Jeremiah 51:20

“Thou [art] my battle axe [and] weapons of war, etc.] This is said by the Lord, either to Cyrus, as some, to which our version inclines, whom God made use of as an instrument to subdue nations and kingdoms, and destroy them; (see <234501>Isaiah 45:1); or rather Babylon, and the king of it, who had been the hammer of the earth, (<245023>Jeremiah 50:23); as it may be rendered here, “thou [art] my hammer”f1027; or, “hast been”; an instrument in his hands, of beating the nations to pieces, as stones by a hammer, and of destroying them, as by weapons of war: this, and what follows, are observed to show, that though Babylon had been used by the Lord for the destruction of others, it should not be…”

“(See on Jer 50:23). "Break in pieces" refers to the "hammer" there (compare Nah 2:1, Margin). The club also was often used by ancient warriors.”

“Or, Thou art my maul, weapons of war etc. The maul or mace Proverbs 25:18 only differs from the hammer Jeremiah 50:23 in being used for warlike purposes. Omit the “will” in “will I break.” The crushing of the nations was going on at the time when the prophet wrote. Most commentators consider that Babylon was the mace of God. return to 'Top of Page'”

“51:20 You: The Lord had chosen and empowered King Cyrus of Persia to turn the Babylonian Empire to dust.”

“art: Jer 50:23; Isa 10:5, Isa 10:15, Isa 13:5, Isa 14:5, Isa 14:6, Isa 37:26, Isa 41:15, Isa 41:16; Mic 4:13; Zac 9:13, Zac 9:14; Mat 22:7 with thee: or, in thee, or, by thee break: Jer 25:9, Jer 25:11, Jer 27:5-7 Jeremiah 51:21”