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Wednesday, July 16th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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New Living Translation

Jeremiah 50:21

"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 .

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 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.
THE MESSAGE
"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.

Contextual Overview

21 "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 . 22 "Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction. 23 Babylon, the mightiest hammer in all the earth, lies broken and shattered. Babylon is desolate among the nations! 24 Listen, Babylon, for I have set a trap for you. You are caught, for you have fought against the Lord . 25 The Lord has opened his armory and brought out weapons to vent his fury. The terror that falls upon the Babylonians will be the work of the Sovereign Lord of Heaven's Armies. 26 Yes, come against her from distant lands. Break open her granaries. Crush her walls and houses into heaps of rubble. Destroy her completely, and leave nothing! 27 Destroy even her young bulls— it will be terrible for them, too! Slaughter them all! For Babylon's day of reckoning has come. 28 Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon, as they tell in Jerusalem how the Lord our God has taken vengeance against those who destroyed his Temple. 29 "Send out a call for archers to come to Babylon. Surround the city so none can escape. Do to her as she has done to others, for she has defied the Lord , the Holy One of Israel. 30 Her young men will fall in the streets and die. Her soldiers will all be killed," says the Lord .

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 34:3
But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words.
Genesis 47:12
And Joseph provided food for his father and his brothers in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents, including the smallest children.
Genesis 50:10
When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph's father.
Genesis 50:11
The local residents, the Canaanites, watched them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad. Then they renamed that place (which is near the Jordan) Abel-mizraim, for they said, "This is a place of deep mourning for these Egyptians."
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
Genesis 50:21
No, don't be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children." So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
Isaiah 40:2
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins."
Matthew 5:44
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Matthew 6:14
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

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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