Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
JEREMIAH 51:3KJVWhat does Jeremiah 51:3 mean?
Jeremiah 51:3 is a command to Babylon’s enemies not to hold back in battle: archers are told to shoot at Babylon’s warriors, even those well-armored, and not to spare the young men, but to destroy the entire army. The verse is part of a prophecy describing the total defeat that will come upon Babylon.
The prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s words to the nations attacking Babylon. The setting is the coming judgment against Babylon for its pride and violence. The language is forceful, showing that Babylon’s defenders—no matter how skilled or protected—will not escape destruction, and the attackers are told to show no mercy.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 51:3
- “bendeth,” “archer,” and “bend” all come from דָּרַךְ (darakh), which means to string or draw a bow. The repetition stresses the action of preparing to shoot, emphasizing the readiness and determination of the attackers.
- “bow” is קֶשֶׁת (qeshet), the standard word for a bow, highlighting the focus on archery as a main weapon in this battle.
- “brigandine” is שִׁרְיָן (shiryan), meaning a coat of mail or armor. This points out that even those who are well-protected will be targeted and not spared.
- “spare” is חָמַל (chamal), meaning to have compassion or to show mercy. The command is to show no mercy, underlining the totality of the coming destruction.
- “utterly” is חָרַם (charam), which means to devote to destruction or to completely destroy. This word often carries the sense of something being set apart for complete ruin.
Why Jeremiah 51:3 matters
- Jeremiah 51:3 makes clear that Babylon’s defeat will be thorough, with no exceptions for the young or the strong, and no mercy shown even to those who seem most secure.
- The verse connects to the larger prophecy in Jeremiah 51, where Babylon’s downfall is described as certain and divinely ordered, not just a random act of war.
- The specific mention of archers and armor highlights the futility of relying on military strength or defenses when facing God’s judgment.