Jeremiah 50:12

50:12 But Babylonia will be put to great shame.

The land where you were born ¹  will be disgraced.

Indeed, ²  Babylonia will become the least important of all nations.

It will become a dry and barren desert.

[50:12]  ¹ tn Heb “Your mother will be utterly shamed, the one who gave you birth…” The word “mother” and the parallel term “the one who gave you birth” are used metaphorically for the land of Babylonia. For the figure compare the usage in Isa 50:1 (Judah) and Hos 2:2, 5 (2:4, 7 HT) and see BDB 52 s.v. אֵם 2 and 408 s.v. יָלַד Qal.2.c.

[50:12]  ² tn Heb “Behold.” For the use of this particle see the translator’s note on 1:6.