Jeremiah 50:16 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 50:16 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 50:16 nkjv
Cut off the sower from Babylon, And him who handles the sickle at harvest time. For fear of the oppressing sword Everyone shall turn to his own people, And everyone shall flee to his own land.
Jeremiah 50:16 niv
Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the reaper with his sickle at harvest. Because of the sword of the oppressor let everyone return to their own people, let everyone flee to their own land.
Jeremiah 50:16 esv
Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest; because of the sword of the oppressor, every one shall turn to his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land.
Jeremiah 50:16 nlt
Take from Babylon all those who plant crops;
send all the harvesters away.
Because of the sword of the enemy,
everyone will run away and rush back to their own lands.
Jeremiah 50 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 13:14 | "And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up..." | People fleeing from a fallen nation. |
| Isa 14:12 | "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer..." | Prophecy of Babylon's fall and judgment. |
| Isa 47:1-5 | "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon..." | Babylon's humiliation and loss of sovereignty. |
| Jer 49:5 | "Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts..." | Similar prophecy of terror and dispersion for Edom. |
| Jer 50:3 | "For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her..." | Military invasion causing Babylon's desolation. |
| Jer 50:45 | "Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon..." | God's specific plan for Babylon's destruction. |
| Jer 51:6 | "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul..." | Command to flee Babylon before its destruction. |
| Jer 51:30 | "The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds..." | Babylonian paralysis and lack of resistance. |
| Jer 51:36 | "I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry..." | Economic and physical destruction of Babylon. |
| Ezek 14:17 | "Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land..." | God using the sword as an instrument of judgment. |
| Hos 2:9 | "Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof..." | God withholding harvest as judgment. |
| Amos 1:15 | "And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together..." | Leaders going into exile, city abandoned. |
| Hab 2:8 | "Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee..." | Babylon suffering what it inflicted on others. |
| Zeph 2:13 | "And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria..." | God's judgment extending to other oppressive empires. |
| Zech 2:6 | "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD..." | Prophecy of fleeing from a land of captivity/judgment. |
| Rev 14:8 | "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations..." | Eschatological fall of symbolic Babylon. |
| Rev 18:4 | "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins..." | Call for God's people to leave Babylon (spiritual/literal). |
| Rev 18:11-13 | "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her..." | Lament over the economic ruin of symbolic Babylon. |
| Rev 18:21-22 | "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down..." | Complete and utter destruction, cessation of activity. |
| Gen 11:9 | "Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound..." | Origin of "Babel" connected to scattering and confusion. |
| Lev 26:20 | "And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase..." | Divine judgment causing lack of harvest. |
| Deut 28:38-40 | "Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in..." | Crop failure and economic curses for disobedience. |
| 1 Kin 9:7 | "Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them..." | "Cut off" verb used for national judgment/exile. |
| Ps 7:15-16 | "He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made..." | Oppressors suffering the fate they intended for others. |
Jeremiah 50 verses
Jeremiah 50 16 meaning
Jeremiah 50:16 prophesies the severe and multifaceted judgment upon Babylon. It describes a complete disruption of agricultural production, signified by the removal of farmers during vital times of sowing and harvest, leading to economic devastation. The verse further predicts a massive exodus of people from Babylon, driven by the terror of an invading force. Its diverse population, including many foreigners, would abandon the city and flee back to their homelands, reflecting a complete social and political disintegration.
Jeremiah 50 16 Context
Jeremiah chapter 50 begins a powerful prophetic oracle against Babylon, extending into chapter 51. These chapters reverse the earlier narrative where Babylon was God's instrument against Judah. Now, Yahweh pronounces judgment on Babylon itself for its arrogance against God, its relentless cruelty towards nations, and particularly its severe treatment of His chosen people, Judah. This specific verse, Jeremiah 50:16, fits within the broader description of Babylon's coming destruction and desolation, portraying it as a comprehensive downfall impacting its economy, demography, and social cohesion, orchestrated by the God of Israel. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled through the Medo-Persian conquest under Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, leading to the collapse of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
Jeremiah 50 16 Word analysis
- Cut off (כְּרַת - karath): This Hebrew verb signifies severing, destroying, or rooting out completely. It is a powerful term often used in contexts of breaking covenants or bringing about an ultimate end, implying divine and irreversible judgment against the source of Babylon's sustenance.
- the sower (זֹרֵעַ - zorea): Refers to the farmer responsible for planting seeds. It represents the foundation of agricultural life and the promise of future sustenance. Its removal signals the end of new beginnings and productivity.
- from Babylon (מִבָּבֶל - mi-Babel): Specifically identifies the target of this judgment. Babel itself means "confusion" and signifies a place of rebellion against God, historically rooted in Genesis 11.
- and him that handleth (וְאוֹחֵז - ve-ochéz): Literally, "and he who takes hold of." This participle emphasizes direct, active engagement with the implement.
- the sickle (מַגָּל - maggâl): An instrument for harvesting crops. Together with the sower, it covers the entire cycle of food production. Its absence means the harvested bounty will never materialize.
- in the time of harvest (בְּעֵת קָצִיר - be'et qatsir): This phrase highlights the critical juncture when the fruit of labor is collected. Disrupting harvest means stripping away immediate survival and the stored wealth, intensifying the economic ruin.
- for fear of (מִפְּנֵי - mipp'nei): Means "because of," "due to," or "in the face of." It directly attributes the flight to the terror inspired by the approaching threat.
- the oppressing sword (חֶרֶב הַיּוֹנָה - ḥerev hayyonah): Literally, "sword of the oppressor" or "sword of aggression." The sword is an instrument of warfare and destruction. The epithet "oppressing" likely reflects Babylon's own characteristic (Babylon as the oppressor), implying a just consequence where it is now oppressed by another. It is the tool of God's judgment.
- they shall turn every one (יִפְנוּ - yipnu): From the root panah, meaning to turn or face. Indicates a change of direction, a desertion of their former place and loyalties.
- to his people (אִישׁ לְעַמּוֹ - ish le'amô): "Each man to his own people/nation." This reveals Babylon's multi-ethnic composition. Foreigners and mercenaries, not tied by native loyalty, would flee to their original homelands.
- and they shall flee every one (וְאִישׁ לְאַרְצוֹ יֵלֵכוּ - ve'ish le'artzo yelêchu): "And each man to his land shall they go." Emphasizes the scattered, panicked nature of their retreat, deserting Babylon for the security of their own ancestral territories.
- "Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest": This grouping vividly paints a picture of complete economic devastation and future barrenness. It implies that Babylon's essential productivity and food supply will cease, hitting at the core of its national self-sufficiency and stability. It speaks to God's judgment over a nation's ability to prosper.
- "for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people": This connects the cause of Babylon's demise—military invasion ("oppressing sword")—with its demographic disintegration. The panic of war breaks any allegiance, exposing the fragility of a multi-national empire held together by power rather than genuine unity.
Jeremiah 50 16 Bonus section
The "oppressing sword" serves as an ironic fulfillment of justice, as Babylon, itself an oppressor of many nations (Jer 50:23; 50:33), is now oppressed. This highlights a recurring biblical principle that those who live by the sword or oppression will ultimately face a similar fate (Matt 26:52, Rev 13:10). The departure of diverse peoples also signifies the undoing of Babylon's empire, which, like other great ancient empires, relied heavily on incorporating or subjugating various ethnic groups. When divine judgment falls, loyalty falters, and such empires collapse not just from external force but from internal fracturing. The cessation of sowing and harvesting specifically points to a profound curse upon the land's fertility and human effort, ensuring that even if inhabitants remained, survival would be impossible, leading to a permanent desolation rather than a mere change of governance.
Jeremiah 50 16 Commentary
Jeremiah 50:16 powerfully illustrates God's comprehensive judgment on Babylon. It moves from economic collapse, shown by the cessation of all agricultural activity from sowing to harvest, to social and demographic breakdown. The "oppressing sword," representing the Medo-Persian invasion, would instill such terror that the diverse inhabitants of Babylon – many of whom were foreign mercenaries or captives – would abandon their posts and flee back to their respective homelands. This portrays Babylon's fall not merely as a military defeat but as a divine reversal of fortune, where the oppressor experiences complete internal disintegration and desolate emptiness. This prophecy underscores God's sovereignty over mighty empires, using human armies as instruments of His justice against those who pridefully oppress His people.