Jeremiah 51:58

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, The broad walles of Babylon shalbe vtterly broken, and her high gates shal be burnt with fire, and the people shall labour in vaine, and the folke in the fire, and they shall be weary. Jeremiah 51:58 (KJV)

The proclamation begins with “Thus saith the LORD of hosts,” a clear indication that the words are divine and carry the authority of God over the nations. This opening frames the entire passage as a solemn judgment against Babylon for its pride, idolatry, and oppression.

Destruction of Babylon

The verse describes the complete collapse of Babylon’s defenses: the “broad walls…shall be utterly broken” and the “high gates…shall be burned with fire.” Draft 3 adds that the “broad wall of Babylon, which standeth high, shall be broken down, and the city shall be turned inward, and the houses shall be burnt with fire.” Together these images convey a total ruin of the city’s fortifications and dwellings, leaving no refuge for its inhabitants.

Labor in Vain

The people’s attempts to preserve their city are rendered futile: “the people shall labour in vain.” Their efforts to rebuild or defend the walls will achieve nothing against the inevitable divine judgment.

Weariness and Suffering

The passage further declares that “the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.” The inhabitants will be consumed by the flames and exhausted by the suffering that follows, underscoring the severity of the punishment.

Overall, Jeremiah 51:58 serves as a stark warning that no empire, however powerful, is exempt from God’s righteous judgment when it persists in wickedness and rebellion. The imagery of broken walls, burning gates, futile labor, and exhausted people calls believers to humility, obedience, and a reverent dependence on God’s mercy, reminding us that true security rests not in human strength but in faithful devotion to the Lord.