Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 51:58

"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly overthrown, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the peoples shall labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they shall be weary." — Jeremiah 51:58 (ASV)

The broad walls — Herodotus makes the breadth of the walls 85 English feet.

Broken — See the margin. That is, the ground beneath them shall be laid bare by their demolition.

The people — Or, peoples. Jeremiah concludes his prophecy with a quotation from Habakkuk; applying the words to the stupendous works intended to make Babylon an eternal city, but which were to end in such early and utter disappointment.