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Jeremiah 51:41

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 51:41 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
Jeremiah 51:41 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 51

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
38They shall roar together like young lions; they shall growl as lions` whelps.
39When they are heated, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith Jehovah.
40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.
41How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
42The sea is come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
43Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.
44And I will execute judgment upon Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
← Jeremiah 51:40Jeremiah 51:42 →
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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
“How is Sheshach taken! etc.] Not the city Shushan, as Sir John Marsham thinksf1062; but Babylon, as is plain from a following clause; and so the Targum, “how is Babylon subdued!” called Sheshach, by a position and commutation of letters the Jews call “athbash”; so Jarchi, Kimchi, and Abarbinel account for it; or else from their idol Shach, the same with Bel, which was worshipped here, and had a temple erected for it; and where an annual feast was kept in honour of it, called the Sacchean feast; and which was observing the very time the city was taken; and may be the true reason of its having this name given it now; (see Gill on “<242526>Jeremiah 25:26”); the taking of which was very…”
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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
“Sheshach--Babylon (compare Note, see Jer 25:26); called so from the goddess Shach, to whom a five days' festival was kept, during which, as in the Roman Saturnalia, the most unbridled licentiousness was permitted; slaves ruled their masters, and in every house one called Zogan, arrayed in a royal garment, was chosen to rule all the rest. He calls Babylon "Sheshach," to imply that it was during this feast the city was taken [SCALIGER].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Sheshach - Babylon: see the Jeremiah 51:1 note. Surprised - i. e., seized, captured. 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
“Sheshach - A name given to the city of Babylon. Jeremiah 51:42”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Sheshach: Sheshach was probably an idol worshipped at Babylon, from which the city derived this name; and the festival which was held when the city was taken, when they were heated with wine, was perhaps observed in honour of it. Jer 25:26; Dan 5:1-3 the praise: Jer 49:25, Jer 50:23; Isa 13:19, Isa 14:4; Dan 2:38, Dan 4:22, Dan 4:30, Dan 5:4, Dan 5:5; Rev 18:10-19 an astonishment: Jer 51:37, Jer 50:46; Deu 28:37; Ch2 7:21; Eze 27:35 Jeremiah 51:42”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The fearful destruction of Babylon will astonish the world. - Jer 51:41 is an exclamation of astonishment regarding the conquest of the city which was praised throughout the world. As to שׁשׁך, see on Jer 51:1 and Jer 25:26. תּהלּה, "praise," is here used for "a subject of praise and fame;" cf. Jer 49:25. Jeremiah 51:42”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification