Jeremiah 51:40 — Word Study
WLCאֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם כְּכָרִ֣ים לִטְב֑וֹחַ כְּאֵילִ֖ים עִם־ עַתּוּדִֽים׃
BSAI will bring them downyârad▸ [to a place of death and destruction] like lambskar [innocent and helpless] to the slaughterṭâbach [to be ruthlessly killed] like ramsʼayil [strong and powerful] withʻim male goatsʻattûwd [full-grown and mature]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם | I will bring down them | Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular, suffix |
| כְּכָרִ֣ים | like lambs | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| לִטְב֑וֹחַ | to slaughter | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| כְּאֵילִ֖ים | like rams | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| עִם־ | with | Preposition |
| עַתּוּדִֽים׃ | goats | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats. |
| KJV | I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. |
| ASV | I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats. |
| YLT | I cause them to go down as lambs to slaughter, As rams with he-goats. |
| WEB | “I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats. |
| BBE | I will make them go down to death like lambs, like he-goats together. |
Where they part company is in the details of the imagery — see How Translations Differ.
The main verb introduces the action, followed by two similes that enhance the imagery of judgment.






7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 51:40
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Prophecy Against Babylongenerated
Jeremiah 51:40 presents a vivid metaphor of judgment, where God will bring down Babylon like lambs to slaughter. This imagery emphasizes the helplessness of the victims and the certainty of their fate. The surrounding verses depict a scene of divine retribution against Babylon, highlighting the destruction that awaits this once-mighty city, which is further detailed in the context of Jeremiah 51:39 and Jeremiah 51:41.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | Psalm 37:20 | But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. |
| 3 | Psalm 44:22 | Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. |
| 4 | Isaiah 34:6 | The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 39:18 | You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם, 'o.ri.Demgenerated
The verb אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם ('o.ri.Dem) is a hiphil imperfect form of the root יָרַד (yarad), meaning 'to bring down' or 'to descend.' This construction indicates an active role in the action, where God is the subject who brings down the people to destruction.
This word carries a strong connotation of lowering or leading to a place of death, emphasizing the severity of the judgment being pronounced against Babylon.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the rendering of אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם as 'I will bring them down.' The BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all convey the same meaning without significant variation.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם governs the sentence, with a series of comparisons following it: a prepositional phrase describing the manner of descent and two noun phrases that illustrate the objects of comparison. This structure emphasizes the action of bringing down in a dramatic and vivid manner.
The use of similes throughout the verse, such as 'like lambs' and 'like rams,' highlights the nature of those being judged, contrasting innocence with strength.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם as αὐτοὺς, meaning 'them,' which indicates a straightforward rendering without additional interpretative layers. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew without expanding the metaphor.
The Greek term used for 'lambs' is ἄρνας, which carries the same sacrificial connotation found in the Hebrew, maintaining the imagery of innocence and vulnerability.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 51:40 describes how God will bring down Babylon, comparing the people to lambs and rams being led to slaughter. This imagery illustrates their helplessness and the certainty of their destruction.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This metaphor emphasizes the vulnerability and innocence of those being judged, suggesting they will face inevitable destruction.
Rams symbolize strength, contrasting with the lambs to highlight the complete downfall of Babylon, regardless of its former power.
The imagery of slaughter conveys a sense of ruthless judgment and the finality of God's decision against Babylon.
This verse fits within a broader prophecy of judgment against Babylon, illustrating the totality of its impending destruction.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the consequences of actions leading to downfall in my own life or society?
- How can I understand the balance of strength and vulnerability in the context of judgment?
- What lessons can I learn from the imagery of sacrifice in this verse?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of justice and mercy?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 51:40 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,.... To the place of slaughter; who shall be able to make no more resistance than lambs.
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 51 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 51 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThat is, they shall be destroyed before they are aware of it.
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 51 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 51:40 I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.Ver. 40. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter.] All that which followeth here to the end of this oration is no less easy than elegant in holding forth the power, justice, and truth of God in fulfilling this prophecy exactly, though serveral years after.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 51 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(40) I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter . . .—The figure is changed, and the revellers appear as themselves destined to be the victims of the slaughter-house (Jeremiah 48:15; Jeremiah 50:27). As the “bullocks” of Jeremiah 50:27 are the chosen warriors, so the lambs, sheep, he-goats represent the different classes of the population of Babylon (Isaiah 34:6; Ezekiel 39:18). All alike are given over to the sword.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 51 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges40. lambs … rams … he-goats] Cp. Jeremiah 50:27; Isaiah 34:6.
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 51 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLambs ... rams ... he goats - i. e., all classes of the population (see Isaiah 34:6 note).
Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 51 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
“I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
“I will lead them off to be slaughtered like lambs, rams, and male goats.”
Tyndale line
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
I wil bring them downe like lambes to the slaughter, and like rams and goates.
Strictly literal
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
I cause them to go down as lambs to slaughter, As rams with he-goats.
“I cause them to go down as lambs to slaughter, || As rams with male goats.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like wethers with he-goats.
I will send them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
From the Latin
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, and like rams with kids.
Simplified
I will take them down like lambs to be slaughtered, like rams and goats.
I will make them go down to death like lambs, like he-goats together.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all six words matched in the Hebrew and Greek. This indicates a strong consistency in the understanding of the text across these traditions.
אֽוֹרִידֵ֖ם כְּכָרִ֣ים לִטְב֑וֹחַ כְּאֵילִ֖ים עִם־ עַתּוּדִֽים׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 51:40
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.
יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend
Qal 306
come or go down
go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
from Jerusalem
from altar
go down
= sink, in water
go down to She’ôl
fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
= be prostrated
of divine manifestations: descend
of inanimate things
Hiph.
cause to come or go down
bring down
send down rain = cause to flow down
= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
bring down to She’ôl
take down (from cart)
let down
Hoph.
be brought down
be taken down
base
H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down
. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
. from Jerusalem
. from altar
. go down
. = sink, in water
. go down to She’ôl
. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
. = be prostrated
. of divine manifestations: descend
. of inanimate things
. . cause to come or go down . bring down
. send down rain = cause to flow down
. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
. bring down to She’ôl
. take down (from cart)
. let down
. . be brought down
. be taken down
3381 yarad yaw-rad'
a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or
conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,
the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to
bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,
bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,
fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X
indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,
let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.
1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come down
1a2) to sink
1a3) to be prostrated
1a4) to come down (of revelation)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to bring down
1b2) to send down
1b3) to take down
1b4) to lay prostrate
1b5) to let down
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought down
1c2) to be taken down
V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular · suffixHVhi1cs/Sp3mp
כָּר (kar) has several meanings, including 'basket-saddle,' 'pasture,' and 'he-lamb' or 'battering-ram.' It is derived from a root related to plumpness, suggesting fullness in its various uses. The word appears in contexts related to livestock and tools, reflecting its diverse applications.
[כָּר] n.[m.] basket-saddle, Gn 31:34
ref
כַּר n.m. pasture
base
כַּר n.[m.] he-lamb, battering-ram
base
H3733a כָּר basket-saddle H3733b כַּר pasture H3733c כַּר he-lamb, battering-ram
3733 kar kar
from 3769 in the sense of plumpness; a ram (as full-grown and
fat), including a battering-ram (as butting); hence, a meadow
(as for sheep); also a pad or camel's saddle (as puffed
out):--captain, furniture, lamb, (large) pasture, ram. See
also 1033, 3746.
see HEBREW for 03769
see HEBREW for 01033
see HEBREW for 03746
כָּר (kar) — saddle.
1) howdah, palanquin, basket saddle
1a) an enclosed riding space erected on a camel's saddle
כַּר (kar) — pasture.
pasture, meadow
כַּר (kar) — ram.
1) ram, lamb, he-lamb
2) battering-ram
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
are the young of sheep, but originally included also the young of goats. They formed an important part of almost every sacrifice. (Exodus 29:38-41; Numbers 28:9,11; 29:2,13-40) etc. [On the paschal lamb see PASSOVER]
טָבַח (tabach) is a primitive root meaning to slaughter or kill, applicable to both animals and humans. It encompasses actions like butchering and slaying ruthlessly, with a figurative sense of killing. The entries consistently emphasize its violent connotations without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[טָבַח] vb. slaughter, butcher, slay
base
H2873 [טָבַח] slaughter, butcher, slay
2873 tabach taw-bakh'
a primitive root; to slaughter (animals or men):--kill,
(make) slaughter, slay.
טָבַח (ta.vach) — to slaughter.
1) to slaughter, slay, butcher, kill ruthlessly
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to slaughter, butcher
1a2) to slay, kill ruthlessly (fig.)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
אַ֫יִל (ayil) encompasses several meanings, including 'ram,' 'projecting pillar or pilaster,' 'leader or chief,' and 'terebinth.' It is derived from a root meaning strength, suggesting a connection to might and support. The term appears in various contexts, reflecting its diverse applications in the Old Testament.
אַ֫יִל 156 n.m. ram (as leader of flock)
base
אַ֫יִל n.[m.] projecting pillar or pilaster
base
[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. leader, chief
base
[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. terebinth
base
H352a אַ֫יִל ram H352b אַ֫יִל projecting pillar or pilaster H352c אַ֫יִל leader, chief H352d אַ֫יִל terebinth
352 'ayil ah'-yil
from the same as 193; properly, strength; hence, anything
strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from
his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or
other strong tree:--mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram,
tree.
see HEBREW for 0193
אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — ram.
1) ram
1a) ram (as food)
1b) ram (as sacrifice)
1c) ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)
אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — pillar.
pillar, door post, jambs, pilaster
אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — leader.
strong man, leader, chief
אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — terebinth.
mighty tree, terebinth
Aramaic equivalent: i.lan (אִילָן "tree" H0363)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — PrepositionHR
עַתּוּד (attuwd) refers to a he-goat or ram, specifically indicating a full-grown animal. It can also figuratively denote leaders among people, described as 'chief ones.' The word is derived from a root meaning 'prepared' and is used only in the plural form.
H6260 עַתּוּד he-goat
6260 `attuwd at-tood'
or sattud {at-tood'}; from 6257; prepared, i.e. full grown;
spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders
of the people:--chief one, (he) goat, ram.
see HEBREW for 06257
עַתּוּד (at.tud) — goat.
ram, he-goat, chief one
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
