Jeremiah 51:36 - Therefore Yahweh says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
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What does "Jeremiah 51:36" mean?
Jeremiah 51:36 is part of a longer oracle against Babylon, predicting its downfall. Let's break down the verse:
"Therefore Yahweh says:" This emphasizes that what follows is a divine declaration, a promise directly from God.
"Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you." This is a core statement of the verse.
"Plead your cause" means God will act as an advocate or lawyer on behalf of those who have been wronged by Babylon. Babylon was known for its oppression and injustice against other nations, including Judah.
"Take vengeance for you" means God will enact retribution or punishment upon Babylon for the wrongs it has committed. This isn't just personal revenge, but divine justice being served. The "you" here most likely refers to the people of Judah and other nations who have suffered under Babylon's rule.
"I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry." This describes the means by which God will bring about Babylon's downfall. This is likely metaphorical but also alludes to literal aspects of Babylon's reliance on water:
"Dry up her sea" While Babylon wasn't literally on a sea, the "sea" here likely refers to the Euphrates River, which was vital to Babylon's agriculture, trade, and defense. The river provided irrigation, drinking water, and a defensive moat around the city. Drying it up would cripple Babylon. The term "sea" can be used poetically to refer to a large body of water or a source of abundance and power.
"Make her fountain dry" This reinforces the idea of cutting off Babylon's water supply. The "fountain" could refer to the source of the Euphrates, other rivers feeding into it, or even metaphorical fountains of prosperity and strength.
In Summary:
The verse is a prophecy of God's judgment against Babylon. God promises to defend the victims of Babylon's oppression and to punish the city for its wickedness. The method of this punishment involves depriving Babylon of its life-giving water source (the Euphrates River), which represents both a physical and a symbolic crippling of the city's power and prosperity. This drying up leads to its eventual downfall.
Context is Key:
To fully understand this verse, it's crucial to consider the broader context of Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51. These chapters are filled with prophecies of Babylon's destruction, detailing the reasons for God's judgment and the manner in which it will occur. The imagery of drying up the water source is one of several powerful metaphors used to depict Babylon's complete and utter ruin.
Jeremiah 51:36 - Therefore Yahweh says: “Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.
What does "Jeremiah 51:36" mean?
Jeremiah 51:36 is part of a longer oracle against Babylon, predicting its downfall. Let's break down the verse:
"Therefore Yahweh says:" This emphasizes that what follows is a divine declaration, a promise directly from God.
"Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you." This is a core statement of the verse.
"Plead your cause" means God will act as an advocate or lawyer on behalf of those who have been wronged by Babylon. Babylon was known for its oppression and injustice against other nations, including Judah.
"Take vengeance for you" means God will enact retribution or punishment upon Babylon for the wrongs it has committed. This isn't just personal revenge, but divine justice being served. The "you" here most likely refers to the people of Judah and other nations who have suffered under Babylon's rule.
"I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry." This describes the means by which God will bring about Babylon's downfall. This is likely metaphorical but also alludes to literal aspects of Babylon's reliance on water:
"Dry up her sea" While Babylon wasn't literally on a sea, the "sea" here likely refers to the Euphrates River, which was vital to Babylon's agriculture, trade, and defense. The river provided irrigation, drinking water, and a defensive moat around the city. Drying it up would cripple Babylon. The term "sea" can be used poetically to refer to a large body of water or a source of abundance and power.
"Make her fountain dry" This reinforces the idea of cutting off Babylon's water supply. The "fountain" could refer to the source of the Euphrates, other rivers feeding into it, or even metaphorical fountains of prosperity and strength.
In Summary:
The verse is a prophecy of God's judgment against Babylon. God promises to defend the victims of Babylon's oppression and to punish the city for its wickedness. The method of this punishment involves depriving Babylon of its life-giving water source (the Euphrates River), which represents both a physical and a symbolic crippling of the city's power and prosperity. This drying up leads to its eventual downfall.
Context is Key:
To fully understand this verse, it's crucial to consider the broader context of Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51. These chapters are filled with prophecies of Babylon's destruction, detailing the reasons for God's judgment and the manner in which it will occur. The imagery of drying up the water source is one of several powerful metaphors used to depict Babylon's complete and utter ruin.