Jeremiah 51:55 Meaning: What Does the 'Great Voice' Mean?
For Yahweh lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered.
Because the Lord hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
For Jehovah layeth Babylon waste, and destroyeth out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is uttered:
For Jehovah is spoiling Babylon, And hath destroyed out of it a great voice, And sounded have its billows as many waters, Given forth a noise hath their voice.
for Jehovah spoileth Babylon, and he will destroy out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like great waters, the noise of their voice resoundeth.
Meaning in one sentence
God silences Babylon's great voice and the roaring waves of invaders. Understand the meaning of this verse of judgment.
Context
Jeremiah 51 is a long prophecy against Babylon, the empire that had conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. God had used Babylon to judge His people, but now Babylon itself would face judgment. In verse 54 the prophet hears a cry of anguish coming from Babylon. Then verse 55 explains why: the Lord Himself is laying the city waste. He destroys out of her the great voice, the noise of a thriving, bustling capital. And instead of that human noise, the roar of enemy armies will be heard, like waves crashing. The whole chapter is a declaration that no power, no matter how mighty, stands against the Lord.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The verb shadad (lays waste) means to violently devastate, to spoil or plunder. It is the same word used for what invading armies do. God is not passively watching; He is the active destroyer. And the pair kol gadol (great voice) literally means a loud sound. Commentators see it as the constant hum of a crowded city, merchants shouting, crowds moving, feasting and boasting. That voice is silenced. Then the waves that roar (hamah) are not literal ocean waves but the surging, shouting armies God sends. The noise of their voice (sha’on, uproar) fills the space where Babylon’s proud voice once rang. One sound replaces another, and the new sound is judgment.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read the great voice in different ways. Some, like Adam Clarke and Calvin, see it as Babylon’s pride and insufferable boasting, the arrogant talk of an empire that thought itself untouchable. Others, including the Cambridge Bible and Matthew Henry, understand it as the common din of city life, the noise of commerce, entertainment, and busy streets. The roaring waves are almost universally taken as the invading armies of the Medes and Persians, described elsewhere in Jeremiah as a sea of nations. Both readings agree: God removes the sound of human confidence and replaces it with the sound of His justice.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the great voice refers only to the shouts of Babylon’s soldiers or its rulers. But the word voice here is broader. It includes every kind of noise that made Babylon feel alive and powerful, the marketplace, the feasts, the boasts of its leaders. In fact, the verse contrasts that whole world of sound with the roar of God’s instruments of judgment. The silence that follows is not just military defeat; it is the end of an entire way of life built on pride.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the voices that tell you the world runs on power, money, and noise. Listen to the news, the talk at work, the pride in your own heart. Jeremiah 51:55 is a quiet reminder that every loud claim of human greatness will one day fall silent. You do not need to match the world’s volume. You can trust the God who speaks in stillness and who brings down what is proud. Let that truth free you from having to prove yourself, and give you peace when the noise around you feels overwhelming.
Main takeaway: God alone has the final word; He silences the proud noise of human power and brings about His quiet justice.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God can make even the loudest city quiet. Babylon was very noisy and proud, but God stopped all that noise. He is stronger than any loud thing.
For ages 9, 12
Babylon was a rich, busy city full of people and noise. But God said He would destroy that great voice. Instead, the sound of enemy armies would roar like waves. God was showing that no matter how strong or proud a city or person is, He is always greater. He brings justice and quiet where there was boasting.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the great voice' mean in Jeremiah 51:55?
It means the loud noise of a busy, prosperous city, the hum of crowds, marketplace shouts, celebration, and arrogant boasting. God destroys that sound, leaving silence.
Who do 'their waves' refer to in this verse?
Most commentators agree the waves represent the invading armies God sends against Babylon, likely the Medes and Persians. They roar like many waters, a sound of destruction replacing Babylon's former noise.
Is Jeremiah 51:55 only about ancient Babylon, or does it apply today?
It directly addresses Babylon, but the pattern applies to any human power that boasts against God. It reminds us that pride, whether in a nation or in our own hearts, will eventually be humbled.
What does 'the noise of their voice is uttered' mean?
It means the uproar or shouting of the invading armies is heard. The Hebrew word 'shaon' suggests a roaring, tumultuous sound. This is the new noise that replaces Babylon's silenced great voice.
How does this verse relate to Revelation 18?
Revelation 18 describes the fall of 'Babylon the Great,' using similar language about silence replacing the sound of music, work, and celebration. Many Christians see Jeremiah 51 as a prophetic pattern that finds ultimate fulfillment in God's final judgment on all worldly power.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study