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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 50:15 | "Shout against her from every side, 'Babylon is captured!...' " | Judgment against Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50:17 | "Israel is a scattered sheep..." | Israel scattered by Assyria |
| Jeremiah 51:45 | "...my people, go out from her midst..." | Call for exodus from Babylon |
| Isaiah 13:19 | "Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah." | Prophecy against Babylon |
| Isaiah 47:1 | "Descend and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon..." | Lament for Babylon |
| Lamentations 1:16 | "I weep, my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me..." | Jerusalem's devastation |
| Lamentations 2:2 | "The Lord has utterly destroyed; he has not pitied..." | God's wrath upon Jerusalem |
| Ezekiel 6:3 | "Say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD!' " | Prophecy against the mountains |
| Ezekiel 36:4 | "Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD..." | Restoration of Israel |
| Micah 3:12 | "Therefore because of you Zion will be plowed into a field..." | Zion's judgment |
| Zephaniah 1:12 | "At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps..." | God's judgment on Jerusalem |
| Jeremiah 4:6 | "Raise the signal for Zion! Seek refuge, do not stand still..." | Warning to Zion |
| Jeremiah 4:15 | "For a voice is heard from Dan and announcement of disaster from Mount Ephraim." | Warnings of impending doom |
| Jeremiah 18:13 | "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Ask now among the nations, who has heard such things? ...' " | Call to witness the unfaithfulness |
| Jeremiah 23:13 | "And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria..." | False prophecy in Israel |
| Psalms 37:36 | "A man may be cut off, and yet no one concerns him; I saw him, but he was gone; I sought him, but he could not be found." | The wicked cut off |
| Romans 11:22 | "...discontinue; and concerning the severity of God, behold the severity of God upon those who fell, but to you, the goodness of God if you continue in his goodness..." | God's severity and goodness |
| Hebrews 10:26 | "For if we sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins..." | Danger of apostasy |
| 1 John 5:16 | "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and He will give him life to those who commit sin not unto death." | Sin and intercession |
| Revelation 18:4 | "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.'" | Exodus from Babylon |
Jeremiah 50 verses
Jeremiah 50 16 Meaning
This verse declares that Jerusalem and its surrounding areas will be completely destroyed, and its inhabitants will face dire consequences. No one will find any respite or place of refuge in the land.
Jeremiah 50 16 Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the fall of Babylon and the subsequent restoration of Israel. Chapter 50 contains a detailed denunciation of Babylon for its oppressive actions against Judah. The prophecy vividly describes the desolation that will come upon the city and its empire as divine judgment. Jeremiah was prophesying during a time of increasing Babylonian power and incursions into Judah, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. The primary audience for this prophecy would have been the people of Judah, offering them both a warning of impending disaster and a message of ultimate hope and deliverance. This specific verse highlights the totality of the judgment that will fall upon those who oppress God's people, leaving them with no recourse or safety.
Jeremiah 50 16 Word Analysis
“Flee ye” (בֹּרַ֖חוּ - borachū): From the root בָּרַח (barach), meaning "to flee," "escape," or "run away." It conveys an urgent and absolute need for departure, signifying a desperate attempt to avoid destruction. This imperative plural verb implies a widespread need for escape.
“and escape” (וְהִמָּלְט֖וּ - wəhimalləṭū): From the root מָלַט (malat), meaning "to escape," "be delivered," or "be rescued." This adds emphasis to the act of fleeing, suggesting not just running, but successfully getting away from impending danger. It reinforces the direness of the situation.
“out of the midst of Babylon” (מִתּוֹךְ בָּבֶל֙ - mittōḵ bāḇel): “Middot” signifies "the middle" or "within." This indicates that the escape must be from the very heart of the city, the center of its power and influence, highlighting the inescapable nature of the judgment within its walls. Babylon itself is presented as the source of the threat.
“and be ye…” (wəhɪyū - וֶֽהְי֕וּ): The singular conjunctive waw plus the second person plural imperfect of היה (hayah), meaning "to be." This continues the imperative mood, commanding a state of being.
“separate” (מְפוֹרָדִ֖ים - mǝpōrādîm): From the root פָּרַד (parad), meaning "to divide," "separate," "scatter," or "distribute." In this context, it suggests being scattered and dispersed like individuals separated from a larger group. This could imply a dispersal in flight, or perhaps a spiritual separation from the corrupt influences of Babylon.
“from his sword” (מִלַּעַט־ - mil·la·'a·ṭ- no, the word is מִמִּגְרָ֣ס - mimiggərās- no this is also wrong; the word is מֵחֶ֣רֶב - mêḥɛrɛḇ): From the word חֶרֶב (ḥɛrɛḇ), meaning "sword." This represents the instrument of military destruction and judgment. The phrase emphasizes escaping not just the city, but the consequences of its actions, specifically the warfare that will afflict it.
“lest ye partake of her punishment” (וְאִם־לֹ֤א תְמִיתְךָם֙ - wə’im-lō tǝmîṯḵā m): This phrase requires careful examination. The provided Hebrew should be וְאַל־תֶּאֱשָׁ֖מוּ (wə’al-te’əšāmū). The root אָשַׁם (’āšam) means "to be guilty," "to commit a trespass," or "to bear guilt." So, "lest ye become guilty" or "lest ye bear guilt." This refers to not being implicated or punished alongside Babylon due to complicity or association.
“and that ye receive not” (וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ֙ - wəlo-tīq·ḥū): From the root לָקַח (lāqaḥ), meaning "to take," "receive," or "grasp." This indicates avoiding the reception of what Babylon deserves, namely its punishment.
“her plagues” (דְּבָרֶ֙יהָ֙ - dǝbārɛhā): The word used here is not “plagues.” The actual word should be מַכּוֹתֶ֛יהָ (makkōṯëyhā), derived from the root מַכָּה (makkāh), meaning "stroke," "wound," "blow," or "plague." This signifies the afflictions and judgments that Babylon will suffer. The imperative is to avoid experiencing these destructive outcomes.
Words Group Analysis
- "Flee ye, and escape out of the midst of Babylon, and be ye separate from his sword;": This entire phrase conveys a strong command to depart Babylon urgently and thoroughly. It's a call for complete severance from a place marked for destruction, emphasizing both the act of leaving and the state of separation from the instruments of God's judgment (the sword).
- "lest ye partake of her punishment, and that ye receive not her plagues;": This portion explains the reason for the imperative to flee and separate. The intention is to avoid any complicity in or suffering from the consequences due to fall upon Babylon. It's a warning against association with the condemned.
Jeremiah 50 16 Bonus Section
The instruction to "flee" and "escape" resonates with many pivotal moments in biblical history, such as the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12) and the flight from Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). The emphasis on separation from a condemned entity foreshadows the New Testament concept of the church being called out of the world's corrupt systems (Revelation 18:4). The term "plagues" is significant as it evokes the plagues upon Egypt, demonstrating God's power to deliver His people by bringing judgment upon their oppressors. The Hebrew words used convey a strong sense of urgency and a definitive separation necessary to avoid God's judgment.
Jeremiah 50 16 Commentary
This verse functions as a critical instruction within the broader prophecy against Babylon. It emphasizes a complete and urgent exodus from the city and its domain. The divine directive is not merely physical escape but also a spiritual separation to avoid becoming entangled with the judgment destined for Babylon. This parallels other calls for deliverance from apostate or condemned systems throughout Scripture. The "sword" and "plagues" represent the severe and comprehensive judgment Babylon will face for its actions against God's people and its idolatrous practices. This admonition highlights that involvement with or proximity to a system condemned by God carries significant spiritual peril. The ultimate goal is to preserve the people of God from sharing in the punishment meted out to their oppressors.