God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 51:9
9We wanted to heal Babylon, but it couldn’t be healed. Let’s abandon it and go to our own land. God has judged Babylon. Its judgment is complete.
Jeremiah 51:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
- New International Version (NIV)“ ‘We would have healed Babylon, but she cannot be healed; let us leave her and each go to our own land, for her judgment reaches to the skies, it rises as high as the heavens.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed. Forsake her, and let us go each to his own country, for her judgment has reached up to heaven and has been lifted up even to the skies.
- New King James Version (NKJV)We would have healed Babylon, But she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies.
Context of Jeremiah 51:9
7Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand. It made the whole world drunk. The nations drank its wine. That is why the nations have gone insane. 8Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered. Cry for it. Bring medicine for its pain. Maybe it can be healed. We wanted to heal Babylon, but it couldn’t be healed. Let’s abandon it and go to our own land. God has judged Babylon. Its judgment is complete. 10The Lord has brought about our victory. Let’s announce in Zion what the Lord our God has done. 11Sharpen the arrows; fill the quivers. The Lord will stir up the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is to destroy Babylon. The Lord will avenge his temple.
Read all of Jeremiah 51Jeremiah 51:9 word by word
רִפִּ֣ינוּ אֶת־בָּבֶל֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְפָּ֔תָה עִזְב֕וּהָ וְנֵלֵ֖ךְ אִ֣ישׁ לְאַרְצ֑וֹ כִּֽי־נָגַ֤ע אֶל־הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִשְׁפָּטָ֔הּ וְנִשָּׂ֖א עַד־שְׁחָקִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- We would have healedרָפָאrâphâ' râphâh · to healH7495
- Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH894
- forsakeעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
- her, and let us goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- into his own countryאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- for her judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- reachethנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
- unto heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- and is lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- to the skiesשַׁ֫חַקshachaq · cloudH7834
Cross-references for Jeremiah 51:9
- Jeremiah 8:20The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we haven’t been saved.
- Jeremiah 46:16They have repeatedly stumbled, and now they have fallen. They say to each other, ‘Get up! Let’s go back to our people, to the land where we were born, and escape our enemy’s sword.’
- Jeremiah 50:16Don’t allow anyone in Babylon to plant or harvest. Everyone will turn to his own people and flee to his own homeland because of the enemies’ swords.
- Isaiah 13:14They’ll be like hunted gazelle and like sheep with no one to gather them. Everyone will return to his own people and flee to his own land.
- Isaiah 47:15This is how it will be for those who have worked with you, for those who have been with you ever since you were young. They will go their own ways, and there will be no one to save you.
- Matthew 25:10“While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.
- 2 Chronicles 28:9A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went to meet the army coming home to Samaria. He said to them, “The Lord God of your ancestors handed Judah over to you in his anger. You killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven.
- Ezra 9:6and said, “I am ashamed, my God. I am embarrassed to look at you. Our sins have piled up over our heads, and our guilt is so overwhelming that it reaches heaven.
- Daniel 4:20You saw an oak tree grow and become strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth.
- Revelation 18:5Her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 51:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9We would have healed Babylon - Had it been in our power, we would have saved her; but we could not turn away the judgment of God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Omit would. All was done that it was possible to do to heal her. To the skies - Or, to the clouds.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10Nothing could save Babylon; her punishment was immense. After Babylon fell, the exiles would return home. There, they could share stories of God's wonderful acts for them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-98-9. Her friends and confederates, who behold her fall, are invited to her aid. They reply, her case is incurable, and that they must leave her to her fate. (Is 21:9; Re 14:8; 18:2, 9). balm--(Jr 8:22; 46:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 51:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 51
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries