Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields! The LORD has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon. The LORD will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple. New Living Translation Sharpen the arrows! Lift up the shields! For the LORD has inspired the kings of the Medes to march against Babylon and destroy her. This is his vengeance against those who desecrated his Temple. English Standard Version “Sharpen the arrows! Take up the shields! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple. Berean Standard Bible Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD—vengeance for His temple. King James Bible Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. New King James Version Make the arrows bright! Gather the shields! The LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, Because it is the vengeance of the LORD, The vengeance for His temple. New American Standard Bible Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His plan is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance for His temple. NASB 1995 Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance for His temple. NASB 1977 Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance for His temple. Legacy Standard Bible Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! Yahweh has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of Yahweh, vengeance for His temple. Amplified Bible Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields [and cover yourselves]! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it; For that is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance [on Babylon] for [plundering and destroying] His temple. Christian Standard Bible Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has roused the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the LORD’s vengeance, vengeance for his temple. Holman Christian Standard Bible Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has put it into the mind of the kings of the Medes because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the LORD’s vengeance, vengeance for His temple. American Standard Version Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple. Contemporary English Version I, the LORD, want Babylon destroyed, because its army destroyed my temple. So, you kings of Media, sharpen your arrows and pick up your shields. English Revised Version Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his device is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. GOD'S WORD® Translation Sharpen 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. Good News Translation The LORD has stirred up the kings of Media, because he intends to destroy Babylonia. That is how he will take revenge for the destruction of his Temple. The attacking officers command, "Sharpen your arrows! Get your shields ready! International Standard Version Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes— he has decided to destroy Babylon. Indeed, it's the LORD's vengeance, vengeance for his Temple. Majority Standard Bible Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD—vengeance for His temple. NET Bible "Sharpen your arrows! Fill your quivers! The LORD will arouse a spirit of hostility in the kings of Media. For he intends to destroy Babylonia. For that is how the LORD will get his revenge--how he will get his revenge for the Babylonians' destruction of his temple. New Heart English Bible Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. Webster's Bible Translation Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. World English Bible “Make the arrows sharp! Hold the shields firmly! Yahweh has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for it is the vengeance of Yahweh, the vengeance of his temple. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionCleanse the arrows, fill the shields, "" YHWH has stirred up the spirit of the kings of Media, "" For His purpose [is] against Babylon to destroy her, "" For it [is] the vengeance of YHWH, "" The vengeance of His temple. Young's Literal Translation Cleanse ye the arrows, fill the shields, Stirred up hath Jehovah the spirit of the kings of Madia, For against Babylon His device is to destroy it, For the vengeance of Jehovah it is, The vengeance of His temple. Smith's Literal Translation Polish the arrows; fill the quivers: Jehovah roused up the spirit of the kings of the Males: for his purpose is against Babel, to destroy her; for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSharpen the arrows, fill the quivers, the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: and his mind is against Babylon to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple. Catholic Public Domain Version Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers. The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. And his mind is against Babylon, so that he may destroy her. For this is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple. New American Bible Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers; The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, for his resolve is Babylon’s destruction. Yes, it is retribution from the LORD, retribution for his temple. New Revised Standard Version Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance for his temple. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleGather the quivers; fill them with arrows; the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the king of the Medes; for his device is against Babylon, to destroy her; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Gather the quivers; fill them with arrows. LORD JEHOVAH has stirred the spirit of the King of Media, because his mind is upon Babel for its destruction, because her payment is of LORD JEHOVAH and the vengeance of his temple OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Make bright the arrows, Fill the quivers, The LORD hath roused the spirit of the kings of the Medes; Because His device is against Babylon, to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the LORD, The vengeance of His temple. Brenton Septuagint Translation Prepare the arrows; fill the quivers: the Lord has stirred up the spirit of the king of the Medes: for his wrath is against Babylon, to destroy it utterly; for it is the Lord's vengeance, it is the vengeance of his people. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Judgment on Babylon…10“The LORD has brought forth our vindication; come, let us tell in Zion what the LORD our God has accomplished.” 11Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD— vengeance for His temple. 12Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon; post the guard; station the watchmen; prepare the ambush. For the LORD has both devised and accomplished what He spoke against the people of Babylon.… Cross References Isaiah 13:17 Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. Isaiah 45:1-2 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: / “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. Daniel 5:28 PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” Revelation 18:6-8 Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup. / As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’ / Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.” Habakkuk 1:6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. Revelation 17:16-17 And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. / For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. Isaiah 13:1-5 This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received: / Raise a banner on a barren hilltop; call aloud to them. Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. / I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have even summoned My warriors to execute My wrath and exult in My triumph. ... Jeremiah 50:9 For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed. Isaiah 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay. Revelation 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her. Isaiah 47:11 But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly. Jeremiah 50:21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,” declares the LORD. Revelation 18:2 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. Isaiah 48:14 Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The LORD’s chosen ally will carry out His desire against Babylon, and His arm will be against the Chaldeans. Treasury of Scripture Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. Make Jeremiah 46:4,9 Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines… Jeremiah 50:9,14,25,28,29 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain… Isaiah 21:5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. bright [heb] pure Jeremiah 51:27,28 Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers… 1 Kings 11:14,23 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom… 1 Chronicles 5:26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day. his device Jeremiah 51:12,29 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon… Jeremiah 50:45 Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them. the vengeance Jeremiah 51:24,35 And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD… Jeremiah 50:15,28 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her… Psalm 74:3-11 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary… Jump to Previous Arrows Babylon Bright Destroy Device Fill Firm Gather Hold Kings Medes Purpose Quivers Raised Roused Sharp Sharpen Shields Spirit Stirred Temple VengeanceJump to Next Arrows Babylon Bright Destroy Device Fill Firm Gather Hold Kings Medes Purpose Quivers Raised Roused Sharp Sharpen Shields Spirit Stirred Temple VengeanceJeremiah 51 1. The severe judgment of God against Babylon, in revenge of Israel59. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates, 64. in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon Sharpen the arrows! The phrase "Sharpen the arrows!" is a call to prepare for battle, emphasizing readiness and precision. In the Hebrew context, the word for "sharpen" (חַדּוּ) implies making something sharp or ready for use. Arrows were a primary weapon in ancient warfare, symbolizing the need for God's people to be prepared for spiritual battles. This preparation is not just physical but also spiritual, calling believers to be vigilant and ready to defend their faith. Fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes because His purpose against Babylon is to destroy her For it is the vengeance of the LORD vengeance for His temple Gather the shields.--Literally, fill the shields, i.e., arm yourselves with them, The large shields of the Persian soldiers covered the whole body, and the man literally filled them. The LXX. and Vulgate agree in rendering the noun "quivers" instead of "shields," but this would seem to have been a conjecture rising out of a wish to connect the two clauses. The rendering of the Authorised version agrees with the use of the word in Song Song of Solomon 4:4; Ezekiel 27:11; 2Kings 11:10. Some critics interpret the words as meaning "fill the shields with oil," as parallel to "sharpen the arrows," and agreeing with "anoint the shield" in Isaiah 21:5. Of the kings of the Medes.--As with the Greeks in their use of the terms Medise and Medism, so with the Hebrews the Medes are more prominent than the Persians in the work of destruction (comp. Isaiah 13:17). The "kings" are the chieftains of tribes more or less independent, but owning the suzerainty of the Persian king. It is noticeable that the ruler of Babylon, after its capture by Cyrus, in Daniel 5:31, is "Darius the Median," and that he is called a "king." . . . Verse 11. - Make bright; rather, polish, so that the arrows may penetrate easily (comp. Isaiah 49:2, "a polished shaft"). Gather the shields; rather, fill the shields (viz. with your arms); i.e. take hold of them. Comp. the phrase, "to fill the hand with the bow" (2 Kings 9:24). The rendering" quivers" is wanting in philological authority, and seems to have been inferred from this passage, where, however, it is unnecessary. The kings of the Medes. The prophet speaks of the Medes and not the Persians (comp. Isaiah 13:17). "The reason, probably, is twofold:(1) that the name Madai became known to the Jews at an earlier period than Paras, 'Persia;' and (2) that the generals of Cyrus were apparently Medes (e.g. Mazares and Harpagus, Herod., 1:157, 162)" (Cheyne's 'Prophecies of Isaiah,' 2:275, 276). The new Cyrus inscription throws light on the latter circumstance. Hebrew Sharpenהָבֵ֣רוּ (hā·ḇê·rū) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1305: To clarify, examine, select the arrows! הַחִצִּים֮ (ha·ḥiṣ·ṣîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2671: A piercer, an arrow, a wound, thunderbolt, the shaft of a, spear Take up מִלְא֣וּ (mil·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of the shields! הַשְּׁלָטִים֒ (haš·šə·lā·ṭîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 7982: Perhaps shield The LORD יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has aroused הֵעִ֣יר (hê·‘îr) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake the spirit ר֙וּחַ֙ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit of the kings מַלְכֵ֣י (mal·ḵê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4428: A king of the Medes, מָדַ֔י (mā·ḏay) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4074: Media -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land because כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction His plan מְזִמָּת֖וֹ (mə·zim·mā·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4209: A plan, evil, sometimes good is aimed at עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Babylon בָּבֶ֥ל (bā·ḇel) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city to destroy her, לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ (lə·haš·ḥî·ṯāh) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction it הִ֔יא (hî) Pronoun - third person feminine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are [is] the vengeance נִקְמַ֤ת (niq·maṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5360: Avengement of the LORD— יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel vengeance נִקְמַ֖ת (niq·maṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 5360: Avengement for His temple. הֵיכָלֽוֹ׃ (hê·ḵā·lōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple Links Jeremiah 51:11 NIVJeremiah 51:11 NLT Jeremiah 51:11 ESV Jeremiah 51:11 NASB Jeremiah 51:11 KJV Jeremiah 51:11 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 51:11 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 51:11 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 51:11 French Bible Jeremiah 51:11 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 51:11 Make sharp the arrows (Jer.) |