What is the meaning of Jeremiah 50:13? Because of the wrath of the LORD “Because of the wrath of the LORD…” opens the verse by placing God’s righteous anger at the center of Babylon’s fate. • Babylon’s pride, idolatry, and cruelty (Jeremiah 50:29; Isaiah 47:10–11) drew divine judgment. • God’s wrath is never capricious; it is the settled response of His holiness toward persistent sin, just as seen in Nahum 1:2 and Romans 1:18. • This reminds us that national power does not exempt anyone from accountability (Proverbs 14:34). she will not be inhabited “…she will not be inhabited…” foretells a literal depopulation. • Isaiah 13:20 echoes the same verdict over Babylon: “It will never again be inhabited…” • After the Medo-Persian conquest, the city began a long decline, and by the first century A.D. it was largely deserted—fulfilling the straightforward promise (Jeremiah 51:37). • The accuracy of this prophecy underscores the reliability of every word God speaks (Numbers 23:19). she will become completely desolate “…she will become completely desolate.” intensifies the picture. • “Completely” stresses total ruin, not partial decay (Jeremiah 51:29, 43). • Revelation 18:2 applies similar language to end-times Babylon, showing how historical judgment foreshadows a future, climactic fall. • God’s warnings are comprehensive; His outcomes match His words (Isaiah 55:11). All who pass through Babylon will be horrified “All who pass through Babylon will be horrified…” describes onlookers’ shock. • Deuteronomy 29:23 and Jeremiah 19:8 use similar phrasing for lands laid waste, showing a pattern of God’s dealings with unrepentant peoples. • The ruined city becomes a teaching tool: outsiders see firsthand the cost of defiance (Psalm 107:34). and will hiss at all her wounds “…and will hiss at all her wounds.” portrays scornful amazement. • To “hiss” or whistle is to express contempt (1 Kings 9:8; Lamentations 2:15-16). • Babylon’s “wounds” are self-inflicted: her sins opened her to God’s sword (Jeremiah 50:24). • The spectacle warns later generations that sin always scars, even mighty empires (Micah 6:16). summary Jeremiah 50:13 delivers a straightforward prophecy: God’s holiness demands judgment, Babylon’s arrogance invites it, and the resulting devastation becomes a lesson to every passerby. History verified the literal fulfillment, and future prophecy points to an ultimate repetition. The verse calls believers to trust God’s Word, flee pride, and live in humble obedience, knowing He alone raises kingdoms and brings them low. |
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