Jeremiah 51:8
New International Version
Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken. Wail over her! Get balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.

New Living Translation
But suddenly Babylon, too, has fallen. Weep for her. Give her medicine. Perhaps she can yet be healed.

English Standard Version
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; wail for her! Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed.

Berean Standard Bible
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.

King James Bible
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

New King James Version
Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

New American Standard Bible
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! Bring balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

NASB 1995
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! Bring balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

NASB 1977
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! Bring balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

Legacy Standard Bible
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

Amplified Bible
Babylon has suddenly fallen and is shattered! Wail for her [if you care to]! Get balm for her [incurable] pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

Christian Standard Bible
Suddenly Babylon fell and was shattered. Wail for her; get balm for her wound — perhaps she can be healed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Suddenly Babylon fell and was shattered. Wail for her; get balm for her wound— perhaps she can be healed.

American Standard Version
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

Contemporary English Version
But suddenly, Babylon will fall and be destroyed. I, the LORD, told the foreigners who lived there, "Weep for the city! Get medicine for its wounds; maybe they will heal."

English Revised Version
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered. Cry for it. Bring medicine for its pain. Maybe it can be healed.

Good News Translation
Babylonia has suddenly fallen and is destroyed! Mourn over it! Get medicine for its wounds, and maybe it can be healed.

International Standard Version
Suddenly, Babylon fell down and was shattered. Wail for her! Bring balm for her wound, perhaps she will be healed.

Majority Standard Bible
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.

NET Bible
But suddenly Babylonia will fall and be destroyed. Cry out in mourning over it! Get medicine for her wounds! Perhaps she can be healed!

New Heart English Bible
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

Webster's Bible Translation
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, it may be she may be healed.

World English Bible
Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed! Wail for her! Take balm for her pain. Perhaps she may be healed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Babylon has suddenly fallen, "" Indeed, she is broken, howl for her, "" Take balm for her pain, perhaps she may be healed.

Young's Literal Translation
Suddenly hath Babylon fallen, Yea, it is broken, howl ye for it, Take balm for her pain, if so be it may be healed.

Smith's Literal Translation
Babylon fell suddenly, and she will be broken: wail ye for her; take balsam for her pain, perhaps she will be healed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Babylon is suddenly fallen, and destroyed: howl for her, take balm for her pain, if so she may be healed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Suddenly, Babylon has fallen and been crushed. Wail over her! Take a balm to her pain, if perhaps she may be healed.”

New American Bible
Babylon suddenly falls and is broken: wail over her! Bring balm for her wounds, in case she can be healed.

New Revised Standard Version
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and is shattered; wail for her! Bring balm for her wound; perhaps she may be healed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed; wail for her, take balm for her wound; perhaps she may be healed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Suddenly Babel has fallen and she is pillaged! Wail over her! Take medicines for her sickness; perhaps she will be healed
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed, Wail for her; Take balm for her pain, If so be she may be healed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Babylon is fallen suddenly, and is broken to pieces: lament for her; take balm for her deadly wound, if by any means she may be healed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Babylon
7Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad. 8Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed. 9“We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds.”…

Cross References
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 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 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 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.

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 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

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.”

Isaiah 14:4
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!

Revelation 18:21
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.

Isaiah 47:1
“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.

Revelation 18:8
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 48:20
Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”

Revelation 17:5
And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Isaiah 13:1
This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:

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.


Treasury of Scripture

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

suddenly

Jeremiah 51:41
How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

Jeremiah 50:2
Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

Isaiah 21:9
And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

howl

Jeremiah 48:20,31
Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, …

Isaiah 13:6,7
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty…

Ezekiel 27:30-32
And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: …

take balm

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah 30:12-15
For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous…

Jeremiah 46:11
Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.

Jump to Previous
Babylon Balm Broken Cries Destroyed Destruction Downfall Fall Fallen Grief Healed Howl Oil Pain Perhaps Possible Sudden Suddenly Sweet Wail
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Babylon Balm Broken Cries Destroyed Destruction Downfall Fall Fallen Grief Healed Howl Oil Pain Perhaps Possible Sudden Suddenly Sweet Wail
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














Suddenly
The word "suddenly" in this context emphasizes the unexpected and swift nature of Babylon's downfall. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "pith'ôm," which conveys a sense of surprise and immediacy. This suddenness serves as a reminder of God's sovereign power and the certainty of His judgments. Historically, Babylon was a mighty empire, seemingly invincible, yet its fall was rapid and unforeseen, illustrating that no earthly power can withstand the decrees of the Almighty.

Babylon
Babylon, in the Hebrew "Bavel," was not only a historical empire but also a symbol of human pride and rebellion against God. It was a city renowned for its grandeur and its defiance of divine authority, as seen in the Tower of Babel narrative. Archaeologically, Babylon was a center of culture and power, yet it became synonymous with idolatry and moral corruption. In the broader scriptural context, Babylon represents the world system opposed to God, and its fall is a prophetic assurance of the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

will fall
The phrase "will fall" indicates the certainty of Babylon's destruction. The Hebrew verb "naphal" conveys a sense of collapse or being overthrown. This is not merely a prediction but a divine decree. The fall of Babylon serves as a historical and prophetic example of God's justice. It reassures believers that despite the apparent strength of worldly powers, they are subject to God's ultimate authority and will be brought low in His timing.

and be broken
"Be broken" translates the Hebrew "shabar," which means to be shattered or destroyed. This imagery of breaking suggests total ruin and the end of Babylon's power and influence. It reflects the completeness of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. The breaking of Babylon is a metaphor for the dismantling of any system or power that sets itself against God, offering hope to the faithful that evil will not prevail.

Wail for her!
The call to "Wail for her!" is an exhortation to mourn Babylon's demise. The Hebrew "yalal" is a cry of lamentation, often associated with deep sorrow and regret. This mourning is not just for the loss of a city but for the spiritual desolation it represents. It serves as a warning to those who align themselves with Babylon's values, urging repentance and a turning back to God. The lamentation is a call to recognize the futility of opposing God and the need for redemption.

Take balm for her pain
The phrase "Take balm for her pain" uses the imagery of healing, with "balm" (Hebrew "tsori") being a resin used for medicinal purposes. This suggests an attempt to heal or alleviate Babylon's suffering. However, the context implies that such efforts are futile. The balm represents human attempts to fix spiritual problems without addressing the root cause—rebellion against God. It highlights the insufficiency of worldly solutions to spiritual crises and points to the need for divine intervention and repentance.

perhaps she can be healed
The word "perhaps" introduces a note of uncertainty, indicating that Babylon's healing is unlikely. The Hebrew "ulay" suggests a faint hope, but the context makes it clear that Babylon's fate is sealed due to its persistent sin. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of unrepentant sin and the urgency of seeking God's mercy. It underscores the biblical truth that true healing and restoration come only through repentance and submission to God's will.

(8) Babylon is suddenly fallen . . .--The form of announcement seems taken in part from Isaiah 21:9.

Take balm for her pain . . .--The words are significant. The captive people are not invited simply to raise a shout of triumph at the fall of their oppressor: they are to "take balm" (comp. the use of the same image in Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11), and try to heal her. They are still to "seek the peace of the city" (Jeremiah 29:7), to render kindly service, to pour balm into the bleeding wounds.

Verse 8. - Destroyed. The Hebrew, more forcibly, has "is broken." The Authorized Version wished, perhaps, to avoid the objection that a golden cup could not, properly speaking, be broken. But if we once begin to harmonize the language of Hebrew poetry, we shall have no end. It is not the cup which falls, but the state, considered as a house (the "breach" of God's people is constantly referred to; e.g. Psalm 60:2; Isaiah 30:26). Howl for her. Sympathetic bystanders are dramatically appealed to. From the next verse it would seem that they are the various foreigners who, whether by choice or force, have been resident in Babylon, and who have acquired an interest in her fate. Hitzig thinks the foreign mercenaries (Jeremiah 50:37) or allies are specially referred to. Take balm for her pain (comp. Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11). The images of fracture and wound are combined, as in Isaiah 30:26.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Suddenly
פִּתְאֹ֛ם (piṯ·’ōm)
Adverb
Strong's 6597: Suddenness, suddenly

Babylon
בָבֶ֖ל (ḇā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

has fallen
נָפְלָ֥ה (nā·p̄ə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

and been shattered.
וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֑ר (wat·tiš·šā·ḇêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

Wail
הֵילִ֣ילוּ (hê·lî·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3213: To howl, make a howling

for her;
עָלֶ֗יהָ (‘ā·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

get her
קְח֤וּ (qə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

balm
צֳרִי֙ (ṣo·rî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6875: Distillation, balsam

for her pain;
לְמַכְאוֹבָ֔הּ (lə·maḵ·’ō·w·ḇāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4341: Anguish, affliction

perhaps
אוּלַ֖י (’ū·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 194: Perhaps

she can be healed.
תֵּרָפֵֽא׃ (tê·rā·p̄ê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail (Jer.)
Jeremiah 51:7
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