Jeremiah 50:37
A sword against her horses and against her chariots, and against all the foreign troops in her midst, that they may become women! A sword against all her treasures, that they may be plundered!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The striking phrase "they shall become as women" isn't about gender, but a complete stripping of strength and courage, leaving even the proudest warriors utterly defenseless and broken. This highlights how God's judgment targets not just outward power but the very heart and resolve of those who trust in worldly might.
This verse delivers a brutal verdict on Babylon, immediately following God's declaration of its impending judgment. Jeremiah lists the very things Babylon prided itself on – its mighty cavalry, chariots, foreign mercenary troops, and vast treasures – as targets for destruction. The outcome is utter devastation, leaving Babylon stripped of its military might, its wealth plundered, and its people utterly demoralized.
Babylon was known for its formidable military machine, a symbol of its power and control. But Jeremiah vividly describes its complete dismantling.
Jeremiah 50:37 paints a stark picture of military defeat. The prophet declares a 'sword' against Babylon's:
The phrase 'they shall become as women' might sound strange today, but it carried a powerful meaning of complete defeat and loss of status in the ancient world.
The judgment declared in Jeremiah 50:37 goes beyond physical destruction; it speaks to a profound humiliation.
Understand the original words
sus/rekeb · Hebrew Noun
In the context of biblical warfare, these represent military power, human reliance on strength, and the instruments of oppression used by godless empires.
bazaz · Hebrew Verb
To be stripped of one's possessions or wealth by an enemy, often occurring as a consequence of divine judgment for arrogance or sin.
This prophecy vividly describes the utter devastation awaiting Babylon, specifically targeting its military might (horses, chariots, foreign troops), its wealth, and the loss of its martial spirit, all occurring at the hands of the conquering Persians.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire at its Zenith
Babylon, though a significant city, was under Assyrian domination for much of this period, experiencing cycles of rebellion and subjugation.
626 BC
Babylonian Independence Restored
Nabopolassar led a successful revolt against the declining Assyrian Empire, establishing the Neo-Babylonian Empire and ushering in an era of Babylonian power.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Judah and deported a number of its prominent citizens, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling more Judeans and consolidating Babylonian dominance over the region.
This passage describes the taunt against the king of Babylon, calling him 'oppressor' and 'insolent,' which echoes the judgment pronounced on Babylon in Jeremiah and highlights the pride that God brings low.
Jeremiah 51:30This verse continues the theme of Babylon's downfall, stating that its mighty men have ceased fighting and have become like women, directly paralleling the imagery used in Jeremiah 50:37.
Ezekiel 26:11While focused on Tyre, this passage describes the destruction of its defenses and treasures by the sword, similar to the fate prophesied for Babylon's military might and wealth.
Revelation 18:17This New Testament passage describes the merchants and sailors mourning the destruction of a great city (symbolically Babylon), lamenting its lost wealth and treasures, mirroring the plundering mentioned in Jeremiah.
calvinJeremiah 50:37: "A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed."
A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.
Gladins super equos ejus, et super currus ejus, et super mul…
barnesJeremiah 50:37: "A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed."
The mingled people - i. e., the foreigners serving as mercenaries in her army.
The striking phrase "they shall become as women" isn't about gender, but a complete stripping of strength and courage, leaving even the proudest warriors utterly defenseless and broken. This highlights how God's judgment targets not just outward power but the very heart and resolve of those who trust in worldly might.
This verse delivers a brutal verdict on Babylon, immediately following God's declaration of its impending judgment. Jeremiah lists the very things Babylon prided itself on – its mighty cavalry, chariots, foreign mercenary troops, and vast treasures – as targets for destruction. The outcome is utter devastation, leaving Babylon stripped of its military might, its wealth plundered, and its people utterly demoralized.
This verse delivers a brutal verdict on Babylon, immediately following God's declaration of its impending judgment. Jeremiah lists the very things Babylon prided itself on – its mighty cavalry, chariots, foreign mercenary troops, and vast treasures – as targets for destruction. The outcome is utter devastation, leaving Babylon stripped of its military might, its wealth plundered, and its people utterly demoralized.
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550-539 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great rapidly expanded the Persian Empire, creating a powerful new threat on Babylon's borders.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This event is the direct historical context for Jeremiah's prophecy of Babylon's judgment.
"A sword against her horses and against her chariots, and against all the foreign troops in her midst, that they may become women! A sword against all her treasures, that they may be plundered!" — The striking phrase "they shall become as women" isn't about gender, but a complete stripping of strength and courage, leaving even the proudest warriors utterly defenseless and broken. This highligh…
