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Jeremiah 50:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 50:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and beast.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and beast.
Jeremiah 50:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 50

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The word that Jehovah spake concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
2Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed; her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.
3For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and beast.
4In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Jehovah their God.
5They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces thitherward, [saying], Come ye, and join yourselves to Jehovah in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.
6My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting-place.
← Jeremiah 50:2Jeremiah 50:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, etc.] The Medes and Persians, which under Cyrus were one nation; and which not only lay north of Judea, where this prophecy came, but of Babylon, against which they were to come; and might lay more north to it, before the enlargement of their dominions; and besides, Cyrus came through Assyria to Babylon, which lay north of it; (see <234125>Isaiah 41:25). Thus, as Rome Pagan was sacked and taken by the Goths and Vandals, that came out of the north; so Rome Papal, and the antichristian states, will be destroyed by the Christian princes of the north, or those who have embraced what the Papists call the northern heresy; tidings out of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“a nation--the Medes, north of Babylon (Jer 51:48). The devastation of Babylon here foretold includes not only that by Cyrus, but also that more utter one by Darius, who took Babylon by artifice when it had revolted from Persia, and mercilessly slaughtered the inhabitants, hanging four thousand of the nobles; also the final desertion of Babylon, owing to Seleucia having been built close by under Seleucus Nicanor.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Out of the north - Media lay to the northwest of Babylon. This constant use of the north, the quarter where the sun never shines, and therefore the region of darkness, is symbolic of the region from where danger ever comes. They shall remove ... - Translate it (as in Jeremiah 9:10): “from man even to cattle they are fled, they are gone.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The north - From Media which lay northward to Babylon and Assyria. Jeremiah 50:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“50:3 The nation . . . from the north was the Persian nation led by Cyrus in 539 BC. Persia was east of Babylon, but it first struck Babylonia in the north and then moved south. The attack destroyed the powerful Babylonian Empire.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“out of the: The Medes, who formed the greatest part of the army of Cyrus. Media lay ne of Babylon. Jer 50:9, Jer 50:41, Jer 51:11, Jer 51:27, Jer 51:48; Isa 13:5, Isa 13:17, Isa 13:18, Isa 13:20 which: Jer 50:12, Jer 50:13, Jer 50:35-40, Jer 51:8, Jer 51:9, Jer 51:25, Jer 51:26, Jer 51:37-44, Jer 51:62; Isa 13:6-10, Isa 13:19-22, Isa 14:22-24; Rev 18:21-23 both: Jer 7:20, Jer 21:6; Gen 6:7; Exo 12:12; Zep 1:3 Jeremiah 50:4”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification