King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:57 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:57 in the King James Version says “And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sl...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Jeremiah 51:57 · KJV

Context

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.

58

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary. The broad: or, The walls of broad Babylon broken: or, made naked

59

The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince. with: or, on the behalf of quiet: or, prince of Menucha, or, chief chamberlain

Read Jeremiah 51 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men (וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּי שָׂרֶיהָ וַחֲכָמֶיהָ פַּחוֹתֶיהָ וּסְגָנֶיהָ וְגִבּוֹרֶיהָ, v'hishkarti sareha vachamameha pachoteha us'ganeha v'gibboreha)—God will intoxicate Babylon's entire leadership: princes, sages, governors, officials, warriors. The verb shakar (make drunk) suggests stupor, inability to function. This recalls Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5:1-4)—literal drunkenness accompanied spiritual blindness.

And they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake (וְיָשְׁנוּ שְׁנַת עוֹלָם וְלֹא יָקִיצוּ, v'yash'nu sh'nat olam v'lo yaqitsu)—Death described as eternal sleep from which there's no waking. This isn't soul-sleep doctrine but poetic description of permanent mortality. Saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts (נְאֻם־הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ, n'um-haMelekh YHWH Tseva'ot sh'mo)—The divine King, commander of heavenly armies, decrees this. Earthly king (Belshazzar) sleeps eternally; heavenly King reigns forever.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Belshazzar was killed the night Babylon fell (Daniel 5:30). Nabonidus disappeared from history. Babylon's ruling class was replaced by Persian administration. The 'perpetual sleep' was both literal (death) and metaphorical (permanent end of their dynasty and power).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the 'drunkenness' metaphor capture both literal folly (Belshazzar's feast) and spiritual blindness?
  2. What does 'perpetual sleep' teach about the finality of death and judgment for those outside God's covenant?
  3. Why does God emphasize His title 'the King' and 'LORD of hosts' in context of deposing human kings?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וְ֠הִשְׁכַּרְתִּי1 of 16

“And I will make drunk”

H7937

to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with a stimulating drink or (figuratively) influence

שָׂרֶ֨יהָ2 of 16

“her princes”

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

וַחֲכָמֶ֜יהָ3 of 16

“and her wise”

H2450

wise, (i.e., intelligent, skilful or artful)

פַּחוֹתֶ֤יהָ4 of 16

“men her captains”

H6346

a prefect (of a city or small district)

וּסְגָנֶ֙יהָ֙5 of 16

“and her rulers”

H5461

a prfect of a province

וְגִבּוֹרֶ֔יהָ6 of 16

“and her mighty men”

H1368

powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant

וְיָשְׁנ֥וּ7 of 16

“and they shall sleep”

H3462

properly, to be slack or languid, i.e., (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die); also to grow old, stale or inveterate

שְׁנַת8 of 16

“sleep”

H8142

sleep

עוֹלָ֖ם9 of 16

“a perpetual”

H5769

properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

וְלֹ֣א10 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָקִ֑יצוּ11 of 16

“and not wake”

H6974

to awake (literally or figuratively)

נְאֻ֨ם12 of 16

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ13 of 16

“the King”

H4428

a king

יְהוָ֥ה14 of 16

“is the LORD”

H3068

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

צְבָא֖וֹת15 of 16

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

שְׁמֽוֹ׃16 of 16

“whose name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

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 51:57 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 51:57 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 46:18Jeremiah 48:15Jeremiah 25:27Jeremiah 51:39Psalms 76:5-6Revelation 18:9

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