Jeremiah 50:14 · Bible study
Jeremiah 50:14 Commentary: Summons to Divine Justice Against Babylon
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study of Jeremiah 50:14, exploring the call to attack Babylon, her sin against Yahweh, and God's justice for His oppressed people.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A call to surround and attack Babylon because her sin against Yahweh, especially oppressing His people, has reached its limit.
- Key words: עִרְכוּ (line up), דֹּרְכֵי קֶשֶׁת (bow-benders = archers), חָטָאָה לַיהוָה (sinned against Yahweh).
- Main debate: Whether the sin referenced is specifically the oppression of Israel, profaning temple vessels, or general pride; most commentators say it includes all, but the oppression of Israel is the chief offense.
- Theological theme: Divine justice, God’s identification with His people, and the certainty that evil empires will fall.
- Best use: A reminder of God’s sovereignty over history and a comfort for those who suffer under injustice, God sees and will act.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her. Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, All ye treading a bow, Shoot at her, have no pity on the arrow, For against Jehovah she hath sinned.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Prepare yourselves against Babylon round about, all you that bend the bow: fight against her, spare not arrows: because she hath sinned against the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Apercibíos contra Babilonia alrededor, todos los que entesáis arco; tirad contra ella, no escatiméis las saetas: porque pecó contra Jehová.
Preparai-vos em linha de batalha contra Babilônia ao redor, todos vós que armais arcos; atirai contra ela, não poupeis as flechas; pois ela pecou contra o SENHOR.
Rangez-vous en bataille autour de Babylone, vous tous, archers!
Rüstet euch wider Babel umher, alle Schützen, schießt in sie, spart die Pfeile nicht; denn sie hat wider den HERRN gesündigt.
Rust u tegen Babel rondom, gij allen, die den boog spant! schiet in haar, en spaart de pijlen niet; want zij heeft tegen den HEERE gezondigd.
Schieratevi contro Babilonia d’ogn’intorno, o voi tutti che tirate d’arco! Tirate contro di lei, non risparmiate le frecce! poich’essa ha peccato contro l’Eterno.
Szykujcie wojska przeciw Babilonowi zewsząd wszyscy, co ciągniecie łuk, strzelajcie do niego, nie żałujcie strzał; bo przeciwko Panu zgrzeszył.
Выстройтесь в боевой порядок вокруг Вавилона; все, натягивающие лук, стреляйте в него, не жалейте стрел, ибо он согрешил против Господа.
所有 拉 弓的，你們要在 巴比倫 的四圍 擺陣，射箭 攻擊她。不要 愛惜 箭枝，因 她得罪了 耶和華。
Put your armies in position against Babylon on every side, all you bowmen; let loose your arrows at her, not keeping any back: for she has done evil against the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 50:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse is God’s direct summons to the Medes and Persians to besiege Babylon. The opening imperative, “Set yourselves in array,” uses a plural Hebrew form (עִרְכוּ) that commands a line of battle, not merely a formation. Gill notes this is directed at armies expert in archery, a skill for which the Persians were known. Keil and Delitzsch treat it as part of a larger unit (Jeremiah 50:11, 20) that contrasts Babylon’s arrogance with God’s vengeance.
The key warrant for the attack is the final clause: “for she has sinned against Yahweh” (לַיהוָה חָטָאָה). The preposition לְ (to/against) before the divine name marks the sin as a direct offense against God. Calvin argues the chief sin was Babylon’s oppression of God’s people: “who hurts them toucheth the apple of his eye.” Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown agree, adding that profaning the temple vessels (Daniel 5:2) and pride were also included. The unity of the verse rests on this: God’s cause and His people’s cause are one.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse is a direct command from God to attack Babylon because she has sinned against Him; the sin is identified as a personal offense against Yahweh, tied to her treatment of His people.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of Babylon's sin | All traditions agree the sin is against Yahweh and includes the oppression of Israel. The verse states this directly. | Some commentators (e.g., Calvin, Matthew Henry) emphasize the oppression of God's people as the chief sin; others (e.g., Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) also highlight the profaning of temple vessels (Daniel 5:2). Both are seen as components of the same rebellion. |
| The role of the attacking armies | Christians agree that God used the Medes and Persians as instruments of His judgment, as prophesied in Isaiah 13:17, 18. | There is no major debate on the identity of the attackers; however, some ask whether the armies acted with moral will or merely as God's unwitting tools. The text presents them as responding to a divine summons (Jeremiah 50:9). |
| Application for the Church today | The passage is understood as a demonstration of God's justice and His care for His people, offering hope in times of oppression. | Traditions differ on how to apply the call to 'spare no arrows.' Historic Reformed theology treats it as a specific judgment on a historical enemy; pacifist traditions would not use it to justify military action. Both affirm that vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah 50:14 belongs to a lengthy oracle against Babylon (chapters 50, 51), written during Jerusalem’s final years (c. 595 BC). At that time, Babylon was at the height of power; Nebuchadnezzar had crushed Judah and exiled its people. The verse envisions a future reversal: the empire that once besieged Jerusalem would itself be besieged.
The historical agents were the Medes and Persians, as indicated in Isaiah 13:17 (“I will stir up the Medes against them”) and confirmed by accounts of Cyrus’s campaign (539 BC). The Hebrew term דֹּרְכֵי קֶשֶׁת (“those who bend the bow”) points to the Persian style of warfare, archers who shot from a distance and did not engage in pitched battle. This matches Xenophon’s description of Cyrus’s army, which included many bowmen and slingers.
The command to “spare no arrows” (אַל־תַּחְמְל֖וּ אֶל־חֵ֑ץ) uses a prohibitive form that forbids any restraint, implying total destruction. Lange observes that the structure of verses 14, 15 forms a progression: first the initial attack, then the final storm. The cry “Shout against her round about” in verse 15 signals surrender, as the city “gives her hand” (a gesture of submission). This was not merely a foreign war but an act of divine judgment, as repeatedly stated: “it is the vengeance of Yahweh.”
For Israel, captive in Babylon, this prophecy offered hope. The same God who had used Assyria and Babylon to discipline His people would now bring them to account. The sower and the reaper would be cut off (verse 16), and Israel would return to her pasture (verse 19). The historical fall of Babylon, though gradual, vindicated the prophetic word.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 50:14. The Hebrew text is stable across the Masoretic tradition and ancient versions. The construction “for she has sinned against Yahweh” (לַיהוָה חָטָאָה) is consistent in all major manuscripts.
Reception History
Jeremiah 50:14 has been read primarily as a prophecy of divine justice. Early church fathers, such as Jerome, cited it when interpreting Babylon as a type of the world’s opposition to God’s people. During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther used it to comfort persecuted Protestants: God would vindicate His church just as He judged Babylon. In later centuries, the verse was sung in hymns of divine judgment (e.g., Isaac Watts’ “The Fall of Babylon”). Modern evangelical and Catholic readings both stress God’s sovereignty over nations; the passage is frequently invoked in studies of biblical justice and lament.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God summons the archers. The verse opens with a military command to surround Babylon. The language is deliberate, God is not passive but actively calls the nations to execute His judgment.
- Sin against Yahweh is the charge. The Hebrew phrase “against Yahweh she has sinned” identifies the real offense. Babylon’s cruelty to Israel is treated as a personal attack on God Himself.
- No pity in judgment. “Spare no arrows” underscores the completeness of the sentence. When divine justice runs its course, there is no room for half-measures.
Five-point outline
- The enemy is named. Babylon, the proud empire, is now the target.
- The battle array is set. The forces are commanded to line up all around, leaving no escape.
- The archers are specific. The mention of bow-benders points to the Medes and Persians, historically known for archery.
- The arrows are not spared. No restraint is allowed, the judgment is final.
- The theological reason is given. The sin is against Yahweh, linking the political event to the divine will.
Illustration hooks
- The image of a siege: a city surrounded, no way out. In a season when life feels “shut in,” this verse reminds us that God sees the full picture and orchestrates justice.
- The archer’s discipline: drawing a bow requires strength and focus. The call to “shoot at her” evokes the precision of divine judgment, every arrow finds its mark.
- The phrase “spare no arrows” can be compared to a doctor who must remove all of a malignancy, not just part of it. God’s judgment is not cruel; it is thorough.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God used Babylon to judge Judah, why is Babylon itself punished? (Jeremiah 50:11, 12 addresses Babylon’s pride and malice.)
- Does this verse mean Christians should pray for God’s vengeance on our enemies? (Romans 12:19 says vengeance belongs to the Lord; this passage is a historical prophecy, not a personal directive.)
- What does it mean that sin against Israel is sin against Yahweh? (It reflects God’s identification with His people; see Zechariah 2:8.)
Leading a Discussion
This passage is set within God’s judgment on Babylon, the empire that devastated Jerusalem. It raises powerful questions about divine justice, human responsibility, and how God defends His people. As you discuss, keep in mind that the immediate context is ancient history, yet its themes of sin, judgment, and hope still speak today.
Discussion questions
- Read the verse aloud. What impressions does the military language (“set yourselves in array,” “bend the bow,” “spare no arrows”) create about God’s role in this judgment?
- The charge is that Babylon “has sinned against Yahweh.” From the surrounding verses (Jeremiah 50:11, 13, 15, 16, 28), what specific sins are highlighted? How do they relate to the treatment of God’s people?
- Calvin said that hurting God’s people is like touching “the apple of his eye.” How does that shape your understanding of God’s identification with His church?
- Why do you think God used foreign nations (the Medes and Persians) to carry out judgment? Does that raise any questions about their own moral accountability?
- Compare this verse with Isaiah 13:17, 18, which also describes the Medes as merciless archers. Why do you think the prophets emphasize the lack of pity in judgment?
- In what ways is this prophecy a source of hope for those who suffer oppression, and in what ways does it challenge us about our own attitudes toward justice?
- How does this passage point forward to the final judgment described in the New Testament? In what ways does Christ’s coming change how we understand vengeance and mercy?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 17:20 | David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the place of the wagons as the army which was going out to the fight shouted for the battle. |
| II Samuel 10:9 | Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. |
| Psalms 51:4 | Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge. |
| Isaiah 5:28 | whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent. Their horses’ hoofs will be like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind. |
| Isaiah 13:4 | The noise of a multitude is in the mountains, as of a great people; the noise of an uproar of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Yahweh of Armies is mustering the army for the battle. |
| Isaiah 13:17 | Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver, and as for gold, they will not delight in it. |
| Isaiah 13:18 | Their bows will dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb. Their eyes will not spare children. |
| Jeremiah 46:9 | Go up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin explains that the prophet commands the Medes and Persians to attack Babylon to demonstrate that God's word has real power and is never spoken in vain. The chief sin of Babylon was its tyranny against God's church, which Calvin calls acting wickedly against Jehovah Himself, for whoever harms His people touches the apple of His eye.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cp. Isa_13:16-22 , specially Jer_50:18 .
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Put your selues in aray against Babel rounde about: all ye that bende the bowe, shoote at her, spare no arrowes: for shee hath sinned against the Lord.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies the attackers as the Medes and Persians, noting their special skill with bows and arrows. He emphasizes they should hold nothing back in battle because God's anger against Babylon guarantees every arrow will strike its target. Babylon's sin against the Lord, especially His people, brought this judgment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Summons to the Median army to attack Babylon. against the Lord —By oppressing His people, their cause is His cause. Also by profaning His sacred vessels ( Da 5:2 ).
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch reads verses 11 and 12 as a single conditional threat: Babylon may rejoice over Israel now, but shame will follow. They treat the heifer and horse imagery as depicting unrestrained pride, and note that calling Babylon "the last of the nations" deliberately echoes Balaam's description of Amalek, signaling that the final enemy of Israel will meet the same desolate end.