King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:58 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:58 in the King James Version says “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned wit... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Jeremiah 51:58 · KJV


Context

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

60

So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken (חֹמוֹת בָּבֶל הָרְחָבָה עָרֹה תִתְעָרְעַר, chomot Bavel har'chavah aroh tit'ar'ar)—Babylon's rechavah (broad/wide) walls will be utterly demolished (aroh tit'ar'ar, intensive doubling). Archaeology confirms Babylon's walls were massive. Yet God decrees total razing. And her high gates shall be burned with fire (וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ הַגְּבֹהִים בָּאֵשׁ יִצַּתּוּ, ush'areha hag'vohim ba'esh yitsattu)—The lofty gates (like the Ishtar Gate) will be fire-consumed.

And the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary (וְיִגְעוּ עַמִּים בְּדֵי־רִיק וּלְאֻמִּים בְּדֵי־אֵשׁ וְיָעֵפוּ, v'yig'u ammim b'dei-riq ul'ummim b'dei-esh v'yaefu)—Nations labored to build Babylon's grandeur; but they toiled b'dei-riq (for emptiness/vanity) and b'dei-esh (for fire). Their constructions become fuel for flames. This echoes Habakkuk 2:13: 'the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity.' All human glory apart from God ends in ashes.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Xerxes I (484 BC) demolished significant portions of Babylon's walls after suppressing revolt. Later, Alexander the Great planned to rebuild but died before accomplishing it. Seleucus I built Seleucia nearby, drawing Babylon's population away. The walls' stones were quarried for other projects—literally toiling 'for fire' (destruction).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the demolition of Babylon's walls teach about the futility of human achievements built apart from God?
  2. How does 'laboring in vain' and 'for fire' apply to modern pursuits of wealth, fame, and cultural legacy?
  3. In what ways should Christians evaluate their own labor to ensure it's not 'for fire' but for God's glory?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
כֹּֽה1 of 21
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֞ר2 of 21

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֣ה3 of 21

the LORD

H3068

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

צְבָא֗וֹת4 of 21

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

חֹ֠מוֹת5 of 21

walls

H2346

a wall of protection

בָּבֶ֤ל6 of 21

of Babylon

H894

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

הָֽרְחָבָה֙7 of 21

The broad

H7342

roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or figuratively

תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר8 of 21

broken

H6209

to bare; figuratively, to demolish

תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר9 of 21

broken

H6209

to bare; figuratively, to demolish

וּשְׁעָרֶ֥יהָ10 of 21

gates

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

הַגְּבֹהִ֖ים11 of 21

and her high

H1364

elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant

אֵ֖שׁ12 of 21

the fire

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

יִצַּ֑תּוּ13 of 21

shall be burned

H3341

to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate

וְיִֽגְע֨וּ14 of 21

shall labour

H3021

properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil

עַמִּ֧ים15 of 21

and the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

בְּדֵי16 of 21

in

H1767

enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases

רִ֛יק17 of 21

in vain

H7385

emptiness; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain

וּלְאֻמִּ֥ים18 of 21

and the folk

H3816

a community

בְּדֵי19 of 21

in

H1767

enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases

אֵ֖שׁ20 of 21

the fire

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

וְיָעֵֽפוּ׃21 of 21

and they shall be weary

H3286

to tire (as if from wearisome flight)


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 51:58 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 51:58 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study