As powerful and dominant as Babylon was at the time, it too was simply another nation that belonged to the Lord and was subject to him. The nations would serve Nebuchadnezzar and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.
Babylon would not be dominant forever. Nebuchadnezzar’s rule would last for three generations and then Babylon itself will face the Lord’s judgment, and the tables would be turned as it became subject to other nations. Babylon’s dominance did come to an end in 539 BC when Cyrus, the Persian king, defeated the Babylonian Empire.1 The Lord is making it clear to the nations that Babylon would rule for a significant amount of time, but not forever. This reality becomes the major issue of contention between Jeremiah and the false prophets in Judah in the rest of this section. The false prophets were saying that Babylonian rule would be short-lived, and that Judah would soon be set free.2
7 All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.