Jeremiah 51:23
Jeremiah 51:23 in Multiple Translations
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.
I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
and with thee will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces governors and deputies.
With you the keeper of sheep with his flock will be broken, and with you the farmer and his oxen will be broken, and with you captains and rulers will be broken.
I use you to destroy shepherds and their flocks; I use you to destroy farmers and their cattle; I use you to destroy rulers and state officials.
I wil also breake by thee the shepheard and his flocke, and by thee will I breake the husband man and his yoke of oxen, and by thee will I breake the dukes and princes.
And I have broken in pieces by thee shepherd and his drove, And I have broken in pieces by thee husbandman and his team, And I have broken in pieces by thee governors and prefects.
With you I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock. With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke. With you I will break in pieces governors and deputies.
I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
And with thee I will break in pieces the shepherd and his dock, and with thee I will break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen, and with thee I will break in pieces captains and rulers.
With your power I shattered shepherds and their flocks of sheep, farmers and their oxen, governors and their officials.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 51:23
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 51:23 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֤י
בְ/ךָ֙
רֹעֶ֣ה
וְ/עֶדְר֔/וֹ
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֥י
בְ/ךָ֖
אִכָּ֣ר
וְ/צִמְדּ֑/וֹ
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֣י
בְ/ךָ֔
פַּח֖וֹת
וּ/סְגָנִֽים
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֤י
nâphats
H5310
to shatter
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
בְ/ךָ֙
Prep | Suff
רֹעֶ֣ה
râʻâh
H7462
House of Shepherds
V-Qal
וְ/עֶדְר֔/וֹ
ʻêder
H5739
flock
Conj | N-ms | Suff
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֥י
nâphats
H5310
to shatter
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
בְ/ךָ֖
Prep | Suff
אִכָּ֣ר
ʼikkâr
H406
farmer
N-ms
וְ/צִמְדּ֑/וֹ
tsemed
H6776
pair
Conj | N-ms | Suff
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֣י
nâphats
H5310
to shatter
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
בְ/ךָ֔
Prep | Suff
פַּח֖וֹת
pechâh
H6346
governor
N-mp
וּ/סְגָנִֽים
çâgân
H5461
ruler
Conj | N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 51:23
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֤י
nâphats
H5310
"to shatter"
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
This Hebrew word means to scatter or disperse, and it's used when people or things are broken apart. It appears in books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where God scatters His people as punishment, but also promises to gather them back.
Definition: 1) to shatter, break, dash, beat in pieces 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to shatter 1a2) shattering (infinitive) 1b) (Piel) to dash to pieces 1c) (Pual) to pulverise
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: be beaten in sunder, break (in pieces), broken, dash (in pieces), cause to be discharged, dispersed, be overspread, scatter. See also: Genesis 9:19; Isaiah 33:3; Psalms 2:9.
בְ/ךָ֙
""
Prep | Suff
רֹעֶ֣ה
râʻâh
H7462
"House of Shepherds"
V-Qal
This verb means to care for or tend to someone or something, like a shepherd with his flock. It can also mean to rule over or associate with someone as a friend, and is sometimes used to describe a close relationship.
Definition: Ra'ah = "pasturing" perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
Usage: Occurs in 139 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. See also: Genesis 4:2; Isaiah 40:11; Psalms 23:1.
וְ/עֶדְר֔/וֹ
ʻêder
H5739
"flock"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
A flock refers to a group of animals, like sheep or cattle, that are herded together. In the Bible, it can also mean a herd or a drove of animals. This term is used to describe various scenes in the Bible.
Definition: 1) flock, herd 1a) flock 1b) herds, flocks and herds
Usage: Occurs in 34 OT verses. KJV: drove, flock, herd. See also: Genesis 29:2; Isaiah 17:2; Psalms 78:52.
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֥י
nâphats
H5310
"to shatter"
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
This Hebrew word means to scatter or disperse, and it's used when people or things are broken apart. It appears in books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where God scatters His people as punishment, but also promises to gather them back.
Definition: 1) to shatter, break, dash, beat in pieces 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to shatter 1a2) shattering (infinitive) 1b) (Piel) to dash to pieces 1c) (Pual) to pulverise
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: be beaten in sunder, break (in pieces), broken, dash (in pieces), cause to be discharged, dispersed, be overspread, scatter. See also: Genesis 9:19; Isaiah 33:3; Psalms 2:9.
בְ/ךָ֖
""
Prep | Suff
אִכָּ֣ר
ʼikkâr
H406
"farmer"
N-ms
A farmer is someone who works the land, like the ones who tilled the soil in ancient Israel. They did not necessarily own the land, but worked it to produce crops, often for others. The Bible mentions farmers in various contexts, including the parables of Jesus.
Definition: 1) plowman, husbandman, farmer 1a) working the land, yet not owning any of it
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: husbandman, ploughman. See also: 2 Chronicles 26:10; Jeremiah 31:24; Isaiah 61:5.
וְ/צִמְדּ֑/וֹ
tsemed
H6776
"pair"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to a pair or team, often of animals, and can also mean an acre of land that a yoke of cattle can plow in a day. It's used to describe a unit or a set of two things working together.
Definition: 1) couple, pair, team, yoke 1a) couple, pair, span (usually of animals) 1b) acre 1b1) the amount of land a span of oxen could plow in one day
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: acre, couple, [idiom] together, two (donkeys), yoke (of oxen). See also: Judges 19:3; 2 Kings 5:17; Isaiah 5:10.
וְ/נִפַּצְתִּ֣י
nâphats
H5310
"to shatter"
Conj | V-Piel-1cs
This Hebrew word means to scatter or disperse, and it's used when people or things are broken apart. It appears in books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where God scatters His people as punishment, but also promises to gather them back.
Definition: 1) to shatter, break, dash, beat in pieces 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to shatter 1a2) shattering (infinitive) 1b) (Piel) to dash to pieces 1c) (Pual) to pulverise
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: be beaten in sunder, break (in pieces), broken, dash (in pieces), cause to be discharged, dispersed, be overspread, scatter. See also: Genesis 9:19; Isaiah 33:3; Psalms 2:9.
בְ/ךָ֔
""
Prep | Suff
פַּח֖וֹת
pechâh
H6346
"governor"
N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to a governor or leader of a city or region. In the Bible, it describes officials in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, such as those appointed by King Solomon or King David.
Definition: governor Aramaic equivalent: pe.chah (פֶּחָה "governor" H6347)
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: captain, deputy, governor. See also: 1 Kings 10:15; Esther 8:9; Isaiah 36:9.
וּ/סְגָנִֽים
çâgân
H5461
"ruler"
Conj | N-mp
A ruler is a person with authority and power, like a prince or governor. In the Bible, this word is used to describe leaders in Assyria and Babylon, who had control over provinces and people.
Definition: 1) ruler, prefect, governor, a subordinate ruler 1a) prefects (of Assyria and Babylon) 1b) petty rulers or officials Aramaic equivalent: se.gan (סְגַן "prefect" H5460)
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: prince, ruler. See also: Ezra 9:2; Nehemiah 13:11; Isaiah 41:25.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 51:23
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 51:23 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:23
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:23
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:23
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:23
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
- Sermons on Jeremiah 51:23
Context — Babylon’s Punishment
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.
23With 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.
24Before 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. 25“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who devastate the whole earth, declares the LORD. I will stretch out My hand against you; I will roll you over the cliffs and turn you into a charred mountain.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 51:57 | I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts. |
Jeremiah 51:23 Summary
Jeremiah 51:23 is saying that God is so powerful that He can destroy anything that gets in His way, whether it's a leader, a farmer, or anyone else. This means that no one is safe from God's judgment if they are doing wrong (see Romans 2:11, Acts 10:34). God wants us to know that He is in control and will not tolerate evil forever. We can trust that He will make things right in the end, just like He promised in Jeremiah 51:24.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'shatter' in Jeremiah 51:23?
To 'shatter' in this context means to completely destroy or break into pieces, much like a potter's vessel being smashed (see Psalm 2:9, Jeremiah 19:11). This emphasizes God's absolute power over all aspects of society.
Why are shepherds, farmers, governors, and officials mentioned specifically in Jeremiah 51:23?
These groups represent the various sectors of society, indicating that no one is exempt from God's judgment (see Isaiah 13:6-16, Ezekiel 34:1-10). The Lord is emphasizing the totality of His judgment on Babylon.
How does Jeremiah 51:23 relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger prophecy against Babylon, where God promises to judge the nation for its sins (see Jeremiah 51:24-25, Isaiah 13:1-22). Jeremiah 51:23 specifically highlights the comprehensive nature of this judgment.
What does this verse teach us about God's character?
Jeremiah 51:23 shows us that God is a God of justice and righteousness, who will not tolerate wickedness indefinitely (see Psalm 119:137, Deuteronomy 32:4). His power is not limited, and He will execute judgment on all who oppose Him.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be opposing God, and how can I surrender them to His will?
- How does the idea of God 'shattering' all aspects of society challenge my perception of His power and authority?
- In what ways can I trust in God's justice and righteousness, even when I don't understand the circumstances around me?
- What does Jeremiah 51:23 teach me about the importance of humility and recognizing God's sovereignty over all things?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:23
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
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:23
I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
The sense of all three verse is the same, viz. that God had made use of, and was still making use of the Babylonians to waste and impoverish much people, wasting their goods, routing their armies, killing all sorts of their inhabitants.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
Jeremiah 51:23 I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.Ver. 23. The shepherd and his flock, the husbandman and his yoke, &c.] This particular enumeration is very emphatic.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
(23) With thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.—The exhausting of all sorts and conditions of men culminates in the ruling caste. The Hebrew word for “captain” (Pekha) is interesting as connected with the Arabic, with which we are now familiar in the form Pacha (Fürst, Lex.).
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:23
23. governors [mg. lieutenants] and deputies] Cp. Jeremiah 51:28; Jeremiah 51:57; also Ezekiel 23:6; Ezekiel 23:12-23. The names in the original are not Heb. but Assyrian, and are often found in inscriptions in that language. The former is applied to Tattenai (Ezra 5:6), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:14), and Zerubbabel (Haggai 1:1).
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:23
Captains ... rulers - Jeremiah 51:28. Pashas and Sagans. The prophet dwells at length upon Babylon’s destructiveness.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:23
20-24. Thou art — By “thou,” Ewald understands the king of Israel; Grotius, Cyrus and the Medes; Nagelsbach, an ideal person; Calmet and most expositors, Babylon. The last is to be preferred, and is supported by Jeremiah 50:23.
Sermons on Jeremiah 51:23
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Belshazzar's Feast and the Fall of Babylon by John F. Walvoord | John F. Walvoord preaches on the downfall of Belshazzar and the fall of Babylon as prophesied in the book of Daniel. The sermon highlights the divine judgment on the wicked world, |