King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 51:64 Mean?

Jeremiah 51:64 in the King James Version says “And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 51 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 51:64 · KJV


Context

62

Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. desolate: Heb. desolations

63

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:

64

And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her (וְאָמַרְתָּ כָּכָה תִּשְׁקַע בָּבֶל וְלֹא־תָקוּם מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מֵבִיא עָלֶיהָ, v'amarta kakhah tishqa Bavel v'lo-taqum mippnei hara'ah asher anokhi mevi aleha)—The interpretive key: 'Thus shall Babylon sink.' The scroll's sinking illustrates the empire's sinking. Shaq'a (sink) suggests drowning, being overwhelmed. The negation 'shall not rise' indicates no recovery, no resurrection. The ra'ah (evil/calamity) comes from God personally (anokhi, emphatic 'I').

And they shall be weary (וְיָעֵפוּ, v'yaefu)—Babylon's defenders will be exhausted, unable to resist. This word closes the oracle section. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah (עַד־הֵנָּה דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ, ad-hennah divrei Yirmeyahu)—Colophon marking the end of Jeremiah's prophetic oracles proper. Chapter 52 (historical appendix) follows, but the prophetic word concludes here—appropriately, with Babylon's sinking. From Genesis 11's Babel to Jeremiah 51's Babylon to Revelation 18's eschatological Babylon, the arc of judgment on human pride and autonomy is complete. Christ alone rises from death; all other kingdoms sink.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This colophon indicates chapter 52 was added later as historical verification. Jeremiah's oracles concluded with Babylon's doom—everything after is denouement. The scroll's sinking in Euphrates occurred around 593 BC; Babylon's fall came 539 BC—54 years later. Faith sustained God's people through the waiting.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Babylon's 'sinking' and inability to 'rise' reveal about the finality of God's judgments on rebellious powers?
  2. How does the colophon ('Thus far are the words of Jeremiah') function literarily and theologically?
  3. In what ways does Babylon's fall from Genesis 11 to Revelation 18 frame the biblical narrative of human rebellion and divine justice?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗1 of 17

And thou shalt say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כָּ֠כָה2 of 17
H3602

just so, referring to the previous or following context

תִּשְׁקַ֨ע3 of 17

sink

H8257

to subside; by implication, to be overflowed, cease; causatively, to abate, subdue

בָּבֶ֤ל4 of 17

Thus shall Babylon

H894

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

וְלֹֽא5 of 17
H3808

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

תָקוּם֙6 of 17

and shall not rise

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

מִפְּנֵ֣י7 of 17

from

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הָרָעָ֗ה8 of 17

the evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

אֲשֶׁ֧ר9 of 17
H834

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

אָנֹכִ֛י10 of 17
H595

i

מֵבִ֥יא11 of 17

that I will bring

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עָלֶ֖יהָ12 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וְיָעֵ֑פוּ13 of 17

upon her and they shall be weary

H3286

to tire (as if from wearisome flight)

עַד14 of 17
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

הֵ֖נָּה15 of 17
H2008

hither or thither (but used both of place and time)

דִּבְרֵ֥י16 of 17

Thus far are the words

H1697

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

יִרְמְיָֽהוּ׃17 of 17

of Jeremiah

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites


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 51:64 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 51:64 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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