Jeremiah 51:37
Jeremiah 51:37 in Multiple Translations
Babylon will become a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals, an object of horror and scorn, without inhabitant.
And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
And Babylon will become a mass of broken walls, a hole for jackals, a cause of wonder and surprise, without a living man in it.
Babylon will be turned into a pile of rubble, a home for jackals, a place that horrifies people, a place they jeer at, a place where no one lives.
And Babel shall be as heapes, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
And Babylon hath been for heaps, A habitation of dragons, An astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
Babylon will become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment, and a hissing, without an inhabitant.
And Babylon shall be reduced to heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment and a hissing, because there is no inhabitant.
Babylon will become a heap of ruins, a place where jackals/wolves live. It will become a place that people are horrified about and will ridicule; it will be a place where no one lives.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 51:37
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 51:37 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיְתָה֩
בָבֶ֨ל
לְ/גַלִּ֧ים
מְעוֹן
תַּנִּ֛ים
שַׁמָּ֥ה
וּ/שְׁרֵקָ֖ה
מֵ/אֵ֥ין
יוֹשֵֽׁב
וְ/הָיְתָה֩
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3fs
בָבֶ֨ל
Bâbel
H894
Babylon
N-proper
לְ/גַלִּ֧ים
gal
H1530
heap
Prep | N-mp
מְעוֹן
mâʻôwn
H4583
habitation
N-cs
תַּנִּ֛ים
tannîyn
H8577
jackal
N-mp
שַׁמָּ֥ה
shammâh
H8047
horror
N-fs
וּ/שְׁרֵקָ֖ה
shᵉrêqâh
H8322
hissing
Conj | N-fs
מֵ/אֵ֥ין
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Prep | Part
יוֹשֵֽׁב
yâshab
H3427
to dwell
V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 51:37
וְ/הָיְתָה֩
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | 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.
בָבֶ֨ל
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.
לְ/גַלִּ֧ים
gal
H1530
"heap"
Prep | N-mp
A gal is a heap of stones, a spring of water, or a wave, used in various contexts like ratifying a covenant or describing God's chastisement.
Definition: : heap/pile 1) heap, spring, wave, billow 1a) heap (of stones) 1a1) over dead body 1a2) alone 1a3) used in ratifying a covenant 1b) waves (fig. of chastisement of Jehovah) 1c) spring Also means: gal (גַּל ": wave" H1530H)
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: billow, heap, spring, wave. See also: Genesis 31:46; Psalms 107:29; Psalms 42:8.
מְעוֹן
mâʻôwn
H4583
"habitation"
N-cs
This Hebrew word means a dwelling place, like a home for people or animals, and can also refer to a safe haven or refuge, as seen in the Tabernacle or Temple.
Definition: 1) dwelling, habitation, refuge 1a) lair, refuge (of jackals) 1b) dwelling
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: den, dwelling((-) place), habitation. See also: Deuteronomy 26:15; Psalms 90:1; Psalms 26:8.
תַּנִּ֛ים
tannîyn
H8577
"jackal"
N-mp
This word refers to a monster or serpent, like a sea-serpent or dragon, as described in Psalm 74:13 and Isaiah 27:1. It can also mean a venomous snake or a whale, symbolizing powerful creatures.
Definition: jackal Also means: tan.nah (תַּנָּה "dragon" H8568)
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale. See also: Genesis 1:21; Isaiah 27:1; Psalms 44:20.
שַׁמָּ֥ה
shammâh
H8047
"horror"
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.
וּ/שְׁרֵקָ֖ה
shᵉrêqâh
H8322
"hissing"
Conj | N-fs
This Hebrew word means a hissing sound, often used to show contempt or mocking, like when people ridicule someone.
Definition: hissing, whistling
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: hissing. See also: 2 Chronicles 29:8; Jeremiah 25:18; Jeremiah 18:16.
מֵ/אֵ֥ין
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Prep | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
יוֹשֵֽׁב
yâshab
H3427
"to dwell"
V-Qal
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 51:37
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 51:37 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:37
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:37
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:37
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:37
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
- Sermons on Jeremiah 51:37
Context — Babylon’s Punishment
35May the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon,” says the dweller of Zion. “May my blood be on the dwellers of Chaldea,” says Jerusalem.
36Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry.
37Babylon will become a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals, an object of horror and scorn, without inhabitant.
38They will roar together like young lions; they will growl like lion cubs. 39While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 18:2 | And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. |
| 2 | Revelation 18:21–23 | Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” |
| 3 | Jeremiah 18:16 | They have made their land a desolation, a perpetual object of scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and shake their heads. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 25:9 | behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. |
| 5 | Lamentations 2:15–16 | All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see it!” |
| 6 | Jeremiah 50:23–26 | How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations! I 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. The 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. Come against her from the farthest border. Break open her granaries; pile her up like mounds of grain. Devote her to destruction; leave her no survivors. |
| 7 | Isaiah 34:8–17 | For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it. The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction. No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing. Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. The desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and one wild goat will call to another. There the night creature will settle and find her place of repose. There the owl will make her nest; she will lay and hatch her eggs and gather her brood under her shadow. Even there the birds of prey will gather, each with its mate. Search and read the scroll of the LORD: Not one of these will go missing, not one will lack her mate, because He has ordered it by His mouth, and He will gather them by His Spirit. He has allotted their portion; His hand has distributed it by measure. They will possess it forever; they will dwell in it from generation to generation. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 50:38–40 | A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols. So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there and ostriches will dwell there. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 51:25–26 | “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. No one shall retrieve from you a cornerstone or a foundation stone, because you will become desolate forever,” declares the LORD. |
| 10 | Jeremiah 19:8 | I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds. |
Jeremiah 51:37 Summary
Jeremiah 51:37 tells us that Babylon will be completely destroyed and left empty, like a haunted place where only wild animals live. This is because God is judging Babylon for its sins, just like He judges all nations that rebel against Him (as seen in Isaiah 13:19-22). It's a reminder that God is serious about sin and will one day judge all people for their actions (Romans 2:16). We can trust that God is fair and just, and that He will ultimately bring about justice and righteousness, even if it doesn't seem like it right now (Psalm 37:28).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for Babylon to become 'a heap of rubble' in Jeremiah 51:37?
This phrase indicates that Babylon will be completely destroyed and left in a state of devastation, much like the desolate conditions described in Isaiah 13:19-22, where Babylon is also prophesied to be overthrown and left uninhabited.
Why is Babylon described as 'a haunt for jackals' in this verse?
The reference to jackals in Jeremiah 51:37 is a metaphor for the desolation and abandonment of Babylon, as seen in Isaiah 34:13, where jackals are also used to symbolize the desolate state of a once-great city.
How does this verse relate to God's judgment on nations?
Jeremiah 51:37 illustrates God's judgment on nations that oppose Him, as seen in Jeremiah 25:12-14, where God pronounces judgment on various nations, including Babylon, for their wickedness and idolatry.
Is this prophecy about Babylon's destruction still relevant today?
While the historical context of Jeremiah 51:37 refers to the ancient city of Babylon, the principles of God's judgment on sin and rebellion against Him are timeless, as seen in Revelation 18:1-24, where a similar fate is prophesied for the end-times 'Babylon', symbolizing the world's rebellion against God.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's attitude towards sin and rebellion?
- How can we apply the principle of God's judgment on Babylon to our own lives and the world around us?
- What does the image of 'a haunt for jackals' evoke in your mind, and how can you use this as a reminder of the consequences of sin?
- In what ways can we trust in God's sovereignty and justice, as seen in His judgment on Babylon, in our own lives and circumstances?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 51:37
And Babylon shall become heaps,.... The houses should be demolished, and the stones lie in heaps one upon another, and become mere rubbish: a dwelling place for dragons; and other wild and savage creatures.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 51:37
And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons - (Jeremiah 50:26; Jeremiah 50:39; Revelation 18:2).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
Babylon shall become heaps; heaps of rubbish. A dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. See Poole "", See Poole "", where the same thing was before said.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
Jeremiah 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.Ver. 37. And Babylon shall become heaps.] See Jeremiah 50:39.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
(37) Babylon shall become heaps . . .—It is significant, as emphasising the law of retribution, that the terms are the same as those used of Jerusalem in Jeremiah 9:11; Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 25:18. Nothing is more characteristic of the present aspect of Babylon than the “heaps” or mounds of brickwork, fragments of pottery and earth, that are now scattered over the plain, and are slowly yielding up their records of the past to explorers. The “dragons” here (not the same word as in Jeremiah 51:34) are the “jackals” that howl in the ruins. (See Note on Jeremiah 10:22.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
Verse 37. Without an inhabitant.] See Jeremiah 50:39.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 51:37
37. heaps] “Vast ‘heaps’ or mounds, shapeless and unsightly, are scattered at intervals over the entire region where it is certain that Babylon anciently stood.” (Rawl. Anc. Mon. II. 521.) hissing] See on Jeremiah 18:16.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 51:37
Heaps - Of rubbish, formed in this case by the decay of the unburned bricks of which Babylon was built. It is these heaps which have yielded such a large wealth of historical documents in our own days.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 51:37
37. Heaps — Namely, of rubbish. How literally this has been fulfilled is shown by Rawlinson. (Ancient Monarchies, 2:521.) Dragons — Not the word used in Jeremiah 51:34, but one meaning jackals.
Sermons on Jeremiah 51:37
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 20:1 - Part 3 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for righteousness in a fallen world. He introduces his new book, "Standing Up in a Fallen World," which i |
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The Word in a Recession by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of placing our confidence solely in God, rather than in worldly possessions or external factors. He warns against being foole |
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(Isaiah) Judgment of the Nations by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the fall of Babylon as described in the book of Isaiah. He emphasizes the vividness and power of God's word, which conveys the panic and terr |
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Are You One of the Chosen Ones? by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the influence of ideas and philosophy in shaping our society. He points out that in today's generation, ther |
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Church of Vidor Saturday by David Ravenhill | David Ravenhill emphasizes the urgent need for the church to undergo a cleansing process, drawing parallels between the spiritual state of the church today and the historical clean |
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Crucified Unto Me by Watchman Nee | Watchman Nee emphasizes the necessity of separation from the world and dedication to God as foundational principles of Christian living. He illustrates the stark contrast between B |
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America Is Finished, unless... by Pierre Bynum | Pierre Bynum preaches about the impending judgment on America due to its sins and departure from God, emphasizing the need for national repentance and a God-sent Awakening to avert |