King James Version
What Does Jeremiah 51:29 Mean?
“And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.”
Jeremiah 51:29 · KJV
Context
27
Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.
28
Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.
29
And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.
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.
31
One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryAnd the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant—The Hebrew verbs "tremble" (ra'ash, רָעַשׁ) and "sorrow" (chul, חוּל) create vivid imagery: the land itself convulses in birth pangs or earthquake tremors as God's judgment arrives. This personification appears throughout prophetic literature (Isaiah 24:19-20; Nahum 1:5), emphasizing that divine judgment affects all creation, not just human inhabitants.
The phrase "every purpose of the LORD shall be performed" (kol-machashebet YHWH, כָּל־מַחֲשֶׁבֶת יְהוָה) uses machashebet (plans/purposes), the same word for human scheming. God's purposes are infinitely superior to human plans; Isaiah 46:10 declares, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." What God purposes inevitably comes to pass—unlike human schemes that fail (Psalm 33:10-11).
"Without an inhabitant" (me'en yoshev, מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב) echoes the curse formula throughout Jeremiah 46-51. While literal depopulation didn't occur immediately, Babylon's gradual abandonment over centuries fulfilled this prophecy. Theologically, this demonstrates that God's prophetic purposes operate on His timeline, not ours—delay doesn't equal failure.
The phrase "every purpose of the LORD shall be performed" (kol-machashebet YHWH, כָּל־מַחֲשֶׁבֶת יְהוָה) uses machashebet (plans/purposes), the same word for human scheming. God's purposes are infinitely superior to human plans; Isaiah 46:10 declares, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." What God purposes inevitably comes to pass—unlike human schemes that fail (Psalm 33:10-11).
"Without an inhabitant" (me'en yoshev, מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב) echoes the curse formula throughout Jeremiah 46-51. While literal depopulation didn't occur immediately, Babylon's gradual abandonment over centuries fulfilled this prophecy. Theologically, this demonstrates that God's prophetic purposes operate on His timeline, not ours—delay doesn't equal failure.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
The Babylonian Chronicle records that Babylon fell to Cyrus with minimal military resistance—the city didn't experience earthquake or violent convulsion during the actual conquest. The "trembling" is therefore prophetic-poetic language describing the shock and terror of sudden imperial collapse. Herodotus and Xenophon describe the surprise when Persian forces entered Babylon during a feast.
The gradual depopulation fulfilled "without an inhabitant" over centuries. After Persian conquest (539 BCE), revolts under Darius (522 BCE) and Xerxes (482 BCE) led to partial destruction and population decline. Seleucus I founded Seleucia on the Tigris (305 BCE), drawing away inhabitants. By Strabo's time (first century BCE/CE), Babylon was mostly deserted. Modern archaeological surveys show minimal occupation after the Parthian period. The prophecy's fulfillment wasn't instantaneous but inexorable—God's purposes performed over centuries.
The gradual depopulation fulfilled "without an inhabitant" over centuries. After Persian conquest (539 BCE), revolts under Darius (522 BCE) and Xerxes (482 BCE) led to partial destruction and population decline. Seleucus I founded Seleucia on the Tigris (305 BCE), drawing away inhabitants. By Strabo's time (first century BCE/CE), Babylon was mostly deserted. Modern archaeological surveys show minimal occupation after the Parthian period. The prophecy's fulfillment wasn't instantaneous but inexorable—God's purposes performed over centuries.
Reflection Questions
- How does creation's response to judgment (trembling, sorrow) reveal that sin's consequences extend beyond humanity?
- What comfort comes from knowing that 'every purpose of the LORD shall be performed' despite apparent delays?
- How should believers respond when God's prophetic timeline doesn't match human expectations?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 16 wordsוַתִּרְעַ֥שׁ1 of 16
“shall tremble”
H7493to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifically, to spring (as a locust)
וַתָּחֹ֑ל3 of 16
“and sorrow”
H2342properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e., (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; fi
כִּ֣י4 of 16
H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
קָ֤מָה5 of 16
“shall be performed”
H6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עַל6 of 16
H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בָּבֶ֛ל7 of 16
“against Babylon”
H894babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת8 of 16
“for every purpose”
H4284a contrivance, i.e., (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)
יְהוָ֔ה9 of 16
“of the LORD”
H3068(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לָשׂ֞וּם10 of 16
“to make”
H7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֶת11 of 16
H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בָּבֶ֛ל13 of 16
“against Babylon”
H894babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
יוֹשֵֽׁב׃16 of 16
“without an inhabitant”
H3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
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 51:29 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 51:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge