King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 50:10 Mean?

Jeremiah 50:10 in the King James Version says “And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 50 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah 50:10 · KJV

Context

8

Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

9

For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man ; none shall return in vain. expert: or, destroyer

10

And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.

11

Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass , and bellow as bulls; fat: Heb. big, or, corpulent bellow: or, neigh as steeds

12

Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Chaldea shall be a spoil—Chaldea (כַּשְׂדִּים, Kasdim) refers to southern Mesopotamia, Babylon's heartland. The term 'spoil' (meshissah, מְשִׁסָּה, plunder, booty) indicates comprehensive looting. What Babylon did to other nations (Jeremiah 50:17, 51:34) will be done to them—the law of retaliation (lex talionis) applied on a national scale.

All that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD—the verb sava' (שָׂבַע, satisfied, sated) suggests abundance beyond expectation. Conquerors will find such wealth that even their greed will be satisfied. Historically, Babylon's accumulated plunder from decades of conquest made it unimaginably wealthy. Herodotus (Histories 1.178-183) describes Babylon's golden statues, gates, and treasures. When Cyrus conquered it, the spoils enriched the Persian Empire for generations. The Cyrus Cylinder boasts of treasures taken.

The phrase 'saith the LORD' (ne'um-YHWH, נְאֻם־יְהוָה) is prophetic authentication—this isn't Jeremiah's speculation but divine decree. The irony is profound: Babylon, which gorged itself on plundered nations, becomes the ultimate feast for its conquerors. This principle of retributive justice echoes throughout Scripture (Obadiah 15: 'as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee').

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Historical & Cultural Context

Babylon's wealth was legendary. It controlled trade routes, extracted tribute from conquered territories, and systematically looted nations including Judah (2 Kings 24:13, 25:13-17). The temple treasures of Jerusalem, Egypt, and other nations filled Babylonian storehouses. When Cyrus conquered Babylon, he gained control of this accumulated wealth, funding his vast empire. The book of Ezra records Cyrus returning Jewish temple vessels (Ezra 1:7-11), but Persian records show he kept the vast majority. Archaeological finds include Babylonian treasures dispersed throughout the Persian Empire. The 'satisfaction' of plunderers was literal—there was more wealth than even greedy conquerors could exhaust. This fulfilled the prophetic principle that oppressors eventually face the same treatment they inflicted (Revelation 18:6: 'Reward her even as she rewarded you').

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the principle of 'measure for measure' judgment (what you do to others will be done to you) manifest in this verse?
  2. What does the 'satisfaction' of Babylon's plunderers teach about the thoroughness of God's justice?
  3. How should the certainty of divine retribution affect how nations and individuals treat others today?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
וְהָיְתָ֥ה1 of 8
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כַשְׂדִּ֖ים2 of 8

“And Chaldea”

H3778

a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people

לְשָׁלָ֑ל3 of 8

“shall be a spoil”

H7998

booty

כָּל4 of 8
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

שֹׁלְלֶ֥יהָ5 of 8

“all that spoil”

H7997

to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder

יִשְׂבָּ֖עוּ6 of 8

“her shall be satisfied”

H7646

to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)

נְאֻם7 of 8

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃8 of 8

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 50:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 50:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 25:12Jeremiah 27:7Isaiah 45:3Revelation 17:16Isaiah 33:4Isaiah 33:23

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
ChaldeaRegion · Modern: Tell el Muqayyar · 30.96°N, 46.10°E85 verses across 11 books
View all places in Jeremiah 50 →

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