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Thursday, November 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 27 / Ordinary 32
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THE MESSAGE

Jeremiah 50:21

"Attack Merathaim, land of rebels! Go after Pekod, country of doom! Hunt them down. Make a clean sweep." God 's Decree. "These are my orders. Do what I tell you.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Babylon;   Merathaim;   Pekod;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Babylon;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Devote, Devoted;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Babylon, Kingdom of;   Merathaim;   Pekod;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Koa;   Merathaim, the Land of;   Pekod;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Merathaim;   Pekod;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Euphrates;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Lance, Lancet;   Merathaim;   Pekod;   Persia, Persians;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Merathaim ;   Pekod ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Rebels;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Meratha'im;   Pe'kod;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Merathaim;   Pekod;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Babylonia;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Attack the land of Merathaim,and those living in Pekod.Put them to the sword;completely destroy them—
Hebrew Names Version
Go up against the land of Meratayim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: kill and utterly destroy after them, says the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded you.
King James Version
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the Lord , and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
English Standard Version
"Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill, and devote them to destruction, declares the Lord , and do all that I have commanded you.
New American Standard Bible
"Against the land of Merathaim, go up against it, And against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and completely destroy them," declares the LORD, "And do according to everything that I have commanded you.
New Century Version
"Attack the land of Merathaim. Attack the people who live in Pekod. Chase them, kill them, and completely destroy them. Do everything I commanded you!" says the Lord .
Amplified Bible
"Go against [Babylon] the land of Merathaim (Double Rebellion), Go up against it and against the people of Pekod (Punishment). Kill and utterly destroy them," says the LORD, "And do everything that I have commanded you."
World English Bible
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: kill and utterly destroy after them, says Yahweh, and do according to all that I have commanded you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Goe vp against the lande of the rebelles, euen against it, and against the inhabitantes of Pekod: destroy, and lay it waste after them, saieth the Lorde, and doe according to all that I haue commaunded thee.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Against the land of Merathaim, go up against it, And against the inhabitants of Pekod. Slay and utterly destroy them," declares the LORD, "And do according to all that I have commanded you.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Against the land of Merathaim, go up against it,And against the inhabitants of Pekod.Put them to the sword and devote them to destruction," declares Yahweh,"And do according to all that I have commanded you.
Berean Standard Bible
"Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Put them to the sword and devote them to destruction," declares the LORD. "Do everything I have commanded you.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord said: I have told the enemies of Babylonia, "Attack the people of Merathaim and Pekod. Kill them all! Destroy their possessions!"
Complete Jewish Bible
"Attack the land of Meratayim; attack it and those living in P'kod. Waste them, utterly destroy them; do all I have ordered you," says Adonai .
Darby Translation
Go up against the land of double rebellion, against it, and against the inhabitants of visitation; waste and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord says, "Attack the country of Merathaim! Attack the people living in Pekod! Attack them! Kill them and destroy them completely! Do everything I commanded you!
George Lamsa Translation
Go up against the rebellious land, go up against it, and against its inhabitants; unsheath the sword and destroy them, says the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded you.
Good News Translation
The Lord says, "Attack the people of Merathaim and of Pekod. Kill and destroy them. Do everything I command you. I, the Lord , have spoken.
Lexham English Bible
To the land of Merathaim, go up against her, and against the inhabitants of Pekod, massacre and destroy them," declares Yahweh, "and do according to all that I have commanded you.
Literal Translation
Go up against the land of Merathaim, against it and against the dwellers of Pekod. Waste and destroy after them, says Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Go downe (o thou avenger) in to the enemies londe, & viset them that dwell therin: downe with them, and smyte them vpon the backes, saieth the LORDE: do acordinge to all, that I haue commaunded the.
American Standard Version
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: slay and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
Bible in Basic English
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the people of Pekod; put them to death and send destruction after them, says the Lord, and do everything I have given you orders to do.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod; waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
King James Version (1611)
Goe vp against the land of Merathaim, euen against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and vtterly destroy after them, sayeth the Lord, and doe according to all that I haue commanded thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Go downe [O thou auenger] into the enemies lande, and visite them that dwell therin: downe with them, & smite them vpon the backes saith the Lorde, do accordyng to all that I haue commaunded thee.
English Revised Version
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: slay and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Stie thou on the lond of lordis, and visite thou on the dwelleris therof; scatere thou, and sle tho thingis, that ben aftir hem, seith the Lord; and do thou bi alle thingis which Y comaundide to thee.
Update Bible Version
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: slay and completely destroy after them, says Yahweh, and do according to all that I have commanded you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Go up against the land of Merathaim, [even] against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
New English Translation
The Lord says, "Attack the land of Merathaim and the people who live in Pekod! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them! Do just as I have commanded you!
New King James Version
"Go up against the land of Merathaim, against it, And against the inhabitants of Pekod. Waste and utterly destroy them," says the LORD, "And do according to all that I have commanded you.
New Living Translation
"Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim and against the people of Pekod. Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them, as I have commanded you," says the Lord .
New Life Bible
"Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the people of Pekod. Kill and destroy all of them," says the Lord, "and do all that I have told you.
New Revised Standard
Go up to the land of Merathaim; go up against her, and attack the inhabitants of Pekod and utterly destroy the last of them, says the Lord ; do all that I have commanded you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Against the land of Merathaim, go thou up against her, And against the inhabitants of Pekod, - Lay waste and devote to destruction after them Declareth Yahweh, And do according to all which I have commanded thee.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Go up against the land of the rulers, and punish the inhabitants thereof, waste, and destroy all behind them, saith the Lord: and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
Revised Standard Version
"Go up against the land of Meratha'im, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Slay, and utterly destroy after them, says the LORD, and do all that I have commanded you.
Young's Literal Translation
Against the land of Merathaim: Go up against it, and unto the inhabitants of Pekod, Waste and devote their posterity, An affirmation of Jehovah, And do according to all that I have commanded thee.

Contextual Overview

21 "Attack Merathaim, land of rebels! Go after Pekod, country of doom! Hunt them down. Make a clean sweep." God 's Decree. "These are my orders. Do what I tell you. 22"The thunderclap of battle shakes the foundations! The Hammer has been hammered, smashed and splintered, Babylon pummeled beyond recognition. I set out a trap and you were caught in it. O Babylon, you never knew what hit you, Caught and held in the steel grip of that trap! That's what you get for taking on God . 25"I, God , opened my arsenal. I brought out my weapons of wrath. The Master, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, has a job to do in Babylon. Come at her from all sides! Break into her granaries! Shovel her into piles and burn her up. Leave nothing! Leave no one! Kill all her young turks. Send them to their doom! Doom to them! Yes, Doomsday! The clock has finally run out on them. And here's a surprise: Runaways and escapees from Babylon Show up in Zion reporting the news of God 's vengeance, taking vengeance for my own Temple. 29"Call in the troops against Babylon, anyone who can shoot straight! Tighten the noose! Leave no loopholes! Give her back as good as she gave, a dose of her own medicine! Her brazen insolence is an outrage against God , The Holy of Israel. And now she pays: her young strewn dead in the streets, her soldiers dead, silent forever." God 's Decree. 31"Do you get it, Mister Pride? I'm your enemy!" Decree of the Master, God -of-the-Angel-Armies. "Time's run out on you: That's right: It's Doomsday. Mister Pride will fall flat on his face. No one will offer him a hand. I'll set his towns on fire. The fire will spread wild through the country."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

up: Jeremiah 50:3, Jeremiah 50:9, Jeremiah 50:15

Merathaim: or, the rebels

Pekod: or, visitation, Ezekiel 23:23

and do: Jeremiah 34:22, Jeremiah 48:10, Numbers 31:14-18, 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 15:11-24, 2 Samuel 16:11, 2 Kings 18:25, 2 Chronicles 36:23, Isaiah 10:6, Isaiah 44:28, Isaiah 48:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:10 - And the Isaiah 13:3 - commanded Isaiah 13:4 - noise Isaiah 13:20 - General Jeremiah 51:1 - I will Jeremiah 51:3 - destroy Jeremiah 51:53 - from Daniel 7:5 - Arise Habakkuk 2:7 - they

Cross-References

Genesis 50:10
Arriving at the Atad Threshing Floor just across the Jordan River, they stopped for a period of mourning, letting their grief out in loud and lengthy lament. For seven days, Joseph engaged in these funeral rites for his father.
Genesis 50:11
When the Canaanites who lived in that area saw the grief being poured out at the Atad Threshing Floor, they said, "Look how deeply the Egyptians are mourning." That is how the site at the Jordan got the name Abel Mizraim (Egyptian Lament).
Matthew 6:14
"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other—"We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!"—suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman. But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it. And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Go up against the land of Merathaim,.... Thought to be the country of the Mardi, which lay part of it in Assyria, and part of it in Armenia; expressed in the dual number, because one part of it lay on one side the Tigris, and the other on the other side. Cyrus, with his army of Medes and Persians, is here called upon; who, according to Herodotus, passed through Assyria to Babylon: and so it may be agreeably rendered, "go by the land of Merathaim"; or the country of the Mardi. Many interpreters take it for an appellative, and not the proper name of a country. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "the land of rulers"; and the Targum,

"the land of the rebellious people;''

and so Kimchi w: and to the same sense Jarchi, the land

"that hath exasperated me, and provoked me to anger;''

meaning the land of the Chaldeans, which had ruled over others, rebelled against the Lord, and provoked him to wrath against it. The word, being in the dual number, may, in the mystical sense, respect the two antichrists, the eastern and western, that have ruled over the nations, and rebelled against God, and provoked him; the Turks and Papists, those two rebels, the beast and false prophet, Revelation 19:20; against whom the Christian princes will be bid to go up;

[even] against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod; the name of a place in Assyria; see Ezekiel 23:23; by which also Cyrus might go up to Babylon, so Jarchi; and the Targum takes it to be the name of a place: but Kimchi and others take it to be an appellative; and so it may be rendered, "the inhabitants of visitation" x; because the time was come to visit and punish them for their sins; and may particularly design the inhabitants of Babylon, the city to be visited for its iniquities; and especially mystical Babylon, which shall come up in remembrance before God, Revelation 16:19;

waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the Lord; either after the destruction of the places before mentioned; or pursue after those that flee and make their escape from thence, and destroy them; or rather their posterity, the remnant of them, as the Targum:

and do according to all that I have commanded thee; either Cyrus, according to all the Lord commanded him by the Prophet Isaiah, as Jarchi; or the seven angels, that are to pour out the vials of wrath on antichrist; the kings of the earth, who are to fulfil the will of God upon the man of sin, Revelation 16:1.

w על הארץ מרתים "contra terram rebellantium", Pagninus; "super", Montanus; "contra terram rebellionum", Schmidt. x יושבי פקוד "habitatores visitationis", Vatablus, Calvin, De Dieu.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The land of Merathaim - of double rebellion. Like Mitsraim, i. e., the two Egypts, Aram-Naharaim, i. e., Syria of the two rivers, or Mesopotamia, it is a dual. It may have been a real name; or - the dual ending being intensive - it may mean the land of very great rebelliousness.

Pekod - Possibly a Babylonian town.

Waste - Rather, slay, Jeremiah 50:27.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 50:21. Go up against the land of Merathaim - and against the inhabitants of Pekod — No such places as these are to be found any where else; and it is not likely that places are at all meant. The ancient Versions agree in rendering the first as an appellative, and the last as a verb, except the Chaldee, which has Pekod as a proper name. Dr. Blayney translates: -

"Against the land of bitternesses, go up:

Upon it, and upon its inhabitants, visit, O sword!"

Dr. Dahler renders thus: -

"March against the country doubly rebellious,

And against its inhabitants worthy of punishment."


The latter of these two versions I take to be the most literal. The words are addressed to the Medes and Persians; and the country is Chaldea, doubly rebellious by its idolatry and its insufferable pride. In these two, it was exceeded by no other land.


 
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