Jeremiah 51:36
Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God declares He will personally handle the case, but notice how the promised vengeance is described: drying up Babylon's "sea" and making its "fountain" dry. This isn't just about military defeat; it's about cutting off the very lifeblood – its water, resources, and perhaps even its massive canal systems that sustained its wealth and power.
Following Zion's cry for justice against Babylon for its violence, God declares He will personally step in to defend His people and exact vengeance. He promises to utterly devastate Babylon's defenses, symbolized by drying up its great river or reservoirs and its entire water system, cutting off its lifeblood and wealth. This divine intervention ensures that all the resources and power Babylon relied upon will be rendered useless.
When injustice feels overwhelming and your cries seem to echo unanswered, who hears you? This verse reveals God's powerful response to those who have been wronged.
Jeremiah 51:36 opens with God declaring, 'Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you.' This isn't just a general promise; it's a direct response to the pain and suffering described in the preceding verses, where Zion and Jerusalem cry out about the violence and bloodshed inflicted upon them.
Imagine the very lifeblood of a mighty empire being systematically drained away. What does it mean for God to 'dry up her sea' and 'make her fountain dry'?
The latter part of Jeremiah 51:36 uses powerful metaphors to describe the complete dismantling of Babylon's strength and resources: 'I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry.' The commentaries highlight that this imagery relates to the vital systems that sustained Babylon.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, covenant faithfulness, and sovereignty over history.
riyb · Hebrew Verb
To act as a legal advocate or defender in a case, often used of God intervening to uphold the rights and vindication of His people.
naqam · Hebrew Noun
The execution of retributive justice against those who have harmed God's people; it is the prerogative of God alone to execute perfect justice.
This prophecy speaks directly to the devastation of Jerusalem in 586 BC, assuring the exiles that God hears their cries and will act as their advocate, ultimately bringing judgment upon their oppressors. The "sea" and "springs" refer to Babylon's sophisticated water systems and its overall prosperity, which God promises to dry up.
c. 626 BC
Nabopolassar establishes Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar, a Chaldean general, revolts against Assyrian rule and establishes the Neo-Babylonian Empire, setting the stage for Babylon's future dominance.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II begins his reign
Nebuchadnezzar II, Nabopolassar's son, inherits a powerful empire and expands Babylonian influence, including the conquest of Judah and the first deportation of Judeans to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Jerusalem, destroys Solomon's Temple, and exiles many more Judeans to Babylon. This event is a profound trauma for the people of Judah, leading to much of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry.
c. 547 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Lydia
Cyrus, the Persian king, continues his military expansion, conquering the Lydian kingdom. This marks the rise of Persia as a major power that will eventually challenge Babylon.
This passage directly links God's role as redeemer with His promise to plead and avenge His people, echoing the core message of Jeremiah 51:36.
Psalm 94:1-4This psalm also voices the cry for divine vengeance against oppressors and celebrates God as the ultimate judge who will repay wrongdoing, paralleling the sentiment of Jeremiah 51:36.
Nahum 3:8This verse describes Nineveh's destruction using imagery of waters (the Nile) and its destruction, similar to how Jeremiah 51:36 uses 'sea' and 'fountain' to signify the drying up of Babylon's resources and power.
Revelation 16:12This New Testament passage alludes to the drying up of the Euphrates in preparation for the kings of the East, likely referencing Jeremiah's prophecy and showing its lasting impact on biblical imagery of judgment.
barnesJeremiah 51:36: "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry."
Her sea - Probably the great lake dug by Nitocris to receive the waters of the Euphrates. Her springs - Her reservoir; the whole system of canals dug Jeremiah 51:13. The wealth of Babylonia depended upon irrigation.
clarkeJeremiah 51:36: "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry."
I will dry up her sea - Exhaust all her treasures.
God declares He will personally handle the case, but notice how the promised vengeance is described: drying up Babylon's "sea" and making its "fountain" dry. This isn't just about military defeat; it's about cutting off the very lifeblood – its water, resources, and perhaps even its massive canal systems that sustained its wealth and power.
Following Zion's cry for justice against Babylon for its violence, God declares He will personally step in to defend His people and exact vengeance. He promises to utterly devastate Babylon's defenses, symbolized by drying up its great river or reservoirs and its entire water system, cutting off its lifeblood and wealth. This divine intervention ensures that all the resources and power Babylon relied upon will be rendered useless.
Following Zion's cry for justice against Babylon for its violence, God declares He will personally step in to defend His people and exact vengeance. He promises to utterly devastate Babylon's defenses, symbolized by drying up its great river or reservoirs and its entire water system, cutting off its lifeblood and wealth. This divine intervention ensures that all the resources and power Babylon relied upon will be rendered useless.
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539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian army under Cyrus conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This conquest fulfills prophecies of judgment against Babylon and offers hope for the return of the exiles.
"Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry," — God declares He will personally handle the case, but notice how the promised vengeance is described: drying up Babylon's "sea" and making its "fountain" dry. This isn't just about military defeat; it…
