O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
O thou that dwellest upon many waters - (Jeremiah 51:32; Jeremiah 51:36; note, Isaiah 21:1). The Euphrates surrounded the city, and, being divided into many channels, formed islands. Compare as to spiritual Babylon, "waters," i:e., 'many peoples,' Revelation 17:1; Revelation 17:15. A large lake also was near Babylon.
The measure - literally, the cubit, which was the most common measure, and therefore is used for a measure in general.
Of thy covetousness - the time for putting a limit to thy covetousness is come (Gesenius). There is no "and" in the Hebrew; translate, thine end, the retribution for thy covetousness' (Grotius). Maurer takes the image to be from weaving: "thine end is come" - namely, 'the cubit where thou art to be cut off;' for the web is cut off when the required number of cubits is completed (Isaiah 38:12).