Yeremia 49:31

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.

Zakharia 2:4

2:4 and said to him, “Hurry, speak to this young man ⁴  as follows: ‘Jerusalem will no longer be enclosed by walls ⁵  because of the multitude of people and animals there.

[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.

[2:4]  ⁴ sn That is, to Zechariah.

[2:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “Jerusalem will dwell as open regions (פְּרָזוֹת, pÿrazot)”; cf. NAB “in open country”; CEV “won’t have any boundaries.” The population will be so large as to spill beyond the ancient and normal enclosures. The people need not fear, however, for the Lord will be an invisible but strong wall (v. 5).