And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;

JEREMIAH 51:61KJV
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Jeremiah 51:61 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 51:61 mean?

Jeremiah 51:61 describes the prophet Jeremiah instructing Seraiah to go to Babylon and, once there, to see and read aloud all the words Jeremiah had given him. The verse shows Jeremiah making sure that his message about Babylon’s future is delivered directly and publicly in the city itself.

Jeremiah is speaking to Seraiah, who is about to travel to Babylon. Jeremiah gives Seraiah a written message—likely a scroll containing prophecies against Babylon—and tells him to read it when he arrives. This moment is part of a larger section where Jeremiah’s warnings about Babylon’s downfall are to be proclaimed right in the heart of Babylon, emphasizing the seriousness and certainty of the prophecy.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 51:61

  • ראה (ra’ah, H7200) — “see”: This word means more than just looking; it often carries the sense of witnessing or experiencing something firsthand. Jeremiah wants Seraiah to be an eyewitness to Babylon’s situation as he reads the prophecy.
  • קרא (qara’, H7121) — “read”: This word can mean to read aloud or proclaim. Jeremiah’s instruction is not just for private reading, but for Seraiah to make the words known publicly, giving the message a sense of authority and publicity.
  • דבר (davar, H1697) — “words”: This term refers to the specific content of Jeremiah’s prophecy. The focus is on the actual message, not just the act of reading, highlighting the importance of the prophecy itself.

Why Jeremiah 51:61 matters

  • Jeremiah 51:61 clarifies that Jeremiah’s prophecies about Babylon were not just spoken in Judah but were meant to be delivered in Babylon itself, showing the reach and seriousness of the message.
  • The verse highlights the role of Seraiah as a trusted messenger, showing that Jeremiah’s words were carefully preserved and intentionally delivered, not left to chance.
  • This instruction connects to the broader theme of Jeremiah 50–51, where God’s judgment on Babylon is a central focus, and it shows the deliberate steps taken to ensure Babylon hears the warning directly.

Where else these words appear

“Seraiah” Hebrew H8304 · used in 18 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
  • 1 Chronicles 4:35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
  • Nehemiah 12:1 Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

“Jeremiah” Hebrew H3414 · used in 133 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  • Jeremiah 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
  • Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;