Jeremiah 51:57 Meaning and Explanation
“And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will intoxicate Babylon's leadership to death—a perpetual sleep from which they will not awaken.
The Context of Jeremiah 51:57
All Babylon's leaders will be put into perpetual death by God's judgment.
What Does Jeremiah 51:57 Mean?
All levels of Babylon's leadership—princes, wise men, captains, rulers, mighty men—will be affected. 'Make drunk' indicates intoxication by God's judgment, rendering them senseless. The result: 'sleep a perpetual sleep'—a euphemism for death. They will not 'wake'—no resurrection, no reversal, only finality in death.
The speaker identifies Himself: 'saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts'—the ultimate sovereign, the God of armies. This title asserts God's supremacy over all earthly kings and their powerlessness before Him. The promise of perpetual sleep for Babylon's leaders emphasizes the finality and comprehensiveness of judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 51:57
What does Jeremiah 51:57 mean?
God will intoxicate Babylon's leadership to death—a perpetual sleep from which they will not awaken.
What is the context of Jeremiah 51:57?
All Babylon's leaders will be put into perpetual death by God's judgment.