Jeremiah 51:46
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This verse isn't just talking about scary news; it highlights how escalating chaos—"a report in one year, and afterward a report in another," plus internal conflict—is the sign of impending judgment, meant to prompt action, not paralysis. It warns that the world's upheaval isn't random but part of God's sovereign plan, testing our faith amidst the turmoil.
Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet is warning the exiled Jews still in Babylon not to be shaken by the growing unrest and political turmoil within the empire. This instability, marked by repeated rumors of war and internal conflict, is not a sign of God's abandonment, but a prelude to Babylon's eventual fall and their deliverance.
Ever felt overwhelmed by the constant stream of bad news? Jeremiah speaks directly to that feeling, warning against letting it paralyze you.
Jeremiah is painting a picture of a land on the brink. The 'rumor' isn't just one piece of bad news; it's a recurring, unsettling sound that signals instability.
A Succession of Shocks
The verse mentions a rumor coming 'in one year' and 'another year.' This speaks to a prolonged period of anxiety, not a single event. Think of it like a series of unsettling reports – news of military movements, political upheaval, or internal conflict.
The Fabric of Society Unraveling
'Violence in the land, and ruler against ruler' describes the breakdown of order. It's not just external threats, but internal strife tearing the nation apart. This creates an environment where fear and panic can easily take root.
In the face of escalating chaos, God gives His people a direct command. It’s not about ignoring the danger, but about how we respond to it.
The core message of this verse is a call to inner strength and steadfastness. Jeremiah uses two strong commands: 'Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful.'
Refusing to Capitulate
'Faint' (or 'mollescat' in Latin, meaning 'grow soft' or 'become weak') speaks to a loss of resolve, a buckling under pressure. It’s the feeling of your spirit wilting when faced with overwhelming circumstances. The command is to resist this internal collapse.
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Guarding Against Panic
'Be not fearful' is a direct counteraction to the panic that rumors and violence are meant to sow. Fear can paralyze, leading to poor decisions and a loss of hope. God's people are called to a state of courageous trust, even when the world around them is in turmoil.
Understand the original words
rakak · Hebrew Verb
To lose courage, collapse, or become weary, often used in the context of moral or spiritual resolution in the face of judgment or war.
yare · Hebrew Adjective
A state of alarm or dread; in a biblical context, this is often the improper response to temporal chaos when one should instead trust in the sovereignty of God.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
Physical force or cruelty applied unjustly, often describing the corruption and lawlessness that precedes divine judgment upon a society.
The verse reassures the Jewish exiles that the surrounding chaos—rumors of war, violence, and changing rulers in Babylon—is a sign of the empire's impending doom, not a cause for despair. It encourages them to remain steadfast amidst the turmoil, knowing God is working toward their deliverance.
c. 556 BC
Child King Deposed
The young king Laborosoarchod is dethroned after only a few months. This event signals internal instability within the Babylonian Empire.
556-539 BC
Reign of Nabonidus
Nabonidus, father of Belshazzar, rules as the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His reign is marked by religious controversy and increasing external threats.
c. 550 BC
Cyrus's Rise and Expansion
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians, beginning his conquest of neighboring kingdoms. Rumors of his growing power and military preparations start to circulate.
c. 547-540 BC— this verse
Rumors of War and Violence
As Cyrus approaches Babylon, reports of his military campaigns and internal strife within Babylon reach the Jewish exiles. These constant 'rumors' and instances of violence cause fear and anxiety.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great captures Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This event fulfills the prophecies against Babylon and marks a turning point for the Jewish exiles.
This passage from Jesus' Olivet Discourse directly echoes Jeremiah's warning about 'rumors of wars,' highlighting how unsettling times often precede significant divine intervention or judgment.
Luke 21:9Similar to Matthew 24:6, this account also records Jesus referencing 'wars and tumults,' connecting the historical context of unrest in Jeremiah's day to future signs of the end times.
Isaiah 13:14This verse speaks of a coming judgment on Babylon, where individuals will be 'driven away, every man to his own land,' mirroring the sense of impending doom and the need for escape implied in Jeremiah 51:46.
Psalm 7:16The idea of 'violence' and 'a ruler against ruler' finds a conceptual parallel in this psalm, where the wicked are described as digging a pit and falling into it themselves, indicating the self-destructive nature of internal conflict and injustice.
barnesJeremiah 51:46: "And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler."
Literally, "And beware lest your heart faint, and ye be afraid because of the rumour that is heard in the land: for in one year shall one rumour come, and afterward in another year another rumour; and violence shall be in the land etc." The fall of Babylon was…
calvinJeremiah 51:46: "And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler."
And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
Et ne forte mollescat cor vest…
This verse isn't just talking about scary news; it highlights how escalating chaos—"a report in one year, and afterward a report in another," plus internal conflict—is the sign of impending judgment, meant to prompt action, not paralysis. It warns that the world's upheaval isn't random but part of God's sovereign plan, testing our faith amidst the turmoil.
The prophet is warning the exiled Jews still in Babylon not to be shaken by the growing unrest and political turmoil within the empire. This instability, marked by repeated rumors of war and internal conflict, is not a sign of God's abandonment, but a prelude to Babylon's eventual fall and their deliverance.
The prophet is warning the exiled Jews still in Babylon not to be shaken by the growing unrest and political turmoil within the empire. This instability, marked by repeated rumors of war and internal conflict, is not a sign of God's abandonment, but a prelude to Babylon's eventual fall and their deliverance.
"Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler." — This verse isn't just talking about scary news; it highlights how escalating chaos—"a report in one year, and afterward a report in another," plus internal conflict—is the sign of impending judgmen…
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Last reviewed October 2026
