King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:55 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:55 in the King James Version says “Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great water...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:”

Jeremiah 51:55 · King James Version

Context

53

Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.

54

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

55

Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:

56

Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.

57

And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

Read Jeremiah 51 full chapter

Commentaries4 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon (כִּי־שֹׁדֵד יְהוָה אֶת־בָּבֶל, ki-shoded YHWH et-Bavel)—Active divine agency: God is the Spoiler. Babylon, archetypal plunderer of nations, is herself plundered by Yahweh personally. And destroyed out of her the great voice (וְאִבַּד מִמֶּנָּה קוֹל גָּדוֹל, v'ibbed mimmenah qol gadol)—The 'great voice' of Babylon (imperial edicts, temple chants, marketplace bustle, military commands) falls silent. Abad (destroy/perish) is total cessation.

When her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered (וְהָמוּ גַלֵּיהֶם כְּמַיִם רַבִּים נִתַּן שְׁאוֹן קוֹלָם, v'hamu galeihem k'mayim rabbim nittan sh'on qolam)—The metaphor shifts: Babylon's 'waves' (armies? populace?) roar like floodwaters, but this roar is death-throe, not triumph. The cacophony of collapse replaces the hum of civilization. Just as God drowned Pharaoh's army in waters (Exodus 15), He drowns Babylon in chaos. The sea-imagery suggests primordial uncreation—Babylon returns to tohu vavohu (Genesis 1:2).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Babylon's 'voice'—Marduk's cult, royal decrees, commercial activity—did cease. The vibrant city became backwater, then ruins. The 'roaring waves' may reference panic during conquest, or metaphorically, the overwhelming chaos that consumed Babylon's order. Either way, the 'great voice' was indeed silenced.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the silencing of Babylon's 'great voice' teach about the temporal nature of earthly power and culture?
  2. How does the water/flood imagery connect Babylon's judgment to other biblical judgments (Flood, Red Sea)?
  3. In what ways does civilization's collapse represent a kind of 'uncreation' under divine curse?

Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
כִּֽי1 of 16
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

שֹׁדֵ֤ד2 of 16

“hath spoiled”

H7703

properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage

יְהוָה֙3 of 16

“Because the LORD”

H3068

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

אֶת4 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בָּבֶ֔ל5 of 16

“Babylon”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְאִבַּ֥ד6 of 16

“and destroyed”

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

מִמֶּ֖נָּה7 of 16
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

קוֹלָֽם׃8 of 16

“of their voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

גָּד֑וֹל9 of 16

“out of her the great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

וְהָמ֤וּ10 of 16

“do roar”

H1993

to make a loud sound (like english 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor

גַלֵּיהֶם֙11 of 16

“when her waves”

H1530

something rolled, i.e., a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)

כְּמַ֣יִם12 of 16

“waters”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

רַבִּ֔ים13 of 16

“like great”

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

נִתַּ֥ן14 of 16

“is uttered”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

שְׁא֖וֹן15 of 16

“a noise”

H7588

uproar (as of rushing); by implication, destruction

קוֹלָֽם׃16 of 16

“of their voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

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 51:55 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 51:55 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 25:10Jeremiah 50:10-15Jeremiah 51:42Isaiah 15:1Luke 21:25Psalms 18:4

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
View all places in Jeremiah 51 →

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