New International Version the river crossings seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers terrified.” New Living Translation All the escape routes are blocked. The marshes have been set aflame, and the army is in a panic. English Standard Version the fords have been seized, the marshes are burned with fire, and the soldiers are in panic. Berean Standard Bible The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified.” Berean Literal Bible the fords have been seized, and the marshes they have burned with fire, and the men of war are terrified.” King James Bible And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. New King James Version The passages are blocked, The reeds they have burned with fire, And the men of war are terrified. New American Standard Bible The river crossing places have been seized, And they have burned the marshes with fire, And the men of war are terrified. NASB 1995 The fords also have been seized, And they have burned the marshes with fire, And the men of war are terrified. NASB 1977 The fords also have been seized, And they have burned the marshes with fire, And the men of war are terrified. Legacy Standard Bible The fords also have been seized, And they have burned the marshes with fire, And the men of war are terrified. Amplified Bible And that the fords [across the Euphrates] have been blocked and [the ferries] seized, And they have set the [great] marshes on fire, And the men of war are terrified. Berean Annotated Bible The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified. Christian Standard Bible The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the fighting men are terrified. Holman Christian Standard Bible The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified. American Standard Version and the passages are seized, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. Contemporary English Version The enemy now controls the river crossings! The marshes are on fire! Your army has panicked!" English Revised Version and the passages are surprised, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. GOD'S WORD® Translation The river crossings have been taken. The enemy has burned its marshes, and its soldiers are terrified. Good News Translation The enemy have captured the river crossing and have set the fortresses on fire. The Babylonian soldiers have panicked. International Standard Version The fords have been captured, and the marshes burned with fire. The soldiers are terrified. NET Bible They will report that the fords have been captured, the reed marshes have been burned, the soldiers are terrified. New Heart English Bible and the passages are seized, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are frightened. Webster's Bible Translation And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified.” World English Bible So the passages are seized. They have burned the reeds with fire. The men of war are frightened.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the passages have been captured, "" And they have burned the reeds with fire, "" And the men of war have been troubled. Berean Literal Bible the fords have been seized, and the marshes they have burned with fire, and the men of war are terrified.” Young's Literal Translation And the passages have been captured, And the reeds they have burnt with fire, And the men of war have been troubled. Smith's Literal Translation And the passages were taken, and they burnt the ropes in fire, and the men of war trembled. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd that the fords are taken, and the marshes are burnt with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. Catholic Public Domain Version and that the fords were seized in advance, and that the marshes have been burned with fire, and that the men of war have been set in disarray. New American Bible The fords have been seized, marshes set on fire, warriors panic. New Revised Standard Version the fords have been seized, the marshes have been burned with fire, and the soldiers are in panic. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd that the crossings are seized and the bastions are burned with fire and all the men of war are in confusion. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And its borders are seized and its fields burned in fire, and all her mighty warriors were alarmed OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the fords are seized, And the castles they have burned with fire, And the men of war are affrighted. Brenton Septuagint Translation At the end of his passages they were taken, and his cisterns they have burnt with fire, and his warriors are going forth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Babylon's Punishment…31One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end. 32The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified.” 33For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.”… Cross References The fords have been seized Judges 3:28 “Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and they did not allow anyone to cross over. Judges 7:24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah. Judges 12:5-6 The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,” / they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed. the marshes set on fire Isaiah 10:17-18 And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles. / The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man. Isaiah 9:18 For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets, which roll upward in billows of smoke. Psalm 118:12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were extinguished like burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. and the soldiers are terrified Jeremiah 46:5 Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD. Isaiah 13:7-8 Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear. Nahum 2:10 She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale! Revelation 18:2 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. Isaiah 13:19-22 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. / She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. … Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East. Isaiah 47:1-5 “Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate. / Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams. / Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” … Revelation 17:1-2 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” Isaiah 14:22-23 “I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will cut off from Babylon her name and her remnant, her offspring and her posterity,” declares the LORD. / “I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts. Revelation 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. Treasury of Scripture And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. the passages Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Isaiah 44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: the near Jeremiah 51:30 The 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. Jeremiah 50:37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. Jump to Previous Affrighted Bulwarks Burned Captured Castles Fear Fire Fords Frightened Grip Marshes Panic Passages Places Reeds River Seized Soldiers Stopped Terrified Troubled War Water-Holes WaysJump to Next Affrighted Bulwarks Burned Captured Castles Fear Fire Fords Frightened Grip Marshes Panic Passages Places Reeds River Seized Soldiers Stopped Terrified Troubled War Water-Holes WaysJeremiah 51 1. The severe judgment of God against Babylon, in revenge of Israel59. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates, 64. in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon The fords have been seized, Babylon’s river crossings and canal routes, vital to the city’s defenses, had fallen into enemy hands. The capture of these approaches exposed the city and marked the collapse of its military security. Jdg 3:28 So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan… the marshes set on fire, The wetlands surrounding Babylon, which had served as natural barriers, were destroyed in the assault. The invading Medo-Persian forces overcame Babylon’s defenses after the Euphrates was diverted, opening a path into the city. Isa 10:17-18 And the Light of Israel will become a fire,… and the soldiers are terrified.” Babylon’s troops panicked as its fortifications and defenses failed. The empire that appeared secure was brought down suddenly, exactly as the Lord had declared. Jer 46:5 Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating;… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahThe prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah and surrounding nations, including Babylon. 2. Babylon The powerful empire that is the subject of God's judgment in this chapter. It represents human pride and opposition to God. 3. The Fords Strategic crossing points over rivers, crucial for military and trade purposes. Their capture signifies a significant military advantage. 4. The Marshes Wetlands that could serve as natural defenses. Setting them on fire indicates a comprehensive and destructive attack. 5. The Soldiers Babylonian troops who are described as terrified, indicating the effectiveness of the attack and the fulfillment of God's judgment. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over NationsThis passage reminds us that no nation, regardless of its power, is beyond God's control. He can bring down empires in His timing. The Inevitability of God's Judgment Just as Babylon faced judgment, so will all who oppose God. This should encourage us to live righteously and align ourselves with God's will. The Futility of Human Pride Babylon's fall serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. We should seek humility and dependence on God. The Power of God's Word Jeremiah's prophecies were fulfilled, demonstrating the reliability and authority of God's Word. We should trust and obey Scripture. Finding Security in God While the soldiers were terrified, those who trust in God can find peace and security, even in times of turmoil. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 51:32?2. How does Jeremiah 51:32 illustrate God's judgment on Babylon's defenses? 3. What lessons can we learn about God's sovereignty from Jeremiah 51:32? 4. How does Jeremiah 51:32 connect with Revelation's depiction of Babylon's fall? 5. How can we apply the warning in Jeremiah 51:32 to modern spiritual life? 6. What does the phrase "the river crossings seized" signify in Jeremiah 51:32? 7. What historical events does Jeremiah 51:32 refer to in the context of Babylon's fall? 8. How does Jeremiah 51:32 demonstrate God's sovereignty over nations? 9. What is the significance of the "fords seized" in Jeremiah 51:32? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 51? (32) That the passages are stopped.--These were probably the ferries across the Euphrates, by which one part of the city was in communication with the other. These were at the ends of the streets that ran at right angles to the river, and gates--left open in the panic of surprise--led down to them. Besides these there was one bridge over the Euphrates in the middle and a tunnel under it (Herod. i. 186). The word is elsewhere used for fords, as in Genesis 32:22; Judges 3:28, but cannot have that meaning here, as the Euphrates was not fordable at Babylon. The reeds they have burned with fire.--The word for "reeds" is elsewhere (Isaiah 14:23; Isaiah 41:18; Exodus 7:19; Exodus 8:5) translated "pool." Here it probably refers to the great pool constructed by Nitocris as a reservoir or dock. This was probably left dry by the diversion of the river into another channel, and the reeds which grew in it, perhaps also the flood-gates of the canals, and the ships that were in dock, were burnt by the Persians. The very pools were the scene of a conflagration. . . . Verse 32. - And that the passages are stopped; rather, are seized (as Jeremiah 48:41). Babylon, it should be remembered, was divided nearly in half by the Euphrates. It was guarded, says Professor Rawlinson, "by two walls of brick, which skirted them along their whole length. In each of these walls were twenty-five gates, corresponding to the number of the streets which gave upon the river; and outside each gate was a sloped landing place, by which you could descend to the water's edge, if you had occasion to cross the river. Boats were kept ready at these landing places to convey passengers from side to side; while for those who disliked this method of conveyance, a bridge was provided of a somewhat peculiar construction" ('Ancient Monarchies,' 2:514). The reeds they have burned with fire. This rendering is no doubt tenable, though it gives an unusual meaning to the first noun. The "reeds" would be those of the marshes in the neighbourhood of Babylon; and Kimchi suggests that these would be cut down to facilitate the entrance of the army into the city, Surely a very forced explanation. The natural meaning of the first noun is "pools" or "lakes," and, considering that Herodotus (1:185) speaks of a lake in connection with the defences of Babylon, it has been thought (e.g. by Vitringa) that the prophet may refer to something which was to happen to this and similar lakes; "burned with fire" is then regarded as a hyperbolical expression equivalent to "dried up" (comp. ver. 36). This, however, is hardly less forced than the first interpretation; and we seem almost compelled to assume s corruption of the text, and to read (for 'agammin) 'armonim, palaces. If "palaces" (i.e. lofty houses, for such is the etymological meaning) were not uncommon at Jerusalem (Isaiah 32:14), much more frequent must they have been at Babylon, Or perhaps the prophet refers to the two magnificent royal palaces, which, together with the temple of Bel, constituted the wonders of Babylon. They were on opposite sides of the river, and were guarded with triple enclosures, the circumference in the one case amounting to sixty stadia (nearly seven miles), and in the other to thirty (Rawlinson, 'Ancient Monarchies,' 2:514, etc.). Jeremiah 51:32 piles image upon image to show Babylon’s total and irreversible defeat. God seizes the fords, flames the marshes, and drains every ounce of courage from her warriors—proof that when the LORD speaks, His word comes to pass with literal precision.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The fordsוְהַמַּעְבָּר֣וֹת (wə·ham·ma‘·bā·rō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 4569: A crossing-place, a transit, overwhelming have been seized, נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ (niṯ·pā·śū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably the marshes הָאֲגַמִּ֖ים (hā·’ă·ḡam·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 98: A marsh, a rush, a stockade of reeds set on fire, שָׂרְפ֣וּ (śā·rə·p̄ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8313: To be, on fire and the soldiers וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י (wə·’an·šê) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person are terrified.” נִבְהָֽלוּ׃ (niḇ·hā·lū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 926: To tremble inwardly, be, alarmed, agitated, to hasten anxiously Additonal Resources Jeremiah 51:32 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 51:32 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 51:32 Bible.com Jeremiah 51:32 NIV |
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