Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
Declare ye among the nations - who would rejoice at the fall of Babylon their oppressor.
Set up a standard - to indicate the place of meeting to the nations where they were to hear the good news of Babylon's fall (Rosenmuller); or, the signal to summon the nations together against Babylon (Jeremiah 51:12; Jeremiah 51:27). (Maurer.)
Bel is confounded - the tutelary god of Babylon; the same idol as the Phoenician Baal - i:e., lord, the sun (Isaiah 46:1).
Is confounded - because unable to defend the city under their protection.
Merodach is broken in pieces - another Babylonian idol, meaning in Syria little lord; from which Merodach-baladan took his name.