Jeremiah 51:46 · Bible study
Jeremiah 51:46 Commentary: Strength in Tumultuous Times
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Learn how Jeremiah 51:46 calls God's people not to fear rumors of war and chaos, trusting God's sovereignty over nations.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A command for God’s people not to fear when they hear rumors of war and political chaos, because God sovereignly ordains these events to accomplish deliverance.
- Key words: Heart faint (rakhakh, to be weak/timid), Fear (yare, to be afraid), Rumor (she’mu’ah, report/news), Violence (chamas, wrong/cruelty), Ruler (mashal, to rule/dominion).
- Main debate: Whether the references to specific years refer to a precise timeline of Cyrus’s campaigns (Gill, Grotius) or are general statements about the period of upheaval before Babylon’s fall (Calvin).
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over human history and politics. Even chaos serves his redemptive purposes. Faith withstands rumor and upheaval because it trusts the God who rules over rulers.
- Best use: Comfort for those anxious about political instability, wars, or bad news. Teaching on how to hold hope in turbulent times. Connecting Old Testament prophecy to Jesus’s teaching about the end times.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year— and then another the next year— of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Don’t let your heart faint. Don’t fear for the news that will be heard in the land. For news will come one year, and after that in another year news will come, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
KJV King James Version 1769
And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And let not your heart faint, neither fear ye for the tidings that shall be heard in the land; for tidings shall come one year, and after that in another year shall come tidings, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And lest your heart be tender, And ye be afraid of the report that is heard in the land, And come in a year hath the report, And after it in a year the report, And violence is in the land, ruler against ruler;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; for a rumour shall come [one] year, and after that a rumour in [another] year, and violence in the earth, ruler against ruler.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And lest your hearts faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land: and a rumour shall come in one year, and after this year another rumour: and iniquity in the land, and ruler upon ruler.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y porque no desmaye vuestro corazón, y temáis á causa de la fama que se oirá por la tierra, en un año vendrá la fama, y después en otro año el rumor, y la violencia en la tierra, y el enseñoreador sobre el que enseñorea.
E para que vosso coração não perca as forças, e tenhais medo por causa das notícias que forem ouvidas pela terra; pois em um ano virá notícias, e depois em outro ano mais notícias; e haverá violência na terra, dominador sobre dominador.
Que votre cœur ne se trouble point, et ne vous effrayez pas
Euer Herz möchte sonst weich werden und verzagen vor dem Geschrei, das man im Lande hören wird; denn es wird ein Geschrei übers Jahr gehen und darnach im andern Jahr auch ein Geschrei über Gewalt im Lande und wird ein Fürst wider den andern sein.
En opdat ulieder hart misschien niet week worde, en gij vreest van het gerucht, dat gehoord zal worden in het land; want er zal een gerucht komen in het ene jaar, en daarna een gerucht in het andere jaar; en er zal geweld zijn in het land, heer over heer.
Il vostro cuore non s’avvilisca, e non vi spaventate delle voci che s’udranno nel paese; poiché un anno correrà una voce, e l’anno seguente correrà un’altra voce; vi sarà nel paese violenza, dominatore contro dominatore.
A nie bądźcie miękkiego serca, ani się lękajcie wieści, którą będzie słychać w tej ziemi; gdy przyjdzie jednego roku nowina, potem drugiego roku wieść i gwałt w ziemi, a pan na pana.
Да не ослабевает сердце ваше, и не бойтесь слуха, который будет слышен на земле; слух придет в один год, и потом в другой год, и на земле будет насилие, властелин восстанет на властелина.
你們不要 心 驚膽怯，也不要因境內 所聽見 的風聲 懼怕；因為這年 有風聲 傳來；那 年 也有風聲傳來，境內 有強暴的事，官長 攻擊 官長。
So that your hearts may not become feeble and full of fear because of the news which will go about in the land; for a story will go about one year, and after that in another year another story, and violent acts in the land, ruler against ruler.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 51:46
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse reassures the Jewish exiles not to lose heart when they hear alarming reports of war and political turmoil. The verbs “let your heart faint” (יֵרַךְ, from rakhakh, “to be weak, tender”) and “fear” (תִּירְאוּ, from yare) are prohibitions urging steadfastness. Calvin emphasizes that the prophet “seasonably meets” the danger of the exiles becoming faint amidst the commotions that accompany Babylon’s fall. Barnes notes that the fall was preceded by unquiet rumors of Median preparations and internal feuds. Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown see the repeated “rumor” as indicating a two-stage process: first news of Cyrus’s preparations, then of his approach. The consistent point is that God deliberately orchestrates chaos as a prelude to deliverance. The faithful are not to mistake upheaval for abandonment. Instead, they are to recognize God’s hand and hold firm.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Chronological interpretation: Points to specific years of Cyrus’s campaigns, citing Gill’s reliance on Herodotus and Grotius’s chronology.
- General pattern interpretation: Sees the years as a general picture of instability rather than a literal timeline, citing Calvin’s focus on the principle of steady faith.
What is clear: The core message is that God’s people are not to fear when they hear of war and political instability, because God controls these events and is working out deliverance.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Timing of the rumors | The verse describes a period of repeated alarming reports preceding Babylon’s fall. | Gill and Grotius read the years as a literal two-stage timeline (Cyrus’s preparation and approach). Calvin treats the years as a general picture of ongoing instability, not a precise chronology. |
| Ruler against ruler | Political upheaval and conflict among leaders is indicated. | Some see internal Babylonian succession disputes (Jarchi, Kimchi: ruler after ruler). Others see external military conflict, Cyrus against Belshazzar (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). |
| Scope of application | Originally addressed to Jewish exiles facing specific historical events. | Some restrict the promise to that context; others (following Jesus’s use in Matthew 24) see it as a timeless pattern for believers awaiting final deliverance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah wrote during the final years of the Judean monarchy and into the exile. The exiles lived in Babylon, the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. Now the prophet announces that Babylon itself will fall to the Medes and Persians. The “rumors” likely refer to news of Cyrus’s campaigns. The phrase “ruler against ruler” may allude to internal dissension within Babylon or to the succession of rulers after Belshazzar. Gill draws on Herodotus to describe Cyrus’s diversion at the Gyndes River. The cultural setting was one of propaganda and fear, Babylon was considered invincible, with its walls and waters. Yet God declares he will dry up her sea (Jer 51:36). The literary context of chapter 51 is a long judgment oracle concluding with a call for the exiles to flee. Verse 46 directly addresses their anxiety. The cross-reference to Matthew 24:6-7 shows that this pattern of wars and rumors prefigures the end times, but here it serves as immediate comfort. The “land” (אֶרֶץ) refers to Babylon, but the principle extends: God’s people are to trust him through political storms.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 51:46. The Cambridge Bible observes that the LXX omits a longer section from v.44 to v.49, but this is considered an accidental scribal error. The verse itself is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
This verse has been a source of comfort for Christians facing political upheaval and war. Its parallels to Jesus’s discourse on the signs of the end (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) gave it enduring relevance. Throughout church history, it has been read as an assurance that God’s people should not be terrified by the convulsions of nations, since those convulsions are under divine sovereignty. Preachers in times of persecution have cited it to steady congregations. In the Reformation, Calvin used it to encourage believers to see God’s hand behind the tumult of their own age.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The prohibition against fear: God tells his people not to let their hearts faint or be afraid. The word “faint” (rakhakh) suggests a softening or weakening of resolve. The command is not an option but a stance of faith.
- The pattern of upheaval: Rumors come year after year, violence erupts, rulers clash. God does not hide this reality. He forewarns so that when it happens, faith is not shaken. See Matthew 24:6-7.
- The reason for confidence: The chaos is not random. It is the birth pangs of deliverance. As Calvin says, God “suffers the world to be thrown into confusion” so that his redemption appears more remarkable. The exiles’ redemption was nearing.
Five-point outline
- “Don’t let your heart faint”, address internal weakness.
- “Don’t fear for the news”, address external threats.
- “News will come one year… another year”, God reveals the timeline.
- “Violence in the land”, expect turmoil.
- “Ruler against ruler”, political instability predicted.
Illustration hooks
- The news cycle: constant alerts of political crisis, economic collapse, war. This verse speaks to the anxiety of living in a 24-hour news culture.
- Preparing for a storm: when weather warnings come, you don’t panic if you’ve prepared. God’s warning is a form of preparation, not a reason to fear.
- A parent telling a child about a difficult move: the child might be anxious, but the parent’s calm assurance helps. God reassures his people.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I trust God when the news is all bad and the future seems uncertain?
- Does God’s sovereignty mean I should be passive in the face of danger?
- How do I live with hope when I see violence and division in my own nation?
Leading a Discussion
This verse from Jeremiah was given to exiles living under a foreign power. They faced rumors of war, news that could terrify or paralyze. God speaks directly to their hearts. He doesn’t deny the reality of the rumors, but he says: do not be afraid. Why? Because he is in control. For small groups, this passage invites honest conversation about fear and trust.
Discussion questions
- What kind of “rumors” or news reports cause you the most anxiety today?
- Why do you think God tells his people not to fear? How does that command interact with our real emotions?
- Read Matthew 24:6-7. How is Jesus’s warning similar to Jeremiah’s? How does it expand the scope?
- The verse mentions “violence in the land” and “ruler against ruler.” How have you seen this pattern in history or in current events?
- The exiles were told to “flee” Babylon (v.45) but not to fear. How do you balance wise action and trust in God?
- Calvin said this verse helps weak minds “not be overwhelmed” when they see grievous commotions. What practical steps help you keep a steady heart?
- How does knowing the end of the story, God’s victory, change how you face present uncertainties?
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)
| Judges 7:22 | They blew the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man’s sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. |
| I Samuel 14:16 | The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered. |
| I Samuel 14:20 | Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion. |
| II Kings 19:7 | Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”’” |
| II Chronicles 20:23 | For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy each other. |
| Isaiah 13:3 | I have commanded my consecrated ones; yes, I have called my mighty men for my anger, even my proudly exulting ones. |
| Isaiah 13:5 | They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Yahweh, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. |
| Isaiah 19:2 | I will stir up the Egyptians against the Egyptians, and they will fight everyone against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
A rumor shall - come one year - A year before the capture of the city there shall be a rumor of war, - and in that year Belshazzar was defeated by Cyrus. In the following year the city was taken.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the fall of Babylon was preceded by a state of unrest: men's minds were unsettled by rumors of war and internal violence. He draws a parallel to the similar warnings given to the Church before the Roman conquest of Jerusalem.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that when God is about to rescue His people, He often allows the world to fall into chaos first. These upheavals are not random; they make the coming deliverance stand out more clearly. The faithful need this reassurance so they do not lose heart amid the turmoil.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools suggests that the Greek Septuagint’s omission of several lines from this passage is a scribal mistake, not a deliberate change. The phrase calling for singing over Babylon means rejoicing at her downfall.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes warn that believers must not let their hearts faint at the terrifying news spreading through the land. Rumors will come year after year, bringing cruelty and internal conflict among rulers, but God's people are to trust Him rather than be paralyzed by fear.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads the rumour as the report of Cyrus preparing to invade Babylon, spreading over two years: first the news of his preparations, then the report of his actual advance. The violence and ruler against ruler refers to the battle between Cyrus and Belshazzar, with an alternative interpretation of one ruler after another in quick succession.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes a precise chronological pattern in this prophecy: a first rumor of war, then a second rumor the following year, and finally the signal to flee Babylon in the third year when Cyrus arrives. The repeated "ruler against ruler" signals rapid political upheaval leading to the city's fall.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlight that the Hebrew repetition of "report" indicates a correlative relation between different reports of war. They interpret "violence in the land" as a sign of rebellion and revolution that would bring down Babylon, and note that Christ uses this language to describe the wars and uprisings preceding His advent.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange presents a double picture: Babylon is taken and desolated, its chief god Bel robbed of plunder and worshippers, and even its great walls fall. Then he summons Israel to flee the desolation and not fear war rumors, for what comes on Babylon is the effect of Jehovah's wrath.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees God's judgment on Babylon as the answer to two questions that troubled God's people: is God still with Israel? and will Babylon's wickedness go unpunished? For him, the destroying wind and fanners are instruments of divine justice, proving that God has neither deserted His own nor overlooked the temple's desecration.