Jeremiah 50:27
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The phrase "her bullocks" isn't referring to literal cattle, but to the strongest, most vital men—the princes, warriors, and "flower of the army"—who are about to be sacrificed in judgment. This isn't just a battle; it's a divine reckoning where even the mightiest are led like sacrificial animals to their doom.
Kill all her bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon, declaring God's judgment upon the city for its pride and oppression. The prophet describes the impending invasion and complete destruction of Babylon, likening its chosen warriors and leaders to sacrificial animals doomed for slaughter. This judgment is presented as the inevitable consequence of Babylon's actions, marking the end of its reign and the fulfillment of God's decreed punishment.
The verse speaks of slaying 'her bullocks.' Who exactly are these 'bullocks,' and why are they singled out?
The term 'bullocks' here isn't literal. It's a powerful metaphor used to describe the elite, the strong, and the protectors of Babylon.
Leaders and Warriors
Commentators point out that 'bullocks' refers to the princes, magistrates, the 'great and rich men,' and the 'strong youths' – essentially, the pride and might of Babylon's military and ruling class. They were seen as powerful, like bulls, but were destined for slaughter.
Sacrificial Imagery
This language also evokes the imagery of sacrificial victims. Just as animals were brought to the slaughter for a purpose, these men are presented as condemned offerings, their destruction serving God's judgment. Their strength and status offered no ultimate protection against divine wrath.
The verse rings with urgency: 'their day has come.' What does this mean for a nation, and how does it relate to God's justice?
The phrase 'their day has come' signifies a moment of unavoidable destiny and divine intervention. It's the culmination of prolonged sin and rebellion, leading to an appointed time of reckoning.
The Time of Visitation
This 'day' is referred to as 'the time of their visitation.' In biblical terms, visitation can be for blessing or judgment. For Babylon, steeped in sin and oppression, this visitation is unequivocally a time of judgment.
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Inexorable Justice
God's justice, though often patient, is also absolute. When a people or a leader consistently rejects God, oppresses others, and displays arrogance against the Holy One (as noted in the commentary), God will bring them to account. This verse declares that Babylon's period of grace has ended, and the sentence is now being carried out.
Understand the original words
hoy · Hebrew Interjection
A divine decree or announcement of impending judgment, calamity, or distress, often expressing God's righteous grief over the necessity of judgment.
pequddah · Hebrew Noun
The formal term for a period of divine visitation, encompassing both the act of judging and the resulting retribution or discipline for sins committed.
Jeremiah 50 predicts the downfall of Babylon, the empire that conquered Judah and exiled its people. The verse vividly describes the destruction of Babylon's military strength and leadership, highlighting that their 'day of visitation' and judgment has finally arrived after years of oppression.
c. 630-605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II reigns
Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar II, rises to become a dominant world power, conquering Judah and other nations. This era sets the stage for Jeremiah's prophecies against Babylon.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile begins
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and exiles many Judeans to Babylon. This event is a central focus of Jeremiah's ministry and deeply impacts his audience.
562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar II
The death of Babylon's most powerful ruler leads to a period of instability and succession struggles within the empire.
556-539 BC
Nabonidus reigns in Babylon
Nabonidus becomes the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His reign is marked by religious controversy and neglect of traditional Babylonian deities, potentially weakening the empire from within.
October 12, 539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia captures Babylon. This event marks the end of the Babylonian Empire and fulfills prophecies of its judgment.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus allows the exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks a new era for the Judean people, influenced by their Babylonian captivity.
This passage describes a similar sacrificial imagery of God's judgment, calling His sword 'drunk with blood' and referring to the victims as 'lambs and goats', paralleling Jeremiah's depiction of Babylon's leaders as 'bullocks' destined for slaughter.
Jeremiah 48:15This verse uses the phrase 'go down to the slaughter' in relation to Moab's destruction, echoing the fate of Babylon's 'bullocks' and highlighting a consistent prophetic metaphor for utter defeat and judgment.
Ezekiel 39:17-20This passage describes a great sacrificial feast prepared by God for the birds and beasts of the field from the slain armies, a vivid image of total destruction that complements the sense of finality in Jeremiah 50:27.
Luke 19:41-44Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, foretelling its destruction and stating, 'the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade against you and surround you and hem you in on every side... because you did not know the time of your visitation.' This connects the idea of a 'day of visitation' with impending judgment for those who reject God's ways.
clarkeJeremiah 50:27: "Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation."
Slay all her bullocks - Princes, magistrates, etc., etc.
pooleJeremiah 50:27: "Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation."
By bullocks in this place interpreters generally understand the great and rich men of Babylon.
The phrase "her bullocks" isn't referring to literal cattle, but to the strongest, most vital men—the princes, warriors, and "flower of the army"—who are about to be sacrificed in judgment. This isn't just a battle; it's a divine reckoning where even the mightiest are led like sacrificial animals to their doom.
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon, declaring God's judgment upon the city for its pride and oppression. The prophet describes the impending invasion and complete destruction of Babylon, likening its chosen warriors and leaders to sacrificial animals doomed for slaughter. This judgment is presented as the inevitable consequence of Babylon's actions, marking the end of its reign and the fulfillment of God's decreed punishment.
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Babylon, declaring God's judgment upon the city for its pride and oppression. The prophet describes the impending invasion and complete destruction of Babylon, likening its chosen warriors and leaders to sacrificial animals doomed for slaughter. This judgment is presented as the inevitable consequence of Babylon's actions, marking the end of its reign and the fulfillment of God's decreed punishment.
"Kill all her bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment." — The phrase "her bullocks" isn't referring to literal cattle, but to the strongest, most vital men—the princes, warriors, and "flower of the army"—who are about to be sacrificed in judgment. This isn'…
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Last reviewed October 2026
