Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. New Living Translation He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, read aloud everything on this scroll. English Standard Version And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, Berean Standard Bible And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, Berean Literal Bible And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “In your coming to Babylon, you should see and call out all these words. King James Bible And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; New King James Version And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all these words, New American Standard Bible Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As soon as you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, NASB 1995 Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As soon as you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words aloud, NASB 1977 Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As soon as you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words aloud, Legacy Standard Bible Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As soon as you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words aloud, Amplified Bible Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, see to it that you read all these words aloud, Berean Annotated Bible And Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) said to Seraiah (YHWH is ruler), “When you get to Babylon (confusion by mixing), see that you read all these words aloud, Christian Standard Bible Jeremiah told Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. Holman Christian Standard Bible Jeremiah told Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. American Standard Version And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words, Contemporary English Version I gave the scroll to Seraiah and said: When you get to Babylon, read this scroll aloud, English Revised Version And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words, GOD'S WORD® Translation Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you come to Babylon, see that you read all this. Good News Translation I told Seraiah, "When you get to Babylon, be sure to read aloud to the people everything that is written here. International Standard Version Jeremiah told Seraiah, "When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, NET Bible Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you arrive in Babylon, make sure you read aloud all these prophecies. New Heart English Bible Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words, Webster's Bible Translation And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou shalt come to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, World English Bible Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Jeremiah says to Seraiah, “When you enter Babylon, then you have seen, and have read all these words, Berean Literal Bible And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “In your coming to Babylon, you should see and call out all these words. Young's Literal Translation And Jeremiah saith unto Seraiah, 'When thou dost enter Babylon, then thou hast seen, and hast read all these words, Smith's Literal Translation And Jeremiah will say to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babel, and thou sawest, and didst read all these words, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Jeremias said to Saraias: When thou shalt come into Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words, Catholic Public Domain Version And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you will enter into Babylon, and you will see and read all these words, New American Bible And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you reach Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, New Revised Standard Version And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Jeremiah said to Sheraiah, When you enter Babylon, see that you read all these words; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Jeremiah said to Sheriah: “When you have entered within Babel, read and behold all of these words OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: 'When thou comest to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words, Brenton Septuagint Translation And Jeremias said to Saraeas, When thou art come to Babylon, and shalt see and read all these words; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jeremiah's Prophecy to Seraiah…60Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon. 61And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, 62and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’… Cross References And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, Jeremiah 36:4 So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 45:1 This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: Jeremiah 36:32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and at Jeremiah’s dictation he wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them. “When you get to Babylon, Jeremiah 29:4-7 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: / “Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce. / Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. … 2 Kings 24:15-16 Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. / The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle. Jeremiah 24:5-7 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. / I will keep My eyes on them for good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. / I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart. see that you read all these words aloud, Jeremiah 36:6-8 so you are to go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who are coming from their cities. / Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD, and each one will turn from his wicked way; for great are the anger and fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.” / So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him. In the house of the LORD he read the words of the LORD from the scroll. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near. Nehemiah 8:3 So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Isaiah 13:1-22 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. … Revelation 18:1-24 After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. / 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. / All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.” … Isaiah 47:1-15 “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.” … Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it. / For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay. Revelation 17:1-18 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.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. … 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!” Daniel 5:25-28 Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. / And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. / TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. … Treasury of Scripture And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When you come to Babylon, and shall see, and shall read all these words; Jump to Previous Aloud Babylon Enter Jeremiah Read Seraiah Serai'ah Soon WordsJump to Next Aloud Babylon Enter Jeremiah Read Seraiah Serai'ah Soon WordsJeremiah 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 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah Jeremiah, a major prophet in the Old Testament, is speaking to Seraiah, who is identified as the son of Neriah and brother of Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe. Seraiah's role here is significant as he is entrusted with a prophetic mission. This highlights the importance of faithful individuals in carrying out God's plans. Seraiah's lineage connects him to a family deeply involved in Jeremiah's ministry, emphasizing the continuity and trust within this prophetic circle. When you get to Babylon see that you read all these words aloud Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and restoration of Israel. He is the author of the Book of Jeremiah. 2. Seraiah The son of Neriah and brother of Baruch, who was a scribe and assistant to Jeremiah. Seraiah was tasked with reading Jeremiah's prophecies aloud in Babylon. 3. Babylon A significant city and empire in the ancient Near East, known for its conquest of Judah and the subsequent Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people. 4. The Prophecy The words that Jeremiah instructed Seraiah to read were prophecies of judgment against Babylon, foretelling its eventual downfall. 5. The Event of Reading Seraiah's reading of the prophecy in Babylon symbolizes the proclamation of God's judgment and the certainty of His word being fulfilled. Teaching Points The Power of God's WordGod's word is authoritative and will accomplish what it declares. Just as Seraiah was to read the prophecy aloud, we are called to proclaim God's truth with confidence. The Certainty of Divine Judgment God's judgment is certain and just. The fall of Babylon serves as a reminder that no power is beyond God's reach and that He will hold nations accountable. Faithfulness in Obedience Seraiah's task highlights the importance of obedience to God's instructions, even when the task seems daunting or the audience unresponsive. The Role of Prophecy Prophecy serves to warn, instruct, and encourage God's people. It reminds us of God's control over history and His ultimate plan for redemption. Hope in God's Sovereignty Despite the immediate context of judgment, the prophecy against Babylon also points to the hope of restoration and God's ultimate victory over evil. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 51:61?2. How does Jeremiah 51:61 emphasize the importance of obeying God's instructions today? 3. What can we learn from Jeremiah's obedience in Jeremiah 51:61 for our lives? 4. How does Jeremiah 51:61 connect with God's judgment themes in other scriptures? 5. How can we apply the message of Jeremiah 51:61 in our daily walk? 6. What role does faith play in carrying out God's commands in Jeremiah 51:61? 7. What historical context surrounds Jeremiah 51:61 and its message to Babylon? 8. How does Jeremiah 51:61 reflect God's judgment and sovereignty? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Jeremiah 51? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 51? 11. Jeremiah 51:8 says Babylon has 'suddenly fallen,' yet historical records indicate a gradual decline--how is this reconciled? 12. Jeremiah 51:7 calls Babylon a 'golden cup' in God's hand; if God used Babylon, why should the nation be punished? 13. Jeremiah 51:26 states no stone from Babylon will ever be used again, yet evidence suggests later civilizations reused its materials--does this contradict the prophecy? 14. Jeremiah 51:37 claims Babylon will be 'a heap of ruins,' but archaeological findings indicate the city remained active for centuries--how does this align with the text? What Does Jeremiah 51:61 Mean Context of Jeremiah 51:61Jeremiah 51 is the closing segment of an extended prophecy against Babylon (Jeremiah 50–51). After dictating God’s words of judgment, Jeremiah hands the scroll to Seraiah, an official traveling with King Zedekiah to Babylon. Verse 61 records Jeremiah’s charge: “When you arrive in Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud”. The directive sets the stage for publicly announcing Babylon’s doom—right in the heart of the empire that seemed invincible (compare Jeremiah 25:12–14; Isaiah 13:1, 19). Who is Seraiah? • Brother of Baruch (Jeremiah 51:59), the scribe who previously recorded Jeremiah’s prophecies (Jeremiah 36:4). • “Quartermaster” or high-ranking court official accompanying the king—indicating access to strategic locations in Babylon. • A trusted courier, tasked to carry not merely a political message but God’s unaltered word, reinforcing Proverbs 25:13 about the faithfulness of a messenger. The Command: Read Aloud • Jeremiah’s wording mirrors Moses’ instructions to read the Law publicly (Deuteronomy 31:11). • Public proclamation ensures witness: Babylonian hearers, Jewish exiles, angelic hosts—all would hear God’s verdict (compare Revelation 18:2). • Reading “aloud” underscores that Scripture is meant to be heard, not hidden (Romans 10:17). Why “All These Words” Matter • “All” forbids selective editing; every line of God’s revelation carries authority (Jeremiah 26:2; Matthew 4:4). • The scroll included promises of Israel’s restoration (Jeremiah 50:4–5) alongside Babylon’s destruction—judgment and hope inseparably linked. • Completing the reading would span prophecies pronounced decades earlier, showing God’s consistency (Isaiah 46:9–10). God’s Judgment Declared in Enemy Territory • Declaring Babylon’s fall inside Babylon dramatizes Psalm 2:4—God laughs at nations that defy Him. • It foreshadows Daniel 5, where the empire falls in one night, fulfilling the very words Seraiah read. • The action models obedience despite risk; much like Elijah before Ahab (1 Kings 18:17–18). Faithfulness in Hostile Places • Jewish exiles hearing the scroll would be reminded that their captors’ power was temporary (Jeremiah 29:10–14). • Seraiah’s courage prefigures believers called to testify in every culture (Acts 4:19–20). • God positions His servants—whether a prophet in Jerusalem or an official in Babylon—to advance His plan (Esther 4:14). Takeaways for Today • Don’t shrink back from proclaiming the full counsel of God, even where it is unpopular. • Trust the certainty of Scripture; what God speaks against proud systems will come to pass (James 4:6). • Remember that judgment for the wicked is paralleled by deliverance for God’s people—fueling hope amid exile-like circumstances (1 Peter 1:1, 13). summary Jeremiah 51:61 shows the prophet commissioning Seraiah to read every word of Babylon’s impending judgment in Babylon itself. The verse highlights the authority of Scripture, the necessity of public witness, and the certainty that God’s pronounced judgments—and promises—will stand, no matter how powerful the earthly empire seems. (61) When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read . . .--The meaning of the Hebrew would be better expressed by, thou shalt see to it and read, or see to it and read. The English version, as it is, leaves it doubtful who or what is to be seen. The verb for "read" implies reading aloud. Saraiah was to read the prophecy to those whom it concerned, probably to a chosen few among his own countrymen. The idea that it was to be read to the Babylonians is in the highest degree improbable.Verse 61. - (Comp. 50:3; 51:26.) And shalt see, and shalt read; rather, See that thou read.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (yir·mə·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3414: Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites said וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Seraiah, שְׂרָיָ֑ה (śə·rā·yāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8304: Seraiah -- 'Yah persists', the name of a number of Israelites “When you get כְּבֹאֲךָ֣ (kə·ḇō·’ă·ḵā) Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to Babylon, בָבֶ֔ל (ḇā·ḇel) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city see וְֽרָאִ֔יתָ (wə·rā·’î·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see that you read all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every these הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (hā·’êl·leh) Article | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those words הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause aloud, וְֽקָרָ֔אתָ (wə·qā·rā·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read Links Jeremiah 51:61 NIVJeremiah 51:61 NLT Jeremiah 51:61 ESV Jeremiah 51:61 NASB Jeremiah 51:61 KJV Jeremiah 51:61 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 51:61 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 51:61 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 51:61 French Bible Jeremiah 51:61 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 51:61 Jeremiah said to Seraiah When you come (Jer.) |
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