Jeremiah 51:21

Verse

With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver.

American Standard Version (1901)

and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider;

With you the horse and the horseman will be broken; with you the war-carriage and he who goes in it will be broken;

And with thee I will break in pieces the horse, and his rider, and with thee I will break in pieces the chariot, and him that getteth up into it:

Free Bible Version

I use you to destroy horses and their riders; I use you to destroy chariots and their drivers.

Geneva Bible 1599

And by thee wil I breake horse and horseman, and by thee will I breake the charet and him that rideth therein.

King James (Authorized) Version

And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

Translation for Translators

With your power I have shattered armies of other nations: I destroyed their horses and their riders, their chariots and their chariot-drivers.

Unlocked Literal Bible

With you I will smash horses and their riders; with you I will smash chariots and their drivers.

Noah Webster Bible

And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and its rider;

World English Bible

With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider.

Young's Literal Translation

And I have broken in pieces by thee horse and its rider, And I have broken in pieces by thee chariot and its charioteer,

Context

Babylon’s Punishment

²⁰“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. ²¹With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. ²²With 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.

Summary

In this verse, Jeremiah speaks on behalf of the Lord, declaring His sovereignty and power over the nations. The imagery of God's mighty hand and outstretched arm symbolizes His authority and control over the course of history. It serves as a reminder that God is the ultimate ruler over all kingdoms and empires, orchestrating events according to His divine will. This verse conveys a message of assurance and comfort to the people of Judah, assuring them that despite the impending judgment on Babylon, God's plan will ultimately prevail.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock,.... Or, have broken; which Abarbinel thinks respects the Arabians particularly, who were shepherds, and dwelt in tents; but it rather signifies shepherds and their flocks in general; who were killed or scattered wherever his armies came, which spared none, even the most innocent and useful, and though unarmed: and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; with which he ploughed his ground: signifying by this, as well as the former, that those were not spared, by which kingdoms were supported and maintained, as shepherds and husbandmen: and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers; by whom kingdoms and states are governed and protected.