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Jeremiah 51:54 — Word Study

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WLCק֥וֹל זְעָקָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּד֖וֹל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃

BSAThe soundqôwl [voice, outcry] of a cryzaʻaq [loud shriek, distress call] [comes from] BabylonBâbel [Babel, city of confusion] the sound of greatgâdôwl [noise, voice, extensive, immense] destructionsheber [breaking, shattering] from the landʼerets [earth, territory] of the ChaldeansKasdîy [inhabitants of Chaldea, known for wisdom]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 51
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 54 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (kas.Dim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 51:54quick helps
In a sentenceA cry of distress emerges from Babylon, signaling great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.
Who is speakingThe prophet Jeremiah, conveying a message of impending judgment.
Where we areThe prophetic declaration concerning the fate of Babylon.
The hard wordזְעָקָה
Take awayThe sound of destruction is a warning of judgment against Babylon.
4 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 51:54

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

53Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens and fortifies her lofty stronghold, the destroyers I send will come against her,” declares the LORD.
54“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!
55For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. The waves will roar like great waters; the tumult of their voices will resound.
56For a destroyer is coming against her— against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.

Jeremiah 51:54 presents a vivid picture of the distress coming from Babylon, a city known for its pride and power. The surrounding verses emphasize the impending destruction that will befall Babylon due to divine judgment, highlighting the contrast between the city's might and the inevitable consequences of its actions. This prophecy serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the fate awaiting those who oppose Him, as seen in the broader context of the chapter.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 48:3–5A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’
2Jeremiah 50:22–27“The noise of battle is in the land— the noise of great destruction.
3Isaiah 13:6–9Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
4Isaiah 15:5My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.
5Zephaniah 1:10On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:Jeremiah 48:3–5 Jeremiah 50:22–27 Isaiah 13:6–9 Isaiah 15:5 Zephaniah 1:10 Revelation 18:17–19

The Key Word זְעָקָה, ze.'a.Kahgenerated

The Hebrew word זְעָקָה (ze'aqah) means a loud cry or outcry, often associated with distress or urgency. It is derived from a root meaning to cry out, indicating a vocal expression of need or despair. In this verse, it conveys the deep anguish and alarm coming from Babylon as destruction approaches.

This term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, including moments of crisis, such as in Exodus 2:23, where the Israelites cry out in their suffering. Here, it underscores the severity of the situation in Babylon, as the city faces judgment.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has destruction, which aligns with the KJV and ASV: all three maintain the sense of calamity associated with שֶׁ֫בֶר.

Where others part company with the BSB, they differ primarily over the rendering of גָּד֖וֹל. The KJV and ASV use great, while the YLT opts for voice, and the DRA and FBV use noise. This divergence highlights different emphases on the nature of the destruction.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses: the first introduces the sound of a cry from Babylon, while the second details the sound of destruction from the Chaldeans. The structure emphasizes the source of the cry and the nature of the destruction, highlighting the urgency of the message.

The Hebrew word order places the cries at the forefront, drawing attention to the emotional weight of the situation. The use of conjunctions links the two clauses, creating a cohesive statement about the calamity facing Babylon.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew זְעָקָה is rendered as κραυγῆς (kraugēs), which also conveys a sense of a loud cry or shout. This choice maintains the urgency of the original Hebrew, emphasizing the distress and alarm associated with the impending destruction.

The translation of שֶׁ֫בֶר as συντριβὴ (suntreibē) suggests a focus on the breaking or shattering aspect of the destruction, aligning with the overall theme of calamity in the prophecy.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 51:54 describes a loud cry coming from Babylon, signaling great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans. This verse highlights the urgency of the situation as the city faces God's judgment for its actions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the cry from Babylon signify?

The cry represents the distress and alarm of the people as they face impending destruction due to God's judgment.

Why is Babylon described as a city of confusion?

Babylon, or Babel, is associated with confusion due to the events at the Tower of Babel in Genesis, where God confused the languages of the people.

What does the term 'Chaldeans' refer to?

The Chaldeans were inhabitants of Chaldea, known for their wisdom and astrology, and were significant figures in the Babylonian empire.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of judgment in Jeremiah?

This verse is part of a broader prophetic message in Jeremiah that warns of judgment against nations that oppose God, emphasizing His sovereignty over all.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What emotions do you think the people of Babylon felt upon hearing this cry?
  2. How can we understand the concept of judgment in our own lives today?
  3. What lessons can we learn from the fate of Babylon regarding pride and disobedience?
  4. In what ways does this prophecy encourage us to reflect on our own actions and their consequences?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 51:54 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

A sound of a cry [cometh] from Babylon,.... Of the inhabitants of it upon its being taken; which is said to denote the certainty of it, which was as sure as if the cry of the distressed was then

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 51 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans: No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 51 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To assure them that what God threatened should certainly be, he calls to the Jews to listen, as if already there were cry from Babylon, and a sound of a great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 51 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 51:54 A sound of a cry [cometh] from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:Ver. 54. A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon.] See Jeremiah 48:3.

Read John Trapp 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

“The sound of a cry comes from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

NETBNew English Translation2006

Cries of anguish will come from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The sound of a cry from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

RVARevised Version, American1894

The sound of a cry from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A sound of a cry commeth from Babel, and great destruction from the land of the Caldeans,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The sound of a cry [cometh] from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A voice of a cry [is] from Babylon, And of great destruction from the land of the Chaldean.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

“A voice of a cry [is] from Babylon, || And of great destruction from the land of the Chaldean.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

A sound of a painful cry cometh from Babylon, and of a great breach from the land of the Chaldeans;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A shout of distress came from Babylon, a great collapse from the land of the Chaldeans.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The noise of a cry from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

A cry comes from Babylon; the noise of terrible destruction comes from the country of Babylonia.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

There is the sound of a cry from Babylon, and of a great destruction from the land of the Chaldaeans:

Word by word, the decisions they made

גָּד֖וֹלga.Dol great H1419 3 different renderings
greatASV BBE BSB DBY GNV ILT KJV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB
voiceLSV YLT
noiseDRA FBV

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.

clauseclausenoun phrase · subjectק֥וֹל[the].soundזְעָקָ֖הof.a.cry.of.distressprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִ[is].fromבָּבֶ֑לBabylonוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectשֶׁ֥בֶרdestructionגָּד֖וֹלgreatprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵ[is].fromnoun phraseאֶ֥רֶץthe.landכַּשְׂדִּֽיםof.[the].Chaldeans

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 in their wording for Jeremiah 51:54. The Septuagint matches all seven Hebrew words, indicating a strong consistency between the two texts in conveying the message of destruction from Babylon.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

ק֥וֹל זְעָקָ֖ה מִבָּבֶ֑ל וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּד֖וֹל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
ק֥וֹלφωνὴזְעָקָ֖הκραυγῆςמִבָּבֶ֑לβαβυλῶνιוְשֶׁ֥בֶרσυντριβὴגָּד֖וֹלμεγάληמֵאֶ֥רֶץγῇכַּשְׂדִּֽים׃ξαλδαίων

7 of the 7 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.

Jeremiah 51:54קוֹל[the] sound[the] sound ofקוֹלזְעָקָהa cry of dia cry of distreזְעָקָהבָּבֶ֫לfrom Babylofrom Babylonבָּבֶ֫לשֶׁ֫בֶרand destrucand destructionשֶׁ֫בֶרגָּדוֹלgreatgreatגָּדוֹלאֶ֫רֶץfrom [the] from [the] landאֶ֫רֶץכַּשְׂדִּים[the] Chald[the] Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםזָעַקto cry outto cry outזָעַקבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלשָׁבַרto breakto breakשָׁבַרגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלכֶּ֫שֶׂדChesedChesedכֶּ֫שֶׂדתְּרוּעָהshoutshoutתְּרוּעָהשֹׁפָרtrumpettrumpetשֹׁפָררָעַשׁto shaketo shakeרָעַשׁשֶׁ֫בֶרbreakingbreakingשֶׁ֫בֶרנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרכַּשְׂדִּיםChaldeaChaldeaכַּשְׂדִּיםמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּהקָטָןsmallsmallקָטָןמְאֹדmuchmuchמְאֹדכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםבָּבֶ֫לBabylonBabylonבָּבֶ֫לחַ֫יִלHelechHelechחַ֫יִל
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 51:54

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] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
ק֥וֹלKol [the] sound of H6963 Noun common · masculine singular construct
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Amplified meaning
voice, outcry
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

[the] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
זְעָקָ֖הze.'a.Kah a cry of distress H2201 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a loud cry or shriek, often expressing distress, like the outcry in Exodus 2:23. It can also describe a clamor or cry for help. In the Bible, it appears in various forms, such as crying out to God.
Amplified meaning
loud shriek, distress call
Tyndale gloss
outcry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְעָקָה (ze'aqah) refers to a cry or outcry, often associated with distress or clamour. It is derived from the root word meaning to cry out, and its usage encompasses various forms of vocal expression, particularly in moments of urgency or need.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְעָקָה n.f. cry, outcry

outcry, against

cry of distress

outcry, clamour

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2201 זְעָקָה cry, outcry

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2201 za`aq zah'-ak

and (feminine) zoaqah {zeh-aw-kaw'}; from 2199; a shriek or

outcry:--cry(-ing).

see HEBREW for 02199

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְעָקָה (ze.a.qah) — outcry.

1) cry, outcry

1a) outcry

1b) cry of distress

1c) outcry, clamour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
[the] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
מִבָּבֶ֑לmi.ba.Vel from Babylon H894 Preposition · noun proper
262× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
Babel, city of confusion
Tyndale gloss
Babylon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּבֶ֫ל (Babel) refers to Babylon, an ancient city and capital of Babylonia, associated with the idea of confusion. It is derived from a root meaning 'confusion' and is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. The lexicons agree on its meaning and significance, with no noted disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּבֶ֫ל 262 n.pr.loc. Babel, Babylon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H894 בָּבֶ֫ל Babel, Babylon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

894 Babel baw-bel'

from 1101; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including

Babylonia and the Babylonian empire:--Babel, Babylon.

see HEBREW for 01101

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל (ba.vel) — Babylon.

§ Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"

Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Babylon

The Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning “The Gate of God.” In the Assyrian tablets it means “The city of the dispersion of the tribes.” The monumental list of its kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

in the Apocalypse, is the symbolical name by which Rome is denoted. (Revelation 14:8; 17:18) The power of Rome was regarded by the later Jews as was that of Babylon by their forefathers. Comp. (Jeremiah 51:7) with Reve 14:8 The occurrence of this name in (1 Peter 5:13) has given rise to a variety of conjectures, many giving it the same meaning as in the Apocalypse; others refer it to Babylon in Asia, and others still to Babylon in Egypt. The most natural supposition of all is that by Babylon is intended the old Babylon of Assyria, which was largely inhabited by Jews at the time in question.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A celebrated city situated on the Euphrates, the original foundation of which is described under the word Babel. Wit this coincide many ancient traditions, while some speak of Semiramis as the founder, and others of Nebuchadnezzar. These accounts may all be reconciled, by supposing that Semiramis rebuilt the ancient city, and the Nebuchadnezzar. These accounts may all be reconciled, by supposing that Semiramis rebuilt the ancient city, and that Nebuchadnezzar afterwards greatly enlarged and adorned it.

Babylon lay in a vast and fertile plain watered by the Euphrates, with flowed through the city. Its walls are described as 60 miles in circumference, 300 feet high, and 75 feet wide, Jer 51:44- 58. A deep trench ran parallel with the walls. In each of the four sides were 25 brazen gates, from which roads crossed to the opposite…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

same as Babel

[the] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
וְשֶׁ֥בֶרve.She.ver and destruction H7667 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a breaking or shattering, like a physical injury or a dream being interpreted, and is used to convey ruin or destruction in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
breaking, shattering
Tyndale gloss
breaking
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫בֶר (sheber) refers to breaking or fracturing, encompassing meanings like crash, ruin, and destruction. It can also denote the breaking of a dream and its interpretation. The term appears in various contexts, including physical damage and emotional distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר n.m. breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7667 שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7667 sheber sheh'-ber

or sheber {shay'-ber}; from 7665; a fracture, figuratively,

ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream):--affliction,

breach, breaking, broken(-footed, -handed), bruise, crashing,

destruction, hurt, interpretation, vexation.

see HEBREW for 07665

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫בֶר (she.ver) — breaking.

1) breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering

1a) breaking, fracture, shattering, crushing

1b) crashing

1c) breaking (of a dream), interpretation

1d) quarries

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

de-struk'-shun: In the King James Version this word translates over 30 Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and 4 words in the New Testament. Of these the most interesting, as having a technical sense, is 'abhaddon (from verb 'abhadh, "to be lost," "to perish"). It is found 6 times in the Wisdom Literature, and nowhere else in the Old Testament; compare Re 9:11. See ABADDON.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Destruction

In Job 26:6, 28:22 (Heb. abaddon) is sheol, the realm of the dead.

[the] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
גָּד֖וֹלga.Dol great H1419 Adj
526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Amplified meaning
noise, voice, extensive, immense
Tyndale gloss
Great (Sea)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great

in magnitude and extent

in number

in intensity

in sound, loud

in age

in importance

in phrases

cstr.

as subst. concr. do great things

† as subst. neut. greatness of arm

base

הַגְּדוֹלִים n.pr.m. father of Zabdiel Ne 11:14 (RV & so most; but 𝔊 RVm al. the great).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent

. in number

. in intensity

. in sound, loud

. in age

. in importance

. in phrases

. cstr.

. as subst. concr. do great things

. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm

H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1419 gadowl gaw-dole'

or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any

sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +

exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,

thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,

proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.

see HEBREW for 01431

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

1e) older (in age)

1f) in importance

1f1) important things

1f2) great, distinguished (of men)

1f3) God Himself (of God)

subst

1g) great things

1h) haughty things

1i) greatness

Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).

adj

great

Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
[the] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
מֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retz from [the] land of H776 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
earth, territory
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HR/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

[the] sound of a cry of distress from Babylon and destruction great from [the] land of [the] Chaldeans
כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃kas.Dim [the] Chaldeans H3778 Noun proper
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Chaldea refers to a region in Mesopotamia and its inhabitants, known for wisdom and astrology, as seen in Daniel 1:4. The Chaldeans lived near the Persian Gulf and were considered wise. They are mentioned in 2 Kings 25:11.
Amplified meaning
inhabitants of Chaldea, known for wisdom
Tyndale gloss
Chaldea
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּשְׁדִּים (Kasdim) refers to the Chaldeans or Chaldea, a region in lower Mesopotamia. The term can denote the inhabitants of this area, as well as those considered wise, such as astrologers. It is derived from כֶּסֶד (Kesed), indicating descent. The word appears in various contexts, emphasizing both the geographical and cultural significance of the Chaldeans.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּשְׂדִּים n.pr.gent. et terr. Kasdim = Chaldeans, Chaldea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3778 כַּשְׂדִּים Kasdim = Chaldeans, Chaldea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3778 Kasdiy kas-dee'

(occasionally with enclitic) Kasdiymah {kas-dee'- maw};

towards the Kasdites:--into Chaldea), patronymically from 3777

(only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by

implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an

astrologer (as if proverbial of that people:--Chaldeans,

Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּשְׂדִּים (kas.di) — Chaldea.

§ Chaldea or Chaldeans = "clod-breakers"

1) a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf

2) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris

3) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name is taken, 1. For the people of Chaldea, and the subjects of that empire generally; 2. For philosophers, naturalists, or soothsayers, whose principal employment was the study of mathematics and astrology, by which they pretended to foretell the destiny of men born under certain constellations.

The Chaldeans were originally a warlike people, who at first inhabited the Carduchian or Koordish mountains north of Assyria and Mesopotamia, Jer 50:17. As the Assyrian monarchs extended their conquests towards the north and west, the Chaldeans also came under their dominion; and this rough and energetic people appear to have assumed, under the sway of their conquerors, a new character, and to have been transformed from a rude horde into a civilized people. A very vivid and graphic description of the Chaldean warriors is given by the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Learned and wise men of the east Da 1:4; 2:2; 4:7; 5:7; Jer 50:35

Thompson Chain Reference topics

an ancient race

Eze 23:23; Da 2:2; 3:8; 4:7; 5:7

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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