Jeremiah 50

“The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.” Naming Babylon and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel…” Naming Babylon and Bel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD , the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include astray, caused, forgotten. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against…” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the…” Naming Babylon and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she…” Naming Babylon and Put keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it…” Naming Shout keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last…” Naming Assyria and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD , the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.” The line’s distinctive content terms include battle, destruction, land. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the…” Naming Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let…” Naming Come keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their…” Naming Slay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that…” Naming Israel and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD , and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon…” Naming Babylon and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD ; so shall no man abide there…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD , that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.