Jeremiah 51:3
Jeremiah 51:3 in Multiple Translations
Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his coat of mail: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
Against her the bow of the archer is bent, and he puts on his coat of metal: have no mercy on her young men, give all her army up to the curse.
The archer doesn't need to use his bow; the infantryman doesn't need to put on his armor. Don't spare her young soldiers; set apart her whole army for destruction!
Also to the bender that bendeth his bowe, and to him that lifteth himselfe vp in his brigandine, will I say, Spare not her yong men, but destroy all her hoste.
Let not the treader tread his bow, Nor lift himself up in his coat of mail, Nor have ye pity on her young men, Devote ye to destruction all her host.
Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow, also against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. Don’t spare her young men! Utterly destroy all her army!
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his coat of mail: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
Let not him that bendeth, bend his bow, and let not, him go up that is armed with a coat of mail: spare not her young men, destroy all her army.
I will tell them, ‘Do not allow the archers of Babylon to have time to put on their armor or draw their bows. Do not spare the young men of Babylon. Completely destroy their army.’
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 51:3
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Jeremiah 51:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 51:3
Study Notes — Jeremiah 51:3
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 51:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:3
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
- Sermons on Jeremiah 51:3
Context — Judgment on Babylon
3Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!
4And they will fall slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and pierced through in her streets. 5For Israel and Judah have not been abandoned by their God, the LORD of Hosts, though their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 50:14 | Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 46:4 | Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor! |
| 3 | Jeremiah 50:21 | Go 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. |
| 4 | Isaiah 13:10–18 | For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger. Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land. Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword. Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished. Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 50:27 | Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come— the time of their punishment. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 50:41–42 | Behold, an army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are stirred up from the ends of the earth. They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Babylon. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 9:21 | For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares. |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 32:25 | Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 50:29–30 | Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,” declares the LORD. |
| 10 | James 2:13 | For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. |
Jeremiah 51:3 Summary
This verse is saying that God is commanding the army that is attacking Babylon to completely destroy their military, and not to spare any of their young men. This is a judgment from God because of Babylon's sins, as seen in other parts of Scripture like Jeremiah 51:1-2. It's a reminder that God is in control of all things, and that His judgments are always just, as stated in Psalm 119:137. We can trust in God's sovereignty, even when we don't understand the circumstances around us, and we can be faithful to His commands, knowing that He is our loving and merciful God, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3 and Lamentations 3:22-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'devote all her army to destruction' in Jeremiah 51:3?
This means that God is commanding the army that is attacking Babylon to completely destroy their military, leaving no one alive, as seen in similar judgments in Deuteronomy 20:16 and Joshua 10:28.
Is God being cruel by commanding the destruction of Babylon's young men?
No, God is a just and holy God, and His judgments are always righteous, as stated in Genesis 18:25 and Psalm 119:137, and in this case, Babylon's sins have reached a point where judgment is necessary, as seen in Jeremiah 51:1-2.
How does this verse relate to God's plan for Israel and Judah?
This verse shows that even in the midst of judgment on other nations, God has not abandoned His people, Israel and Judah, as stated in Jeremiah 51:5, and He will ultimately fulfill His promises to them, as seen in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:22-32.
What is the significance of the archer not being allowed to bend his bow or put on his armor?
This is a symbol of the futility of Babylon's military efforts, as God is the one who is ultimately in control, and their attempts at defense will be unsuccessful, as seen in similar imagery in Isaiah 54:17 and Ezekiel 39:3.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's character, and how can I apply that to my life?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty, even when I don't understand the circumstances around me?
- What are some ways that I can be faithful to God's commands, even when it's difficult or unpopular?
- How can I balance the idea of God's judgment with His love and mercy, as seen in this verse and other parts of Scripture?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:3
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:3
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:3
Sermons on Jeremiah 51:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Impetus of Eschatological Verities by Bryan Anthony | Bryan Anthony preaches on the future fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies in Matthew 24, emphasizing that while some events were fulfilled in the first century, the cosmic signs and th |
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De Vitis Patrum, Book Ix by Heribert Rosweyde | Heribert Rosweyde preaches on the lives of devout men, like Jacobus of Nisibis, who embraced a solitary life in pursuit of virtue and wisdom, demonstrating through their actions th |
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Forgiveness by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the central theme of the Bible, which is the cross of Jesus Christ. He specifically highlights Isaiah 53 as a passage that reveals the signi |
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Beatitudes - Part 9 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of a man who had a difficult life. He was sent by his father to his brothers, but they betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He e |
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We Will All Stand Before the Judgment of God by John Piper | In this sermon, John Piper emphasizes the importance of having a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. He explains that it is not the quantity of good or evil deeds that saves a person, b |
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I Know What Your Calling Is! by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the critical calling on the church in a season of history, urging believers to stand in the gap for mercy and restoration. It highlights the need for interce |
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(The Church in the Last Days) 04 - Double Minded Adulteress by Milton Green | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of following the Word of God rather than the traditions of men. He warns against judging others, as judgment will be returned |







