
Word #:
3 of 17
to subside; by implication, to be overflowed, cease; causatively, to abate, subdue
בָּבֶ֤ל
Thus shall Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֤ל
Thus shall Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
4 of 17
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תָקוּם֙
and shall not rise
H6965
תָקוּם֙
and shall not rise
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
6 of 17
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
מִפְּנֵ֣י
from
H6440
מִפְּנֵ֣י
from
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
7 of 17
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מֵבִ֥יא
that I will bring
H935
מֵבִ֥יא
that I will bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
11 of 17
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עָלֶ֖יהָ
H5921
עָלֶ֖יהָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְיָעֵ֑פוּ
upon her and they shall be weary
H3286
וְיָעֵ֑פוּ
upon her and they shall be weary
Strong's:
H3286
Word #:
13 of 17
to tire (as if from wearisome flight)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
14 of 17
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
הֵ֖נָּה
H2008
Cross References
Jeremiah 51:58Thus 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.Job 31:40Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.Revelation 18:21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.Psalms 72:20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Historical Context
This colophon indicates chapter 52 was added later as historical verification. Jeremiah's oracles concluded with Babylon's doom—everything after is denouement. The scroll's sinking in Euphrates occurred around 593 BC; Babylon's fall came 539 BC—54 years later. Faith sustained God's people through the waiting.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Babylon's 'sinking' and inability to 'rise' reveal about the finality of God's judgments on rebellious powers?
- How does the colophon ('Thus far are the words of Jeremiah') function literarily and theologically?
- In what ways does Babylon's fall from Genesis 11 to Revelation 18 frame the biblical narrative of human rebellion and divine justice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her (וְאָמַרְתָּ כָּכָה תִּשְׁקַע בָּבֶל וְלֹא־תָקוּם מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מֵבִיא עָלֶיהָ, v'amarta kakhah tishqa Bavel v'lo-taqum mippnei hara'ah asher anokhi mevi aleha)—The interpretive key: 'Thus shall Babylon sink.' The scroll's sinking illustrates the empire's sinking. Shaq'a (sink) suggests drowning, being overwhelmed. The negation 'shall not rise' indicates no recovery, no resurrection. The ra'ah (evil/calamity) comes from God personally (anokhi, emphatic 'I').
And they shall be weary (וְיָעֵפוּ, v'yaefu)—Babylon's defenders will be exhausted, unable to resist. This word closes the oracle section. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah (עַד־הֵנָּה דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ, ad-hennah divrei Yirmeyahu)—Colophon marking the end of Jeremiah's prophetic oracles proper. Chapter 52 (historical appendix) follows, but the prophetic word concludes here—appropriately, with Babylon's sinking. From Genesis 11's Babel to Jeremiah 51's Babylon to Revelation 18's eschatological Babylon, the arc of judgment on human pride and autonomy is complete. Christ alone rises from death; all other kingdoms sink.