King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:38 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:38 in the King James Version says “They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. yell: or, shake themselves” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. yell: or, shake themselves”

Jeremiah 51:38 · KJV

Context

36

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

37

And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

38

They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. yell: or, shake themselves

39

In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.

40

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. This verse shifts imagery from Babylon's desolation (v. 37) to the behavior of Babylonians before judgment falls. The lion imagery has dual significance: it depicts Babylon's former strength and ferocity, but contextually suggests futile defiance or drunken revelry before sudden destruction. Roar together translates yakhad yiš'agu ka-kephirim (יַחְדָּו יִשְׁאֲגוּ כַּכְּפִרִים)—ša'ag denotes the roar of a lion, expressing power, confidence, or aggression. Kephirim refers to young lions in their prime strength.

They shall yell as lions' whelps uses na'aru (נָעֲרוּ, yell/growl/shake) and gure arayot (גּוּרֵי אֲרָיוֹת, lion cubs/whelps). The parallel structure suggests both adult lions and cubs roaring—comprehensive ferocity or collective noise. However, the following verse (39) indicates this 'roaring' occurs during drunken feasting, suggesting the sound represents prideful celebration rather than genuine strength. Lions often symbolize Babylon in Scripture (Jeremiah 4:7, 50:17, Daniel 7:4), but here the imagery is ironic: their roaring ends in drunken stupor and death (v. 39).

This connects to Daniel 5, where Belshazzar's feast featured drunken revelry ('roaring') immediately before Babylon's conquest. Their 'lion-like' roaring became the death rattle of a doomed empire. True strength belongs to the 'Lion of Judah' (Revelation 5:5), not earthly empires.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical accounts of Babylon's fall (539 BC) confirm that the city was celebrating a religious festival when Cyrus's forces entered. Herodotus and other sources describe drinking and revelry, making the military unprepared for attack. Daniel 5 provides biblical narrative of Belshazzar's feast—drunken celebration using sacred vessels from Jerusalem's temple, immediately before the handwriting on the wall announced judgment. The 'roaring like lions' captures Babylon's self-confident pride even as judgment approached. The lion was Babylon's symbol—depicted on the Ishtar Gate and in iconography. But their roar could not prevent God's appointed judgment. The irony is profound: they roared like lions but were slaughtered like lambs (v. 40). This fulfills the pattern throughout Scripture that pride precedes destruction and God humbles the arrogant (Isaiah 2:12, 1 Peter 5:5-6).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the irony of Babylon 'roaring like lions' while facing imminent judgment illustrate the blindness of pride?
  2. What does the connection between this verse and Daniel 5's feast teach about the danger of self-confident celebration when God's judgment is near?
  3. In what ways might individuals or nations today 'roar like lions' in proud defiance while standing under divine judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 6 words
יַחְדָּ֖ו1 of 6

“together”

H3162

properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly

כַּכְּפִרִ֣ים2 of 6

“like lions”

H3715

a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane)

יִשְׁאָ֑גוּ3 of 6

“They shall roar”

H7580

to rumble or moan

נָעֲר֖וּ4 of 6

“they shall yell”

H5286

to growl

כְּגוֹרֵ֥י5 of 6

“whelps”

H1484

a cub (as still abiding in the lair), especially of the lion

אֲרָיֽוֹת׃6 of 6

“as lions”

H738

a lion

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 51:38 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 51:38 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 2:15Isaiah 35:9Judges 16:20Psalms 34:10Nahum 2:11-13Job 4:10-11

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