The Meaning of Jeremiah 51:1 Explained

Jeremiah 51:1

KJV: Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;

YLT: Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am stirring up against Babylon, And the inhabitants of Leb -- My withstanders, A destroying wind,

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the heart of those that rise against me, a destroying wind;

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in Leb-kamai, a destroying wind.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD;  Behold, I will raise up  against Babylon,  and against them that dwell  in the midst  of them that rise up  against me, a destroying  wind; 

What does Jeremiah 51:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh announced that He would arouse against Babylon and Leb-kamai the spirit of a destroyer, or a destroying wind. Leb-kamai (lit. heart of my adversaries) was a code name (atbash) for Chaldea (cf. Jeremiah 51:41; Jeremiah 25:26). Here it functions as a poetic synonym. [1]
"This explanation of the name involves the thought that all enmity against God the Lord culminates in Babylon; on the basis of this representation Babylon is called, Rev. xvii5 , "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth."" [2]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 51:1 mean?

Thus says Yahweh behold I will raise up against Babylon and Against those who dwell in Leb Kamai of those who rise up a wind destroying
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ מֵעִ֣יר עַל־ בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶל־ יֹשְׁבֵ֖י לֵ֣ב קָמָ֑י ר֖וּחַ מַשְׁחִֽית

כֹּ֚ה  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הִנְנִי֙  behold 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
מֵעִ֣יר  I  will  raise  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עוּר 
Sense: to rouse oneself, awake, awaken, incite.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
בָּבֶ֔ל  Babylon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּבֶל  
Sense: Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.
וְאֶל־  and  Against 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יֹשְׁבֵ֖י  those  who  dwell  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
לֵ֣ב  Leb  Kamai 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
קָמָ֑י  of  those  who  rise  up 
Parse: Verb
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
ר֖וּחַ  a  wind 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
מַשְׁחִֽית  destroying 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.