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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/50-38.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/24_Jer_50_38.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jeremiah 50:38 - The Destruction of Babylon" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/jeremiah/50-38.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/jeremiah/50-38.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/jeremiah/">Jeremiah</a> > <a href="/jeremiah/50.htm">Chapter 50</a> > Verse 38</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/jeremiah/50-37.htm" title="Jeremiah 50:37">◄</a> Jeremiah 50:38 <a href="/jeremiah/50-39.htm" title="Jeremiah 50:39">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/50.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/jeremiah/50.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />A drought on her waters! They will dry up. For it is a land of idols, idols that will go mad with terror.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/50.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jeremiah/50.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />A drought against her waters, that they may be dried up! For it is a land of images, and they are mad over idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/50.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/50.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />A drought <i>is</i> upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it <i>is</i> the land of graven images, and they are mad upon <i>their</i> idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/50.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />A drought <i>is</i> against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it <i>is</i> the land of carved images, And they are insane with <i>their</i> idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/50.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“A drought on her waters, and they will be dried up! For it is a land of idols, And they go insane at frightful images.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/50.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220A drought on her waters, and they will be dried up! For it is a land of idols, And they are mad over fearsome idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/50.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“A drought on her waters, and they will be dried up! For it is a land of idols, And they are mad over fearsome idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/50.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />A drought on her waters, and they will be dried up! For it is a land of graven images, And they are mad over terrifying idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/50.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“A drought on her waters, and they will dry up! For it is a land of [worthless] idols, And they are mad over fearsome idols [those objects of terror in which they foolishly trust].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/50.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A drought will come on her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of carved images, and they go mad because of terrifying things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/50.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A drought will come on her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of carved images, and they go mad because of terrifying things. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/50.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of graven images, and they are mad over idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/50.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Your rivers and canals will dry up. All of this will happen, because your land is full of idols, and they have made fools of you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/50.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: for it is a land of graven images, and they are mad upon idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/50.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />A drought will diminish their water supply, and it will dry up. Babylon is a land of idols, statues that will go crazy with fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/50.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Bring a drought on its land and dry up its rivers. Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols that have made fools of the people. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/50.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A drought against her waters. They'll dry up. For it's a land of idols, and they go mad over their terrifying images.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/50.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/50.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />A drought will come upon her land; her rivers and canals will be dried up. All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. Her people act like madmen because of those idols they fear. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/50.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A drought is on her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they glory over idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/50.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />A drouth is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/50.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/50.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A sword [is] on her waters, and they have been dried up, "" For it [is] a land of carved images, "" And they boast themselves in idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/50.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A sword is on her waters, and they have been dried up, For it is a land of graven images, And in idols they do boast themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/50.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />A sword upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: for it is a land of carved images, and in their terrors they will be foolish.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/50.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A drought upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: because it is a land of idols, and they glory in monstrous things. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/50.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A drought is over her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and they glory in portents.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/50.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A drought upon the waters, and they dry up! For it is a land of idols, soon made frantic by phantoms. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/50.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />A drought against her waters, that they may be dried up! For it is a land of images, and they go mad over idols.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/50.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for she is the land of the makers of images, who boast in their idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/50.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />A sword on her waters, and they shall dry up, because it is a land of carvers of images, and they boast in idols<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/50.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; For it is a land of graven images, And they are mad upon things of horror.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/50.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and they shall be ashamed: for it is a land of graven <i>images</i>; and in the islands, where they boasted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=15690" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/50.htm">The Destruction of Babylon</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">37</span>A sword is against her horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in her midst, and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasuries, and they will be plundered. <span class="reftext">38</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2721.htm" title="2721: ḥō·reḇ (N-ms) -- Dryness, drought, heat. A collaterally form of chereb; drought or desolation.">A drought</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">is upon</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: mê·me·hā (N-mpc:: 3fs) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">her waters,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3001.htm" title="3001: wə·yā·ḇê·šū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To be dry, dried up, or withered. A primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also to dry up or wither.">and they will be dried up.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hî (Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">it</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’e·reṣ (N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">is a land</a> <a href="/hebrew/6456.htm" title="6456: pə·si·lîm (N-mp) -- An idol, image. From pacal; an idol.">of graven images,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1984.htm" title="1984: yiṯ·hō·lā·lū (V-Hitpael-Imperf-3mp) -- To shine.">and the people go mad</a> <a href="/hebrew/367.htm" title="367: ū·ḇā·’ê·mîm (Conj-w, Prep-b, Art:: N-fp) -- Terror, dread. Or remah; from the same as 'ayom; fright; concrete, an idol.">over idols.</a> </span><span class="reftext">39</span>So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there and ostriches will dwell there. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">Revelation 17:1-2</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-27.htm">Isaiah 44:27</a></span><br />who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">Revelation 18:2-3</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/47-9.htm">Isaiah 47:9-11</a></span><br />These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells. / You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ / 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/3-4.htm">Nahum 3:4</a></span><br />because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/21-9.htm">Isaiah 21:9</a></span><br />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!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-8.htm">Revelation 14:8</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-1.htm">Isaiah 46:1-2</a></span><br />Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. / The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-23.htm">Revelation 18:23</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/13-19.htm">Isaiah 13:19-22</a></span><br />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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5</a></span><br />And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-5.htm">Isaiah 19:5-10</a></span><br />The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty. / The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither. / The bulrushes by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the fields sown along the Nile, will wither, blow away, and be no more. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-21.htm">Revelation 18:21</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/14-22.htm">Isaiah 14:22-23</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-15.htm">Revelation 17:15</a></span><br />Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">A drought is on her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad on their idols.</p><p class="hdg">A drought</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/50-12.htm">Jeremiah 50:12</a></b></br> Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations <i>shall be</i> a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/51-32.htm">Jeremiah 51:32-36</a></b></br> And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/44-27.htm">Isaiah 44:27</a></b></br> That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:</p><p class="hdg">the land</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/50-2.htm">Jeremiah 50:2</a></b></br> Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, <i>and</i> conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/51-44.htm">Jeremiah 51:44,47,52</a></b></br> And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/46-1.htm">Isaiah 46:1-7</a></b></br> Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages <i>were</i> heavy loaden; <i>they are</i> a burden to the weary <i>beast</i>… </p><p class="hdg">mad</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/51-7.htm">Jeremiah 51:7</a></b></br> Babylon <i>hath been</i> a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/44-25.htm">Isaiah 44:25</a></b></br> That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise <i>men</i> backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Acts 17:16</a></b></br> Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/49-4.htm">Boast</a> <a href="/jeremiah/23-10.htm">Dried</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-18.htm">Drought</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-8.htm">Drouth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-12.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-10.htm">Drying</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-1.htm">Engraved</a> <a href="/job/41-14.htm">Fearsome</a> <a href="/jeremiah/42-17.htm">Fixed</a> <a href="/job/30-6.htm">Frightful</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-35.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-1.htm">Graven</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-23.htm">Horror</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-2.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-2.htm">Images</a> <a href="/jeremiah/29-26.htm">Mad</a> <a href="/jeremiah/42-17.htm">Minds</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-37.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-36.htm">Terror</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-9.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-34.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/51-7.htm">Boast</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-36.htm">Dried</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-43.htm">Drought</a> <a href="/hosea/13-5.htm">Drouth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-36.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/17-10.htm">Drying</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-47.htm">Engraved</a> <a href="/job/41-14.htm">Fearsome</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-29.htm">Fixed</a> <a href="/job/30-6.htm">Frightful</a> <a href="/ezekiel/14-3.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-17.htm">Graven</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-37.htm">Horror</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-17.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-17.htm">Images</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-7.htm">Mad</a> <a href="/ezekiel/13-2.htm">Minds</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-49.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-47.htm">Terror</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-7.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-13.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 50</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/50-1.htm">The judgment of Babylon and the redemption of Israel</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/50.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/50.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up.</b><br>This phrase speaks to the judgment pronounced upon Babylon, a powerful empire known for its wealth and resources. The drying up of waters symbolizes both literal and metaphorical desolation. Historically, Babylon was situated near the Euphrates River, which was crucial for its agriculture and trade. The prophecy of drought indicates a divine intervention that disrupts the natural order, reflecting God's sovereignty over creation. This imagery of water drying up is reminiscent of God's judgment in other scriptures, such as the plagues of Egypt (<a href="/exodus/7-21.htm">Exodus 7:21</a>) and the drying of the Red Sea (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21</a>). It also foreshadows the fall of Babylon, as seen in <a href="/revelation/16-12.htm">Revelation 16:12</a>, where the Euphrates is dried up to prepare the way for kings from the East.<p><b>For it is a land of graven images,</b><br>Babylon was notorious for its idolatry, with numerous temples and statues dedicated to various deities. The term "graven images" refers to carved idols, which were central to Babylonian worship and culture. This idolatry is a direct violation of the first two commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>), highlighting the spiritual corruption of the nation. The prevalence of idols in Babylon is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature, emphasizing the futility and deception of worshipping man-made objects (<a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a>). The judgment upon Babylon serves as a warning against idolatry, a sin that leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God.<p><b>and the people go mad over idols.</b><br>The phrase "go mad" suggests a frenzied, irrational devotion to idols, indicating a deep spiritual delusion. This madness can be understood as a form of divine judgment, where God gives people over to their sinful desires (<a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-25</a>). The worship of idols leads to moral and spiritual decay, as seen in the history of Israel and other nations. The madness over idols contrasts with the peace and wisdom found in worshipping the one true God. This serves as a reminder of the dangers of idolatry, which can consume individuals and societies, leading them away from truth and righteousness. The ultimate fulfillment of this judgment is seen in the fall of Babylon, both historically and eschatologically, as depicted in <a href="/revelation/18.htm">Revelation 18</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Jeremiah is known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and restoration of Israel and other nations, including Babylon.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a></b><br>A powerful empire known for its wealth and idolatry, Babylon is the subject of God's judgment in this passage. It symbolizes human pride and rebellion against God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a></b><br>Objects of worship that are not the true God. In Babylon, idols were central to their religious practices, leading the people away from the worship of Yahweh.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/drought.htm">Drought</a></b><br>A natural disaster used here as a metaphor for God's judgment. The drying up of waters signifies the end of Babylon's prosperity and divine favor.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/madness_over_idols.htm">Madness over Idols</a></b><br>This phrase indicates the irrational devotion and frenzy that the Babylonians had for their idols, leading to their spiritual downfall.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_idolatry.htm">The Futility of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry leads to spiritual blindness and madness. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism and self-worship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_judgment.htm">God's Sovereignty in Judgment</a></b><br>Just as God judged Babylon, He remains sovereign over nations today. We should live in reverence and obedience to His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_spiritual_drought.htm">The Consequences of Spiritual Drought</a></b><br>Spiritual drought results from turning away from God. We must seek to remain spiritually nourished through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_repentance.htm">The Call to Repentance</a></b><br>God's judgment is a call to repentance. We should examine our lives for any idols and turn back to God with sincere hearts.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_restoration.htm">Hope in God's Restoration</a></b><br>While judgment is certain, God's ultimate plan includes restoration for those who turn to Him. We can find hope in His promises of redemption.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_50.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 50</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_permissive_will_of_god.htm">What causes the Euphrates River to dry up?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_the_euphrates_river_drying.htm">What causes the Euphrates River to dry up?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_speak_to_idolater_laban.htm">In Genesis 31:24, why would God communicate with Laban if Laban worshipped other gods, and how does this align with other biblical passages about idolatry? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_rain_solely_divine,_per_science.htm">Jeremiah 14:22: Is attributing rainfall solely to divine intervention consistent with modern scientific understanding of meteorology?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/50.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(38) <span class= "bld">A drought is upon her waters.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">A sword. </span>The Hebrew word for "drought" has the same consonants as that for "sword," with different vowel-points. In the original text the form of the two words must have been identical, as the vowel-points were of later introduction. The editors of the present text were probably guided by the thought that the context in this case determined the meaning of the word as meaning "drought," and not a "sword." So in <a href="/deuteronomy/28-22.htm" title="The LORD shall smite you with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue you until you perish.">Deuteronomy 28:22</a> the text of the Authorised version gives "sword," and the margin "drought." There is, however, a certain loss of rhetorical emphasis in the change of the word with which the three previous verses had begun. The "waters" include the canals of Babylon as well as the Euphrates.<p><span class= "bld">They are mad upon their idols.</span>--The word for "idols" means literally "terrors," or "objects of terror," as in <a href="/psalms/88-16.htm" title="Your fierce wrath goes over me; your terrors have cut me off.">Psalm 88:16</a>; <a href="/job/20-25.htm" title="It is drawn, and comes out of the body; yes, the glittering sword comes out of his gall: terrors are on him.">Job 20:25</a>, and this is the only place in which it is used of the objects of worship. In <a href="/genesis/14-5.htm" title="And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,">Genesis 14:5</a>; <a href="/context/deuteronomy/2-10.htm" title="The Emims dwelled therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;">Deuteronomy 2:10-11</a> it appears as the name of the Emim, probably as meaning "the terrible, <span class= "ital">or </span>gigantic ones." Here it seems used for the colossal figures--winged bulls, human-headed lions, and the like--which were the objects of Babylonian worship. (See note on <a href="/jeremiah/49-16.htm" title="Your terribleness has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, O you that dwell in the clefts of the rock, that hold the height of the hill: though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there, said the LORD.">Jeremiah 49:16</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/50.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 38.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">A drought.</span> The Maasoretic critics, in their prosaic realism, were unable to see how a "sword" could be "upon the waters;" hence they altered <span class="accented">khereb</span> into <span class="accented">khoreb.</span> But the sword is merely a symbol of the Divine vengeance, and may be interpreted differently according to the exigencies of the context. Render, <span class="accented">Sword upon the waters</span>. <span class="cmt_word">They are mad upon their idols;</span> rather, <span class="accented">through Terrors they befool themselves</span>. "Terrors" is a synonym for the gods of the heathen, which inspired a feeling of awe rather than affection, unlike Jehovah as he revealed himself through the authors of the psalms and prophecies. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">A drought</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹ֥רֶב</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·reḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2721.htm">Strong's 2721: </a> </span><span class="str2">Dryness, drought, heat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is] upon</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her waters,</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵימֶ֖יהָ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·me·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and they will be dried up.</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיָבֵ֑שׁוּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yā·ḇê·šū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3001.htm">Strong's 3001: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, wither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">it</span><br /><span class="heb">הִ֔יא</span> <span class="translit">(hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is a land</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶ֤רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of graven images,</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּסִלִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(pə·si·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6456.htm">Strong's 6456: </a> </span><span class="str2">An idol, image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and [the people] go mad</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבָאֵימִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇā·’ê·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_367.htm">Strong's 367: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fright, an idol</span><br /><br /><span class="word">over idols.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִתְהֹלָֽלוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiṯ·hō·lā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1984.htm">Strong's 1984: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shine</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/50-38.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is on her waters (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/50-37.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 50:37"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 50:37" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/50-39.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 50:39"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 50:39" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>