Jeremiah 50:23
Jeremiah 50:23 in Multiple Translations
How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
How is the hammer of all the earth cut in two and broken! how has Babylon become a waste among the nations!
See how the hammer of the whole earth is lying broken in pieces in the ground! The nations look with horror on what Babylon has become!
Howe is the hammer of the whole world destroied, and broken! howe is Babel become desolate among the nations!
How hath it been cut and broken, The hammer of the whole earth! How hath Babylon been for a desolation among nations!
How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
How is the hammer of the whole earth broken, and destroyed! how is Babylon turned into a desert among the nations!
The army of Babylon is like [MET] the most powerful hammer on the earth, but it will be completely shattered. Babylon will be deserted among the other nations.’
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 50:23
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 50:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֵ֤יךְ
נִגְדַּע֙
וַ/יִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר
פַּטִּ֖ישׁ
כָּל
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
אֵ֣יךְ
הָיְתָ֧ה
לְ/שַׁמָּ֛ה
בָּבֶ֖ל
בַּ/גּוֹיִֽם
אֵ֤יךְ
ʼêyk
H349
how?
Part
נִגְדַּע֙
gâdaʻ
H1438
to cut down/off
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms
וַ/יִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר
shâbar
H7665
to break
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3ms
פַּטִּ֖ישׁ
paṭṭîysh
H6360
hammer
N-ms
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
אֵ֣יךְ
ʼêyk
H349
how?
Part
הָיְתָ֧ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
לְ/שַׁמָּ֛ה
shammâh
H8047
horror
Prep | N-fs
בָּבֶ֖ל
Bâbel
H894
Babylon
N-proper
בַּ/גּוֹיִֽם
gôwy
H1471
Gentile
Prep | N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 50:23
אֵ֤יךְ
ʼêyk
H349
"how?"
Part
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Definition: interrog adv how?
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: how, what. See also: Genesis 26:9; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Psalms 11:1.
נִגְדַּע֙
gâdaʻ
H1438
"to cut down/off"
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to cut down or destroy something, like a tree. It is used in various forms throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to cut, hew, chop, cut down, hew down, hew off, cut off, cut in two, shave off 1a) (Qal) to hew, chop in two 1b) (Niphal) to be chopped off, be hewn off 1c) (Piel) to cut off or down in two, hew off or down in two 1d) (Pual) to chop down, hew down
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: cut (asunder, in sunder, down, off), hew down. See also: Deuteronomy 7:5; Isaiah 10:33; Psalms 75:11.
וַ/יִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר
shâbar
H7665
"to break"
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This word means to break or shatter something, either physically or emotionally. It can also mean to burst or rupture, and is often used to describe intense violence or destruction. In the Bible, it's translated as break or crush.
Definition: 1) to break, break in pieces 1a) (Qal) 1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench 1a2) to break, rupture (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked 1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig) 1c) (Piel) to shatter, break 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth 1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406)
Usage: Occurs in 143 OT verses. KJV: break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for H7663 (שָׂבַר)). See also: Genesis 19:9; Isaiah 27:11; Psalms 3:8.
פַּטִּ֖ישׁ
paṭṭîysh
H6360
"hammer"
N-ms
A hammer is a tool used for shaping or breaking things, like a blacksmith uses to forge metal. It appears in the Bible as a simple hammer. The Israelites used hammers to build the tabernacle.
Definition: forge hammer, hammer
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: hammer. See also: Isaiah 41:7; Jeremiah 23:29; Jeremiah 50:23.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הָ/אָ֑רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
אֵ֣יךְ
ʼêyk
H349
"how?"
Part
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Definition: interrog adv how?
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: how, what. See also: Genesis 26:9; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Psalms 11:1.
הָיְתָ֧ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/שַׁמָּ֛ה
shammâh
H8047
"horror"
Prep | N-fs
Shammâh refers to a state of horror or ruin, often describing a waste or desolate land. It can also mean consternation or appalment, and is used in the Bible to describe the aftermath of war or disaster.
Definition: : destroyed/waste 1) waste, horror, appalment 1a) a waste (of land, city, etc) 1b) appalment, horror Also means: sham.mah (שַׁמָּה ": appalled" H8047H)
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: astonishment, desolate(-ion), waste, wonderful thing. See also: Deuteronomy 28:37; Jeremiah 29:18; Psalms 46:9.
בָּבֶ֖ל
Bâbel
H894
"Babylon"
N-proper
Babel refers to Babylon, a city and empire in the Bible, meaning confusion or mixing. It appears in Genesis 11:9 and is associated with the tower of Babel. The city was situated on the Euphrates River.
Definition: § Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)" Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
Usage: Occurs in 233 OT verses. KJV: Babel, Babylon. See also: Genesis 10:10; Jeremiah 29:22; Psalms 87:4.
בַּ/גּוֹיִֽם
gôwy
H1471
"Gentile"
Prep | N-mp
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Definition: 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) 1c) Goyim? = "nations" Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people. See also: Genesis 10:5; Judges 4:16; Psalms 2:1.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 50:23
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 50:23 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 50:23
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 50:23
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 50:23
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 50:23
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
- Sermons on Jeremiah 50:23
Context — The Destruction of Babylon
21Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,” declares the LORD.
22“The noise of battle is in the land— the noise of great destruction.
23How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
24I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD. 25The LORD has opened His armory and brought out His weapons of wrath, for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 51:20–24 | “You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock; with you I shatter the farmer and his oxen; with you I shatter the governors and officials. Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD. |
| 2 | Isaiah 14:4–6 | you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended! The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers. It struck the peoples in anger with unceasing blows; it subdued the nations in rage with relentless persecution. |
| 3 | Revelation 18:16 | saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! |
| 4 | Isaiah 14:12–17 | How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will stare; they will ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made the kingdoms tremble, who turned the world into a desert and destroyed its cities, who refused to let the captives return to their homes?” |
Jeremiah 50:23 Summary
[Jeremiah 50:23 is saying that Babylon, which was once a very powerful nation, has been broken and is now a horror to other countries. This is because of its sin and rebellion against God, as described in Jeremiah 50:24. Just like a hammer that is broken and can't be used, Babylon's power has been shattered by God's judgment (Psalm 75:7). We can learn from this that God is in control and will judge sin, but He also offers forgiveness and restoration to those who repent and turn to Him (1 John 1:9).]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of 'the hammer of the whole earth' in Jeremiah 50:23?
The phrase refers to Babylon's former power and dominance over the nations, as described in Jeremiah 50:23, which has now been broken and shattered by God's judgment, similar to what is described in Isaiah 13:19.
How did Babylon become a horror among the nations?
Babylon's sinful and idolatrous ways, as well as its rebellion against God, led to its downfall, as seen in Jeremiah 50:24, where God says He laid a snare for Babylon, and in Habakkuk 2:6-8, where the prophet describes the wickedness of Babylon.
Is this verse talking about the end times or a historical event?
While Jeremiah 50:23 is specifically addressing the historical judgment of Babylon, its themes of God's power and judgment are also relevant to the end times, as described in Revelation 18:2, where Babylon is again described as fallen.
What can we learn from Babylon's fall in Jeremiah 50:23?
We can learn about the dangers of pride and rebellion against God, as seen in Proverbs 16:18 and 1 Peter 5:5, and the importance of humility and obedience to God's will, as taught in Micah 6:8 and Matthew 23:12.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when I see powerful institutions or nations falling, and what does this reveal about my trust in God's sovereignty?
- In what ways can I be a 'hammer' for God's Kingdom, and how can I avoid the pitfalls of pride and rebellion that led to Babylon's downfall?
- What are some modern-day 'Babylons' that have become a horror among the nations, and how can I pray for their redemption and restoration?
- How can I balance the desire for justice and accountability with the call to love and pray for my enemies, as seen in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-28?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 50:23
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken!.... The Targum is, "how is the king cut down and broken that moved the whole earth!'' The king of Babylon, or the kingdom of Babylon,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 50:23
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
The latter part of the verse expounds the former; God had made the Babylonians his hammer, to break other nations in pieces, now it was itself broken: the particle how may be understood either as expressing triumph and rejoicing, or admiration, or as inquiring how such a thing could be in the last sense. The next verse is an answer to this.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
Jeremiah 50:23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!Ver. 23. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder!] Babylon was the maul or hammer of many nations, Nimrod began it, and his successors took after him. Charles Martel, King of France, was so called for like cause. Augustine also was worthily styled Haereticorum malleus, the hammer of heretics; and Mr Arthur Hildersam, Schismaticorum malleus, the maul of schismatics.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
(23) How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder . . . !—The image had been used before (Jeremiah 23:29) of the might of right as seen in the words of Jehovah. Here it describes the right of might as seen in the despotism of Babylon. The name of Charles Martel and, according to one etymology, that of Judas Maccabæus, present interesting parallelisms. And now the hammer itself, which had been as an instrument in the hand of Jehovah (Jeremiah 51:20), is to be, in its turn, crushed by a power mightier than its own.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
Verse 23. The hammer of the whole earth] Nebuchadnezzar dashed to pieces the nations against whom he warred. He was the scourge of the Lord.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 50:23
23. the hammer] For the figure cp. Jeremiah 23:29, and for its application to Babylon Jeremiah 51:20-23. Cp. for the title, as given in later days, Charles Martel (hammer), who was grandfather of Charles the Great, and conquered the Saracens in a decisive battle at Tours in 732 a.d., and Edward I of England, on whose tomb at Westminster Abbey are inscribed the words “Scotorum Malleus.”
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 50:23
The hammer - Babylon, by whose instrumentality Yahweh had crushed the nations, is now cut asunder, i. e., the head of iron or bronze is cut away from the wooden handle, and broken.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:23
23. The hammer of the whole earth — Babylon is here so called because it had been used to break in pieces other nations and kingdoms.
Sermons on Jeremiah 50:23
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Saved Through the Fire) 13 - God's True Message by Milton Green | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the concept of the day of the Lord, where God will judge and punish all nations based on their actions. He warns that whatever one gives out |
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God's Agency in War by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes God's sovereignty and agency in the affairs of nations, particularly in times of war and judgment. He argues that just as God punished nations in the Old Testa |
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(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 12 Psalm 137 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 137, emphasizing its prophetic nature and the deep sorrow of the Israelites in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem. He explores the contrast be |
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Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding Isaiah's prophecies in the context of the surrounding nations that influenced Israel's history. He explains how Judah and |
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Isaiah Chapter 5 Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding the geopolitical context of Isaiah's prophecies, particularly the neighboring nations that influenced Israel and Judah. He |
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Man as You Are by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing man in his innocence and perfection, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. However, the focus of the sermon shifts to man as he is, hig |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 14:12 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for righteousness in a fallen world. He uses the example of Daniel from the book of Daniel in the Bible, |