They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
As he had called idols a lie, so now in the same sense he declares that they were vanity, even because they were nothing real, but vain pomps, or phantoms, or masks; and he afterwards expresses himself more clearly by saying that they were the work of illusions But he does not seem to take the word תעתעים, toroim, in a passive but in an active sense.
Babylon was once a golden cup in the Lord's hand, filled with His favor, but also His battle-axe to break nations. Those that carry all before them a great while will yet meet their match; even Babylon's day will come, and it too shall fall.
AI summary
Commenting on Jeremiah 51:1-58
Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war,.... This is said by the Lord, either to Cyrus, as some, to which our version inclines, whom God made use of as an instrument to subdue nations and kingdoms, and destroy them; see Isa 45:1; or rather Babylon, and the king of it, who had been the hammer of the earth, Jer 50:23; as it may...