Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 51:26
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate forever, saith the LORD.
26. The figure of stones, which by the action of fire have been rendered unfit for use in building, is continued in this verse. No Empire shall again have Babylon for its centre. Its position as a capital city is for ever shattered, and its glory burnt out.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The prophet means that:
(1) Babylon would never again be the seat of empire. Nor
(2) would any new development of events take its rise thence.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
God threateneth to Babylon an utter ruin and desolation, so as they should not have a stone left fit to lay a foundation, or to make a corner-stone; or, as some others interpret it, that city should never be built again, there should never from the rubbish of it be taken a stone to lay the foundation, nor to lay upon the corners of new houses, new walls, new towers in that place. Foundation-stones, and corner-stones, are principal stones in buildings. Nothing shall be left in Babylon of any worth, value, or considerableness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. corner . . . stone . . .foundationsThe corner-stone was the most important onein the building, the foundation-stones came next in importance(Eph 2:20). So the sense is,even as there shall be no stones useful for building left of thee, sono leading prince, or governors, shall come forth fromthy inhabitants.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations,…. Signifying that it should be so utterly consumed by fire, that there should not be a stone left fit to be put into any new building, especially to be a corner or a foundation stone. The Targum understands it figuratively,
“and they shall not take of thee a king for a kingdom, and a ruler for government:”
but thou shall be desolate for ever, saith the Lord; see
Jer 50:39.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He confirms the former verse, that when Babylon was destroyed, there would be no hope of restoration. It often happens, that those cities which have been wholly destroyed are afterwards built up again; but God says that this would not be the case with Babylon, for it was given over to perpetual destruction. By corner and foundations he understands the strength of the buildings, he then says, that there was no hope that the stones would be again fitted together, for the building of the city, for Babylon would become a perpetual waste or desolation.
We have, indeed, said, that the walls of Babylon were not made of stones but of bricks: but the Prophet simply speaks according to the common manner, in order to show that its ruin would be for ever. (89) We have also said elsewhere that a difference is commonly made by the prophets between the people of God and the reprobate, that God promises to his Church a new state as a resurrection from death, but that he denounces on the unbelieving perpetual desolation. This course is now followed by our Prophet when he says, that the desolations there would be for ever, because there is no hope of pardon or of mercy to the unbelieving. It afterwards follows, —
(89) Though the reatest part of the walls and towers was built of bricks, yet there were stones no doubt used. Some understand, by “stone,” a king or prince, and consider that an intimation is given that Babylon would not hereafter have a king or its own, but be tributary. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(26) They shall not take of thee a stone for a corner.The prophet uses general language applicable to any city destroyed by fire, without noting the special fact that Babylon was built of bricks.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 51:26 And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.
Ver. 26. And they shall not take of thee a stone. ] Thou shalt never be re-edified. So it is foretold of Rome,
“ Tota eris in cineres quasi nunquam Roma fuisses. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
not take of thee . . . forever. This again must refer to a future fulfilment. The two destructions are intertwined. Compare Jer 51:62.
for ever. See App-151.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shall not: Jer 51:37, Jer 51:43, Jer 50:12, Jer 50:13, Isa 13:19-22, Isa 14:23
desolate for ever: Heb. everlasting desolations, Jer 50:40, Jer 50:41, Isa 34:8-17, Rev 18:20-24
Reciprocal: Isa 25:2 – For Isa 26:5 – the lofty Isa 47:14 – there shall Jer 25:12 – perpetual Jer 50:3 – which Jer 50:26 – destroy Jer 50:32 – none Jer 50:39 – General Jer 51:62 – to cut
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 51:26. They (the Medes and Persians) will not use the building materials of Babylon for their own benefit for that wit! not be the purpose of their attack. However, they will destroy the city and make it desolate for ever.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
God would so thoroughly destroy this "mountain" that people would not be able to use any of its stones to build. People would not be able to use the splintered remains of Babylon-after God had obliterated her-to build other nations. This devastation was not the condition of Babylon after Cyrus, or any past enemy, took the city. They left it intact. Thus this must refer to a future destruction of Babylon.