Jeremiah 51:43
New International Version
Her towns will be desolate, a dry and desert land, a land where no one lives, through which no one travels.

New Living Translation
Her cities now lie in ruins; she is a dry wasteland where no one lives or even passes by.

English Standard Version
Her cities have become a horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one dwells, and through which no son of man passes.

Berean Standard Bible
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through.

King James Bible
Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

New King James Version
Her cities are a desolation, A dry land and a wilderness, A land where no one dwells, Through which no son of man passes.

New American Standard Bible
“Her cities have become an object of horror, A dry land and a desert, A land in which no one lives And through which no one of mankind passes.

NASB 1995
“Her cities have become an object of horror, A parched land and a desert, A land in which no man lives And through which no son of man passes.

NASB 1977
“Her cities have become an object of horror, A parched land and a desert, A land in which no man lives, And through which no son of man passes.

Legacy Standard Bible
Her cities have become an object of horror, A parched land, and a desert, A land in which no man lives And through which no son of man passes.

Amplified Bible
“Her cities have become an astonishing desolation and an object of horror, A parched land and a desert, A land in which no one lives, And through which no son of man passes.

Christian Standard Bible
Her cities have become a desolation, an arid desert, a land where no one lives, where no human being even passes through.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no human being passes through.

American Standard Version
Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

Contemporary English Version
Horrible destruction will strike the nearby towns. The land will become a barren desert, where no one can live or even travel.

English Revised Version
Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Its cities will be ruined. It will become a desert, a land where no one lives and where no human travels.

Good News Translation
The towns have become a horrifying sight and are like a waterless desert, where no one lives or even travels.

International Standard Version
Her cities will become an object of horror, a dry land and a desert, a land in which no one lives, and through which no human being passes.

Majority Standard Bible
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through.

NET Bible
The towns of Babylonia have become heaps of ruins. She has become a dry and barren desert. No one lives in those towns any more. No one even passes through them.

New Heart English Bible
Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land in which no man dwells, neither does any son of man pass thereby.

Webster's Bible Translation
Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land in which no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass by it.

World English Bible
Her cities have become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land in which no man dwells. No son of man passes by it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Her cities have been for a desolation, "" A dry land, and a wilderness, "" A land—none dwell in them, "" Nor does a son of man pass over into them.

Young's Literal Translation
Its cities have been for a desolation, A dry land, and a wilderness, A land -- none doth dwell in them, Nor pass over into them doth a son of man.

Smith's Literal Translation
Her cities were for a desolation, a land of dryness and a sterile region, a land not a man dwells in them, and not the son of man shall pass through them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Her cities are become an astonishment, a land uninhabited and desolate, a land wherein none can dwell, nor son of man pass through it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Her cities have become an astonishment, an uninhabited and desolate land, a land in which no one may live, nor may a son of man pass through it.

New American Bible
Her cities have become wasteland, a parched and arid land Where no one lives, no one passes through.

New Revised Standard Version
Her cities have become an object of horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one lives, and through which no mortal passes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Her cities have become a horror, like a dry land and a wilderness, a land in which no man shall dwell, neither shall any son of man live in it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
His cities were a horror like a desolate land and desolations; no man shall sit in them, and no son of man shall dwell in them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Her cities are become a desolation, A dry land, and a desert, A land wherein no man dwelleth, Neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Her cities are become like a dry and trackless land; not so much as one man shall dwell in it, neither shall a son of man lodge in it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Babylon's Punishment
42The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves. 43Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through. 44I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall.…

Cross References
Revelation 18:21-24
Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. / And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again. / The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” ...

Isaiah 13:19-22
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. / She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. ...

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 47:1-5
“Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate. / Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams. / Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” ...

Revelation 14:8
Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

Isaiah 34:8-15
For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. / Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. / It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it. ...

Revelation 17:1-2
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

Isaiah 14:22-23
“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will cut off from Babylon her name and her remnant, her offspring and her posterity,” declares the LORD. / “I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

Revelation 16:19
The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.

Isaiah 21:9
Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

Revelation 19:2-3
For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.” / And a second time they called out: “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever.”

Isaiah 24:10-12
The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry. / In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land. / The city is left in ruins; its gate is reduced to rubble.

Revelation 18:10
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Isaiah 25:2
Indeed, You have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified town a ruin. The fortress of strangers is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt.

Revelation 18:19
Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”


Treasury of Scripture

Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwells, neither does any son of man pass thereby.

cities

Jeremiah 51:29,37
And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant…

Jeremiah 50:39,40
Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation…

a land

Jeremiah 2:6
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

Isaiah 13:20
It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

Ezekiel 29:10,11
Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia…

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Cities Desert Desolation Drought Dry Dwell Dwelleth Dwells Goes Horror Living-Place Object Parched Passes Thereby Towns Unwatered Waste Wherein Wilderness
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Jeremiah 51
1. The severe judgment of God against Babylon, in revenge of Israel
59. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates,
64. in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon














Her cities
The phrase "her cities" refers to the cities of Babylon, which was a dominant empire during the time of Jeremiah. In the Hebrew text, the word for "cities" is "עָרִים" (ʿārîm), which can denote fortified places or towns. Historically, Babylon was known for its impressive urban centers, characterized by grand architecture and significant cultural influence. The mention of "her cities" underscores the extent of Babylon's reach and the impending judgment that would affect all its territories.

have become
This phrase indicates a transformation or change in state. The Hebrew root "הָיָה" (hāyâ) is often used to describe becoming or coming to pass. In the context of prophecy, it signifies the certainty of God's word and the inevitable fulfillment of His declarations. The use of "have become" emphasizes the assuredness of Babylon's downfall as decreed by God.

a desolation
The term "desolation" comes from the Hebrew "שְׁמָמָה" (shemāmâ), which conveys a sense of ruin, waste, or emptiness. This word paints a vivid picture of the complete devastation that would befall Babylon. Historically, desolation was a common consequence of divine judgment, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. The imagery of desolation highlights the totality of Babylon's destruction.

a dry land
The phrase "a dry land" suggests barrenness and lack of life-sustaining resources. In Hebrew, "צִיָּה" (ṣîyâ) refers to dryness or drought. This imagery is significant in the ancient Near Eastern context, where water was a precious commodity, and dry lands were often seen as cursed or forsaken. The transformation of Babylon into a "dry land" symbolizes the removal of its prosperity and vitality.

a desert
The word "desert" in Hebrew is "מִדְבָּר" (midbār), which can mean wilderness or uninhabited land. Deserts were often associated with desolation and danger, places where life struggled to survive. The transformation of Babylon into a "desert" signifies not only physical desolation but also spiritual barrenness, reflecting the consequences of turning away from God.

a land where no one lives
This phrase emphasizes the complete abandonment and uninhabitability of the land. The Hebrew construction suggests a place devoid of human presence, highlighting the totality of the judgment. In biblical times, a land where no one lived was often seen as cursed or under divine wrath. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of God's judgment and the ultimate futility of human pride and rebellion.

through which no son of man passes
The expression "son of man" is a Hebrew idiom for human beings, emphasizing the absence of any human activity or passage. The phrase underscores the thoroughness of the desolation, as even travelers or passersby would avoid the area. This complete desolation serves as a testament to the fulfillment of God's prophetic word and the irreversible nature of His judgment once it is decreed.

(43) Her cities are a desolation . . .--The word for "wilderness" is Arabah, commonly used of the sandy desert south of the Dead Sea. The prophet seems to dwell with a stern delight on the seeming paradox that the sea with which Babylon is to be oversowed, the floods of invaders and destroyers, shall leave her cities and her plains drier and more sandy than before.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Her cities
עָרֶ֙יהָ֙ (‘ā·re·hā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

have become
הָי֤וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a desolation,
לְשַׁמָּ֔ה (lə·šam·māh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8047: Ruin, consternation

a dry
צִיָּ֣ה (ṣî·yāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6723: Aridity, a desert

and arid
וַעֲרָבָ֑ה (wa·‘ă·rā·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6160: Arabah -- a steppe or desert plain, also a desert valley running south from the Sea of Galilee

land,
אֶ֖רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

a land
אֶ֗רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

where no
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

one
אִ֔ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

lives,
יֵשֵׁ֤ב (yê·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

where no
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of man
אָדָֽם׃ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

passes through.
יַעֲבֹ֥ר (ya·‘ă·ḇōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 51:43 Her cities are become a desolation (Jer.)
Jeremiah 51:42
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