King James Version
What Does Jeremiah 51:42 Mean?
“The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.”
Jeremiah 51:42 · KJV
Context
40
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
41
How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
42
The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
43
Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.
44
And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryThe sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. This prophecy employs vivid oceanic imagery to depict Babylon's overwhelming destruction. The Hebrew yam (יָם, sea) typically refers to literal seas, but here functions metaphorically for invading armies—a common biblical image for foreign military forces (Isaiah 8:7-8, Daniel 11:40). The multitude of the waves translates hamon galav (הֲמוֹן גַּלָּיו), literally "the roar of its waves," emphasizing both number and violence.
This imagery reverses Babylon's position: the empire that overwhelmed nations like flood waters (Jeremiah 51:55) now experiences the same fate. The Medo-Persian conquest under Cyrus (539 BC) fulfilled this literally—Cyrus diverted the Euphrates River and entered Babylon through the riverbed, using water against the city. The sea "coming up" suggests divine intervention, recalling how God used seas for judgment (Noah's flood, Red Sea against Egypt). Revelation 17-18 applies Babylon imagery to the final destruction of God's enemies, showing this prophecy's eschatological significance. The "sea" ultimately represents all hostile powers God will judge.
This imagery reverses Babylon's position: the empire that overwhelmed nations like flood waters (Jeremiah 51:55) now experiences the same fate. The Medo-Persian conquest under Cyrus (539 BC) fulfilled this literally—Cyrus diverted the Euphrates River and entered Babylon through the riverbed, using water against the city. The sea "coming up" suggests divine intervention, recalling how God used seas for judgment (Noah's flood, Red Sea against Egypt). Revelation 17-18 applies Babylon imagery to the final destruction of God's enemies, showing this prophecy's eschatological significance. The "sea" ultimately represents all hostile powers God will judge.
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Historical & Cultural Context
Written around 594-570 BC, this oracle predicts Babylon's downfall with remarkable accuracy. At the time, Babylon was the world's dominant superpower, having conquered Assyria, Egypt, and Judah. The prophecy seemed impossible—how could such power be overwhelmed? Yet in 539 BC, the Medo-Persian army under Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in a single night (Daniel 5). The strategic diversion of the Euphrates River allowed troops to enter through the riverbed, giving literal fulfillment to the "sea" imagery. Isaiah prophesied the same event 150 years earlier (Isaiah 44:27-28, 45:1-3), naming Cyrus specifically. This demonstrates God's sovereign control over history and His ability to judge even the mightiest empires.
Reflection Questions
- How does God's judgment of Babylon demonstrate His sovereignty over all earthly powers, no matter how dominant they appear?
- What does the reversal of Babylon being overwhelmed by 'waves' (as it had overwhelmed others) teach about divine justice?
- How should Revelation's application of 'Babylon' imagery to the end times shape our understanding of this prophecy's ultimate fulfillment?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 7 wordsעָלָ֥ה1 of 7
“is come up”
H5927to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
עַל2 of 7
H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַיָּ֑ם4 of 7
“The sea”
H3220a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
גַּלָּ֖יו6 of 7
“of the waves”
H1530something rolled, i.e., a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)
נִכְסָֽתָה׃7 of 7
“she is covered”
H3680properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
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 51:42 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 51:42 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge