Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

JEREMIAH 50:29KJV
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Jeremiah 50:29 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 50:29 mean?

Jeremiah 50:29 describes a call for armies to surround Babylon and attack it without letting anyone escape, as payback for Babylon’s actions and pride against God. The verse says Babylon will be repaid for what it has done, especially because it acted arrogantly toward the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

In this verse, God is speaking through Jeremiah to announce judgment on Babylon. The setting is a prophecy about Babylon’s downfall, directed at those who will carry out the attack. The verse stresses that Babylon’s punishment matches its deeds, and highlights that its pride against God is the main reason for its coming destruction.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 50:29

  • "Recompense" (שָׁלַם, shalam): This word means to pay back or make whole. Here, it emphasizes that Babylon’s punishment is not random but is a direct repayment for its actions.
  • "Proud" (זָד, zad): This word means to act arrogantly or presumptuously. The verse points out that Babylon’s pride is not just general arrogance, but specifically directed against the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH), making it a serious offense.
  • "Holy One" (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh): This term underlines God’s set-apartness and purity. By calling God the "Holy One of Israel," the verse reminds readers that Babylon’s pride was against a uniquely holy and powerful God.

Why Jeremiah 50:29 matters

  • Jeremiah 50:29 clarifies that Babylon’s destruction is not just a political event but a moral response to its pride and actions against God.
  • The verse connects Babylon’s fate to its treatment of others and its attitude toward the LORD, showing that divine justice is at work.
  • This verse helps frame the surrounding passage as a warning against arrogance and injustice, not just a prediction of military defeat.