What does Jeremiah 51:26 mean?
"And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD." - Jeremiah 51:26
Jeremiah 51:26 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible says, "And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the Lord."
This verse is found in the Book of Jeremiah, which is the second of the Major Prophets in the Old Testament. It is a prophetic book, filled with messages from God about the impending judgment and destruction of the nation of Judah. In Jeremiah, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to warn the people about their sinfulness and rebellion and to call them to repentance before it is too late.
In Jeremiah 51:26, the Lord is speaking about the future fate of Babylon. At the time of this prophecy, Babylon was a powerful and influential empire, but Jeremiah is delivering the message that it will eventually be desolate and laid waste, never to be rebuilt.
The verse begins with the phrase "And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner." This is a reference to the fact that Babylon will be so thoroughly destroyed that not even a single stone will be left standing for the purpose of rebuilding. It signifies the complete and utter devastation that will come upon the once great city.
The image of a city being desolate forever is a powerful and sobering one. It speaks to the finality of God's judgment and the consequences of sin. The people of Babylon will have no hope of restoration or redemption. The destruction will be so complete that there will be no possibility of rebuilding or renewal.
This verse also serves as a reminder of the futility of putting our trust and hope in earthly things. Babylon was a mighty empire, but its power and influence ultimately meant nothing in the face of God's judgment. It serves as a warning to all people and nations who are tempted to rely on their own strength and accomplishments rather than on God.
The desolation of Babylon was not just a physical event, but also a spiritual one. The city was a symbol of human pride and arrogance, and its downfall was a testament to the ultimate sovereignty and authority of God. It reminds us that no matter how powerful or impressive human institutions and achievements may be, they are ultimately fleeting and transient in the face of God's eternal kingdom.
In a broader context, this verse carries a message of hope for the people of Judah. Despite their own impending judgment and exile, God is assuring them that their oppressors will also face the consequences of their actions. This verse serves as a reminder that God is just and will ultimately bring about justice for all people, even if it is not immediately apparent.
On a deeper level, the desolation of Babylon serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin. The city's downfall was a result of its pride, idolatry, and oppression of others. It stands as a stark warning about the dangers of turning away from God and the destructive consequences that can result from living in disobedience to His will.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 51:26 is a powerful and sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the ultimate sovereignty of God. It serves as a warning to all people and nations who are tempted to rely on their own strength and accomplishments rather than on God. It also provides hope and assurance for the people of Judah that God will ultimately bring about justice and judgment for all. This verse carries a timeless message that is relevant for all people, reminding us of the futility of putting our trust and hope in earthly things and the ultimate consequences of living in disobedience to God.
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Jeremiah 51:26 - "And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD."
"And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD." - Jeremiah 51:26
Jeremiah 51:51 - "We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house."
Jeremiah 51:61 - "And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;"
Jeremiah 51:18 - "They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish."
Jeremiah 51:60 - "So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon."
Jeremiah 51:38 - "They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps."
Numbers 26:51 - "These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty."
Jeremiah 51:32 - "And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted."
Jeremiah 51:37 - "And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant."
Jeremiah 51:42 - "The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof."
Jeremiah 51:4 - "Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets."
Jeremiah 51:54 - "A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:"
Jeremiah 51:40 - "I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats."
Jeremiah 51:64 - "And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah."
Jeremiah 51:49 - "As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth."
Jeremiah 51:8 - "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed."
Jeremiah 51:59 - "¶ The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince."
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 51:21 - "And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;"
Jeremiah 51:13 - "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness."
Jeremiah 51:63 - "And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:"
Jeremiah 51:10 - "The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 51:28 - "Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion."
"They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish." - Jeremiah 51:18
Jeremiah 51:19 - "The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name."
Jeremiah 32:26 - "¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,"
Jeremiah 51:20 - "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;"
Jeremiah 51:24 - "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 51:39 - "In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD."