Jeremiah 50:28
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The opening "A voice!" isn't just a statement; it's a dramatic cue, like the prophet hearing the first whispers of escaping exiles. Their urgent mission isn't just to announce freedom, but to proclaim God's vindication, specifically for the deep dishonor done to His holy temple. This reveals that for the exiles, the restoration of their homeland was intimately tied to God’s righteous judgment for the desecration of His sacred space.
“A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In these verses, Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of Babylon's impending downfall, describing a chaotic scene of escape and impending judgment. The text is specifically setting the stage for exiled Jews, fleeing the fallen empire, to return to Zion and proclaim God's mighty acts of vengeance against their oppressors for the desecration of His temple. This announcement of divine retribution for the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred space marks a pivotal moment, transitioning from prophecy of destruction to the beginning of restoration.
Imagine the sound – a desperate cry echoing from a defeated empire. It's not just noise; it's the sound of hope returning.
The verse opens with an auditory image: "A voice!" This isn't a gentle whisper but a sudden, arresting sound, like a shout of alarm or urgency. It signals the immediate aftermath of Babylon's fall.
The Escaping Exiles
This "voice" belongs to those "flee and escape" from Babylon. These are the Judean captives, who have endured generations of exile. Their flight signifies not just physical liberation but the beginning of their return home.
A Message of Deliverance
Their cry isn't one of defeat, but of a triumphant message. They are fleeing to declare something significant. Their escape is intrinsically linked to their mission: to announce God's actions.
Babylon defiled God's house, but their destruction is God's powerful response. It’s a cosmic legal case being settled.
The core message of the fugitives is the "vengeance of the LORD our God." This isn't petty revenge, but divine justice enacted upon an oppressor.
The Insult to God's Honor
Specifically, the vengeance is "for his temple." The Babylonian conquest involved not just conquering the people but desecrating their sacred space and looting its treasures. This act was a direct affront to God's holiness and presence among His people.
Ask a follow-up
Vindication and Restoration
The fall of Babylon, therefore, serves as God's ultimate vindication. He is showing that He will not allow His name and His dwelling place to be treated with such contempt. This act of justice is the prelude to His people's restoration.
The escaping exiles aren't just running home; they're running to a place where they can share the monumental news of God's justice.
The destination for these fleeing exiles is crucial: "to declare in Zion." Zion, the site of Jerusalem and God's temple, is the symbolic and actual heart of the Israelite nation.
A Proclamation Point
Zion becomes the place where the news of Babylon's downfall and God's vengeance is proclaimed. It's where the exiles, upon their return, can testify to God's faithfulness and power, even after profound suffering.
Hope for the Desolate
For those remaining in or returning to Zion, this declaration is a powerful message of hope. It signifies that God has not forgotten them and that He actively intervenes against those who oppress His people and desecrate His name.
Understand the original words
neqamah · Hebrew Noun
The act of meting out righteous justice against those who have harmed God's people or defied His holiness; it is not motivated by human malice, but by God's faithfulness to His covenant.
hekal · Hebrew Noun
The central sanctuary where God's presence dwelt among His people; it represented His covenant relationship with Israel and His holiness.
Jeremiah's prophecy describes the joyous return of Jewish exiles from Babylon, who carry the news of God's judgment upon their oppressors. This event is deeply tied to the destruction and subsequent restoration of the Temple.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and begins deporting Jews, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, carrying off many sacred vessels. This act of desecration is a primary reason for God's vengeance.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Medo-Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, conquers Babylon. This event signifies the end of Babylonian dominance and opens the way for Jewish return.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This fulfills prophecy and allows for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
This psalm directly echoes the sentiment of vengeance for destruction, specifically mentioning the devastation of Jerusalem and calling for retribution against those who caused it.
Isaiah 47:1-6This passage vividly describes Babylon's pride and foretells its downfall, emphasizing that God himself will bring vengeance upon them for their treatment of His people and His holy city.
Jeremiah 51:10This verse speaks directly to Babylon's impending judgment, referencing the Lord bringing forth the 'righteousness' of his cause and showing the nations his vengeance for his temple.
2 Chronicles 36:17-21This historical account details the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians, setting the stage for the divine vengeance that Jeremiah prophesies.
clarkeJeremiah 50:28: "The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple."
Declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord - Zion was desolated by Babylon; tell Zion that God hath desolated the desolator. The vengeance of his temple - Which Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged, profaned, and demolished, transporting its sacred vessels to Babylon, and putting them in the temple of his god Bel.
pooleJeremiah 50:28: "The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple."
The prophet here brings in the poor Jews that had been captives in Babylon going back upon Cyrus’s proclamation of liberty towards Zion, there joyfully to declare the revenge which their God had taken for them, and for his holy temple, which the Chaldeans had burnt and destroyed.
The opening "A voice!" isn't just a statement; it's a dramatic cue, like the prophet hearing the first whispers of escaping exiles. Their urgent mission isn't just to announce freedom, but to proclaim God's vindication, specifically for the deep dishonor done to His holy temple. This reveals that for the exiles, the restoration of their homeland was intimately tied to God’s righteous judgment for the desecration of His sacred space.
In these verses, Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of Babylon's impending downfall, describing a chaotic scene of escape and impending judgment. The text is specifically setting the stage for exiled Jews, fleeing the fallen empire, to return to Zion and proclaim God's mighty acts of vengeance against their oppressors for the desecration of His temple. This announcement of divine retribution for the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred space marks a pivotal moment, transitioning from prophecy of destruction to the beginning of restoration.
In these verses, Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of Babylon's impending downfall, describing a chaotic scene of escape and impending judgment. The text is specifically setting the stage for exiled Jews, fleeing the fallen empire, to return to Zion and proclaim God's mighty acts of vengeance against their oppressors for the desecration of His temple. This announcement of divine retribution for the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred space marks a pivotal moment, transitioning from prophecy of destruction to the beginning of restoration.
"“A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple." — The opening "A voice!" isn't just a statement; it's a dramatic cue, like the prophet hearing the first whispers of escaping exiles. Their urgent mission isn't just to announce freedom, but to procl…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
