Jeremiah 49:31-32

49:31 The Lord says, ¹  “Army of Babylon, ²  go and attack

a nation that lives in peace and security.

They have no gates or walls to protect them. ³ 

They live all alone.

49:32 Their camels will be taken as plunder.

Their vast herds will be taken as spoil.

I will scatter to the four winds

those desert peoples who cut their hair short at the temples. ⁴ 

I will bring disaster against them

from every direction,” says the Lord. ⁵ 

[49:31]  ¹ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[49:31]  ² tn The words “Army of Babylon” are not in the text but are implicit from the context. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[49:31]  ³ tn Heb “no gates and no bar,” i.e., “that lives securely without gates or bars.” The phrase is used by the figure of species for genus (synecdoche) to refer to the fact that they have no defenses, i.e., no walls, gates, or bars on the gates. The figure has been interpreted in the translation for the benefit of the average reader.

[49:32]  ⁴ tn See the translator’s note at Jer 9:26 and compare the usage in 9:26 and 25:23.

[49:32]  ⁵ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”