Jeremiah 50:16
Jeremiah 50:16 in Multiple Translations
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
Let the planter of seed be cut off from Babylon, and everyone using the curved blade at the time of the grain-cutting: for fear of the cruel sword, everyone will be turned to his people, everyone will go in flight to his land.
Stop the sower from sowing in the country of Babylon, and stop the harvester swinging the sickle to reap the grain. Under the threat of the enemies' swords, everyone runs home to their own people, they go back to where they came from.
Destroy the sower from Babel, and him that handleth the sieth in the time of haruest: because of the sworde of the oppressor they shall turne euery one to his people, and they shall flee euery one to his owne land.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, And him handling the sickle in the time of harvest, Because of the oppressing sword, Each unto his people — they turn, And each to his land — they flee.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword, they will each return to their own people, and they will each flee to their own land.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
Destroy the sower out of Babylon, and him that holdeth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the sword of the dove every man shall return to his people, and every one shall flee to his own land.
Take away from Babylon those who plant crops and those who reap the harvests! Because of the swords carried by those who will attack Babylon, those people in Babylon who have come from other countries should all run away, back to their own countries [DOU]!”
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 50:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 50:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּרְת֤וּ
זוֹרֵ֨עַ֙
מִ/בָּבֶ֔ל
וְ/תֹפֵ֥שׂ
מַגָּ֖ל
בְּ/עֵ֣ת
קָצִ֑יר
מִ/פְּנֵי֙
חֶ֣רֶב
הַ/יּוֹנָ֔ה
אִ֤ישׁ
אֶל
עַמּ/וֹ֙
יִפְנ֔וּ
וְ/אִ֥ישׁ
לְ/אַרְצ֖/וֹ
יָנֻֽסוּ
כִּרְת֤וּ
kârath
H3772
to cut
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
זוֹרֵ֨עַ֙
zâraʻ
H2232
to sow
V-Qal
מִ/בָּבֶ֔ל
Bâbel
H894
Babylon
Prep | N-proper
וְ/תֹפֵ֥שׂ
tâphas
H8610
to capture
Conj | V-Qal
מַגָּ֖ל
maggâl
H4038
sickle
N-ms
בְּ/עֵ֣ת
ʻêth
H6256
time
Prep | N-cs
קָצִ֑יר
qâtsîyr
H7105
harvest
N-ms
מִ/פְּנֵי֙
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp
חֶ֣רֶב
chereb
H2719
sword
N-fs
הַ/יּוֹנָ֔ה
yânâh
H3238
to oppress
Art | V-Qal
אִ֤ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep
עַמּ/וֹ֙
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
N-ms | Suff
יִפְנ֔וּ
pânâh
H6437
Corner (Gate)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וְ/אִ֥ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
Conj | N-ms
לְ/אַרְצ֖/וֹ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs | Suff
יָנֻֽסוּ
nûwç
H5127
to flee
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 50:16
כִּרְת֤וּ
kârath
H3772
"to cut"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
This Hebrew word means to cut or destroy something, but it also has a special meaning related to making a covenant or agreement. In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, symbolized by cutting animals in half, showing the seriousness of the promise. This word is used to describe important agreements and alliances.
Definition: : cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off
Usage: Occurs in 280 OT verses. KJV: be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. See also: Genesis 9:11; 1 Samuel 24:6; Psalms 12:4.
זוֹרֵ֨עַ֙
zâraʻ
H2232
"to sow"
V-Qal
To sow or plant seed is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which also has figurative uses like spreading ideas or producing spiritual fruit. It appears in various forms, such as conceiving or yielding seed, and is used in biblical passages like Genesis and Psalm 107.
Definition: 1) to sow, scatter seed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sow 1a2) producing, yielding seed 1b)(Niphal) 1b1) to be sown 1b2) to become pregnant, be made pregnant 1c) (Pual) to be sown 1d) (Hiphil) to produce seed, yield seed
Usage: Occurs in 54 OT verses. KJV: bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield. See also: Genesis 1:11; Psalms 107:37; Psalms 97:11.
מִ/בָּבֶ֔ל
Bâbel
H894
"Babylon"
Prep | N-proper
Babel refers to Babylon, a city and empire in the Bible, meaning confusion or mixing. It appears in Genesis 11:9 and is associated with the tower of Babel. The city was situated on the Euphrates River.
Definition: § Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)" Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
Usage: Occurs in 233 OT verses. KJV: Babel, Babylon. See also: Genesis 10:10; Jeremiah 29:22; Psalms 87:4.
וְ/תֹפֵ֥שׂ
tâphas
H8610
"to capture"
Conj | V-Qal
To capture or seize something, like in 1 Kings 13:4, where a prophet grabs the king's altar. It means to take hold of or grasp something firmly.
Definition: 1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch 1a2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully 1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured 1c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, [idiom] surely, surprise, take. See also: Genesis 4:21; Jeremiah 2:8; Psalms 10:2.
מַגָּ֖ל
maggâl
H4038
"sickle"
N-ms
A sickle is a tool used for harvesting, like the one Jesus talks about in Mark 4:29. It symbolizes the end of an age. In Revelation 14:14, an angel uses a sickle to reap a harvest.
Definition: sickle
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: sickle. See also: Jeremiah 50:16; Joel 4:13.
בְּ/עֵ֣ת
ʻêth
H6256
"time"
Prep | N-cs
Eth means time, especially now or when, and can refer to an event, experience, or occasion. It is often used to describe a specific moment or period.
Definition: 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion
Usage: Occurs in 258 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when. See also: Genesis 8:11; 2 Chronicles 35:17; Psalms 1:3.
קָצִ֑יר
qâtsîyr
H7105
"harvest"
N-ms
This word refers to the harvest or the time of harvest, as well as the reaper or the crop itself. It can also mean a limb or foliage of a tree, emphasizing the idea of growth and abundance. The concept of harvest is central to the biblical narrative, particularly in the book of Ruth.
Definition: 1) harvest, harvesting 1a) process of harvesting 1b) crop, what is harvested or reaped 1c) time of harvest
Usage: Occurs in 49 OT verses. KJV: bough, branch, harvest (man). See also: Genesis 8:22; Job 18:16; Psalms 80:12.
מִ/פְּנֵי֙
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
חֶ֣רֶב
chereb
H2719
"sword"
N-fs
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Definition: 1) sword, knife 1a) sword 1b) knife 1c) tools for cutting stone
Usage: Occurs in 372 OT verses. KJV: axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Samuel 2:16; Psalms 7:13.
הַ/יּוֹנָ֔ה
yânâh
H3238
"to oppress"
Art | V-Qal
To oppress or treat someone violently, often implying a sense of injustice or wrongdoing, as found in the KJV.
Definition: 1) to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong 1a) (Qal) to oppress, suppress 1b) (Hiphil) to treat violently, maltreat
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: destroy, (thrust out by) oppress(-ing, -ion, -or), proud, vex, do violence. See also: Exodus 22:20; Jeremiah 46:16; Psalms 74:8.
אִ֤ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
אֶל
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
עַמּ/וֹ֙
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
N-ms | Suff
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
יִפְנ֔וּ
pânâh
H6437
"Corner (Gate)"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to turn or face something, like looking at a corner or a gate. It appears in descriptions of daily life and interactions, like in Genesis and Psalms. It's about changing direction or focus.
Definition: This name means corner, to turn, to turn back Another spelling of pin.nah (פִּנָּה "Corner( Gate)" H6438)
Usage: Occurs in 128 OT verses. KJV: appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, [idiom] corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), [idiom] right (early). See also: Genesis 18:22; 2 Kings 13:23; Psalms 25:16.
וְ/אִ֥ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
לְ/אַרְצ֖/וֹ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs | Suff
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
יָנֻֽסוּ
nûwç
H5127
"to flee"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To flee means to quickly leave a place, like escaping from danger, as seen in the Bible when David fled from King Saul. It can also mean to disappear or vanish. In the book of Psalms, it describes God delivering his people from harm.
Definition: 1) to flee, escape 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to flee 1a2) to escape 1a3) to take flight, m depart, disappear 1a4) to fly (to the attack) on horseback 1b) (Polel) to drive at 1c) (Hithpolel) to take flight 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to put to flight 1d2) to drive hastily 1d3) to cause to disappear, hide Aramaic equivalent: nud (נוּד "to flee" H5111)
Usage: Occurs in 143 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing), put to flight, [idiom] hide, lift up a standard. See also: Genesis 14:10; 2 Samuel 17:2; Psalms 60:6.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 50:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 50:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 50:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 50:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 50:16
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 50:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
- Sermons on Jeremiah 50:16
Context — Babylon’s Fall Is Certain
14Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD.
15Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her.
16Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
17Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” 18Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 51:9 | “We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds.” |
| 2 | Jeremiah 46:16 | They continue to stumble; indeed, they have fallen over one another. They say, ‘Get up! Let us return to our people and to the land of our birth, away from the sword of the oppressor.’ |
| 3 | Isaiah 13:14 | Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land. |
| 4 | Joel 1:11 | Be dismayed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, over the wheat and barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 25:38 | He has left His den like a lion, for their land has been made a desolation by the sword of the oppressor, and because of the fierce anger of the LORD. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 51:23 | With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock; with you I shatter the farmer and his oxen; with you I shatter the governors and officials. |
| 7 | Amos 5:16 | Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says: “There will be wailing in all the public squares and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets. The farmer will be summoned to mourn, and the mourners to wail. |
Jeremiah 50:16 Summary
Jeremiah 50:16 is saying that when Babylon is attacked, its people will stop being able to plant and harvest crops, and they will flee back to their own homes and lands. This is a picture of God's judgment on sin and rebellion, as seen in other verses like Deuteronomy 28:38 and Isaiah 5:10. It reminds us that God is sovereign and will judge all nations and peoples who oppose Him, but He also loves and wants to redeem and restore us, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 11:25-26. We can trust in God's plan and sovereignty, even when things seem uncertain or scary, and look to Him for guidance and protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'cut off the sower from Babylon' in Jeremiah 50:16?
This phrase means to stop the people of Babylon from being able to plant and harvest crops, which would lead to famine and hardship, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:38 and Isaiah 5:10.
Why would each person 'turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land' in the face of the oppressor's sword?
This is because when a nation is under attack, its people often flee to their ancestral homes or lands for safety, as seen in Jeremiah 50:16, and this is a fulfillment of God's judgment on Babylon, as prophesied in Isaiah 13:14.
Is this verse talking about a specific historical event or a spiritual principle?
While Jeremiah 50:16 is talking about the historical judgment of Babylon, it also illustrates the spiritual principle that God will judge all nations and peoples who oppose Him, as seen in Psalm 9:17 and Revelation 20:12-15.
How does this verse relate to the broader context of God's plan of salvation?
Jeremiah 50:16 is part of God's larger plan to judge sin and rebellion, and to ultimately redeem and restore His people, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 11:25-26.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can apply the principle of God's judgment on sin to my own life and relationships?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty and plan, even when I don't understand the circumstances around me?
- What are some ways that I can be a part of God's plan to redeem and restore people and nations, as seen in Jeremiah 50:16 and other verses?
- How can I balance the idea of God's judgment with His love and mercy, as seen in verses like Jeremiah 50:16 and Psalm 103:8-10?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 50:16
Cut off the sower from in Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest,.... Both sower and reaper: the walls of Babylon took in a large compass of land, where there were corn
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 50:16
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
We are told that Babylon was so large a city, that with the walls of it there was much ploughed ground: or else the threatening imports that God would deal more severely with Babylon, than conquerors use to do with places which they conquer, who use to spare and leave behind then ploughmen, and such as use to till the ground, but in the destruction of Babylon it should not be so. They shall flee every one to his own land: he speaks either of such stranger as for commerce had their abodes in Babylon, or such assistants as the Babylonians had gotten against their ene rates, who upon the coming in of the enemies should make as much haste home as they could.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
Jeremiah 50:16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.Ver. 16. Cut off the sower.] Leave not so much as a husbandman alive, who yet are generally spared, as harmless and useful; they were left and let alone by the Chaldeans when they carried away the Jews. But here is enjoined a more severe execution.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
(16) Cut off the sower . . .—The rich alluvial plains of Babylon, so plentiful that they yielded an increase of two hundred-fold (Herod. iii. 8), were to be laid waste. There may, possibly, be a special reference to the fields within the walls of the city, upon which the population largely depended, and which were now to be devastated. (Diod. Sic. ii. 9; Pliny, Hist. Nat. xi. 111.) For fear of the oppressing sword.—The versions present the same noticeable variations, as in Jeremiah 46:16, the LXX. giving “from the Greek sword,” possibly with reference to the belief that Cyrus had subdued the Æolians and Ionians before the conquest of Babylon, and that they were fighting in his army, or to Alexander’s capture of the city, and the Vulg. “from the sword of the dove,” the latter rendering being supposed to refer to the dove on the Babylonian standard, as the emblem of Semiramis. Here, however, as Babylon is the object of attack, the latter allusion is scarcely applicable, and there is no sufficient reason for altering the English version. (See Note on Jeremiah 25:38; Jeremiah 46:16.) They shall flee every one to his own land.—The words are significant as showing that the Jews were not the only people for whom the fall of Babylon was the signal of a return from exile. The policy of Nebuchadnezzar, like that of Assyria, had been to people his own territory with the captive populations of other countries, and Israel (as in Jeremiah 50:8) was to lead the way in the return.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
Verse 16. Cut off the sower] Destroy the gardens and the fields, that there may be neither fruits nor tillage.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 50:16
16. Cut off the sower from Babylon] Agricultural labour ceases, and foreign residents flee to their homes. Cp. Jeremiah 51:9; Isaiah 13:14. But it is perhaps better to make the reference to be to slaves or hired foreign labourers.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 50:16
The population is to be destroyed so utterly that the rich fields of Babylonia are to remain untilled.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 50:16
14-16. Put yourselves in array, etc. — These verses are a command to the nations to gather themselves together to execute the purposes of Jehovah. The language is vivid and graphic, and the picture truthful and impressive.
Sermons on Jeremiah 50:16
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A Burning Heart by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher references various verses from the Bible, including Jeremiah chapter 4 and Joel chapter 1. He emphasizes the need for repentance and laments the state |
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Isaiah 64 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of studying Acts 26 and Isaiah 40 in order to understand the role of a preacher and the concept of God. He encourages preache |