Jeremiah 51:39 Meaning and Explanation
“In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God will make the enemies celebrate and become drunk, then sleep forever in death.
The Context of Jeremiah 51:39
God lures the enemies into celebration and death through drunken sleep.
What Does Jeremiah 51:39 Mean?
God speaks of drawing the victors into a trap. They will hold victory feasts, grow drunk in celebration, and fall into 'a perpetual sleep'—death. 'In their heat' refers to their heated excitement over victory. God allows them to rejoice, but their rejoicing becomes the occasion of their destruction. The feast becomes a death trap.
'Sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake' uses sleep as a metaphor for death. The victorious armies, intoxicated by wine and victory, will never awaken. This turns the image of celebration into one of judgment. Even the conquerors are subject to God's judgment, suggesting that violence and conquest, even when used as instruments of God's purpose, carry consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 51:39
What does Jeremiah 51:39 mean?
God will make the enemies celebrate and become drunk, then sleep forever in death.
What is the context of Jeremiah 51:39?
God lures the enemies into celebration and death through drunken sleep.