Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 51:59-64

We have been long attending the judgment of Babylon in this and the foregoing chapter; now here we have the conclusion of that whole matter. 1. A copy is taken of this prophecy, it should seem by Jeremiah himself, for Baruch his scribe is not mentioned here (Jer. 51:60): Jeremiah wrote in a book all these words that are here written against Babylon. He received this notice that he might give it to all whom it might concern. It is of great advantage both to the propagating and to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:63

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book ,.... To the captive Jews; and having also said the above words by way of prayer and approbation: that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates ; a river by which Babylon was situated. The book, being read, was to be rolled up again, and then a stone tied to it, and cast into the middle of the river, where the waters were deepest, and from whence it could not be taken up; and this was a sign... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 51:64

And thou shall say ,.... Not only use the above sign and ceremony, but explain the meaning of it to those of his friends who might accompany him; and what he said was in the name of the Lord, as the form and manner in which the following words are delivered show: thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her ; as this book, with the stone bound to it, does, and shall no more rise than that can; the evil of punishment brought on Babylon will sink her... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 51:64

Thus shall Babylon sink, etc. - This is the emblem of its overthrow and irretrievable ruin. See Revelation 18:21 , where we find that this is an emblem of the total ruin of mystical Babylon. Herodotus relates a similar action of the Phocaeans, who, having resolved to leave their country, and never return to it again, μυδρον σιδηρεον κατεπονωσαν, και ωμοσαν μη πριν ες Φωκαιην ἡξειν, πριν η τον μυδρον τουτον αναφηναι· "threw a mass of iron into the sea, and swore that they would never... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 51:63

Verse 63 He afterwards adds, And when thou hast made an end of reading, thou shalt tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates, and shalt say, Thus sink shall Babylon Here is added an external symbol to confirm the faith of Seraiah. We must yet bear in mind, that this was not said to Seraiah for his own sake alone, but that the people might also know, that the king’s messenger, who had been sent for the sake of conciliating, was also the messenger of God and of the Prophet, who might have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 51:64

Verse 64 The Conclusion follows, Thus far the words of Jeremiah We have said that the prophets, after having spoken in the Temple, or to the people, afterwards collected brief summaries, and that these contained the principal things: from these the prophetic books were made up. For Jeremiah did not write the volume as we have it at this day, except the chapters; and it appears evident that it was not written in the order in which he spoke. The order of time is not, then, everywhere observed;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 51:52-64

The book cast into the river. I. MEN DO NOT SUFFER FOR THEIR SINS WITHOUT WARNING FROM GOD . Seraiah was to go to Babylon and see that he read there the words of the prophecy concerning the city. God has warned us of the doom of sin, and he has sent the warning to us. We have not to search for it. It sounds in our ears. It is written large in the Bible. It is repeated in the lessons of providence. II. IF A DIVINE WARNING IS DISREGARDED IT IS USELESS... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 51:59-64

Epilogue . The word, etc. (see Jeremiah 51:61 ). Seraiah . Apparently the brother of Baruch. With Zedekiah. The Septuagint has "from Zedekiah," which is referred by Bleek and Gratz. It would thus be an embassy, of which Seraiah was the head. According to the ordinary reading, Zedekiah went himself. A quiet prince. Not so. The Hebrew means probably, "in command over the resting place," i.e. he took charge of the royal caravan, and arranged the halting places. But the Targum and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 51:63-64

A symbol of irretrievable loss. It was fitting that the exhibition and record of a symbol such as this should close the long denunciation of Babylon. Where God determines to destroy no man can either avert or recover. This stone, perhaps, still lies at the bottom of Euphrates, and possibly even there may be something to signify the book once attached to it. We know not what relics of Old Testament times might yet be disentombed, what confirmations and revelations are still in actual... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 51:64

And they shall be weary. Accidentally repeated from Jeremiah 51:59 (see introduction to Jeremiah 1:1-19 .). Thus far, etc. Proving that the Book of Jeremiah once ended with Jeremiah 51:1-64 . read more

Group of Brands