King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:59 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:59 in the King James Version says “The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Jeremiah 51:59 · KJV


Context

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.

61

And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah (הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֶת־שְׂרָיָה בֶן־נֵרִיָּה, haddavar asher-tsivvah Yirmeyahu hannavi et-Serayah ben-Neriyyah)—Jeremiah commissions Seraiah, brother of Baruch (Jeremiah's scribe, 32:12). This was a prophetic symbolic act. When he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign (בְּלֶכְתּוֹ אֶת־צִדְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה בָבֶלָה בִּשְׁנַת הָרְבִעִית לְמָלְכוֹ, b'lekhto et-Tzidqiyyahu melekh-Y'hudah Bavelah bish'nat harevi'it l'malkho)—594/593 BC: Zedekiah traveled to Babylon, likely to reaffirm vassalage and quell Nebuchadnezzar's suspicions.

And this Seraiah was a quiet prince (וּשְׂרָיָה שַׂר מְנוּחָה, uS'rayah sar m'nuchah)—Either 'prince of rest' (a title, perhaps quartermaster) or 'a quiet/peaceable official.' Seraiah's character enabled him to carry this subversive prophetic message into Babylon itself without arousing suspicion. God uses diverse personalities for diverse missions.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Zedekiah's trip to Babylon (594 BC) was a loyalty visit during his early reign, before his later rebellion that triggered Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC). Seraiah's participation shows Jeremiah's prophetic network extended even to royal delegations. This daring symbolic act occurred in Babylon's zenith—audacious faith.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why would God have Jeremiah send a prophecy of Babylon's doom into Babylon itself during Babylon's peak power?
  2. What does Seraiah's character (quiet, peaceable) teach about the diverse ways God uses His servants?
  3. How does this symbolic act demonstrate faith—performing an apparently futile gesture trusting God to vindicate it?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
הַדָּבָ֞ר1 of 23

The word

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲשֶׁר2 of 23
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

צִוָּ֣ה׀3 of 23

commanded

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ4 of 23

which Jeremiah

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

הַנָּבִ֗יא5 of 23

the prophet

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

אֶת6 of 23
H853

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

וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה7 of 23

And this Seraiah

H8304

serajah, the name of nine israelites

בֶּן8 of 23

the son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

נֵרִיָּה֮9 of 23

of Neriah

H5374

nerijah, an israelite

בֶּן10 of 23

the son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

מַחְסֵיָה֒11 of 23

of Maaseiah

H4271

machsejah, an israelite

בְּלֶכְתּ֞וֹ12 of 23
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

אֶת13 of 23
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

צִדְקִיָּ֤הוּ14 of 23

with Zedekiah

H6667

tsidkijah, the name of six israelites

מֶֽלֶךְ15 of 23

the king

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָה֙16 of 23

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

בָּבֶ֔ל17 of 23

into Babylon

H894

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

בִּשְׁנַ֥ת18 of 23

year

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הָרְבִעִ֖ית19 of 23

in the fourth

H7243

fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth

לְמָלְכ֑וֹ20 of 23

of his reign

H4427

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה21 of 23

And this Seraiah

H8304

serajah, the name of nine israelites

שַׂ֥ר22 of 23

prince

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

מְנוּחָֽה׃23 of 23

was a quiet

H4496

repose or (adverbially) peacefully; figuratively, consolation (specifically, matrimony); hence (concretely) an abode


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 51:59 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 51:59 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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