Jeremiah 15:7
And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.
Original Language Analysis
וָאֶזְרֵ֥ם
And I will fan
H2219
וָאֶזְרֵ֥ם
And I will fan
Strong's:
H2219
Word #:
1 of 11
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
בְּמִזְרֶ֖ה
them with a fan
H4214
בְּמִזְרֶ֖ה
them with a fan
Strong's:
H4214
Word #:
2 of 11
a winnowing shovel (as scattering the chaff)
שִׁכַּ֤לְתִּי
I will bereave
H7921
שִׁכַּ֤לְתִּי
I will bereave
Strong's:
H7921
Word #:
5 of 11
properly, to miscarry, i.e., suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)
אִבַּ֙דְתִּי֙
them of children I will destroy
H6
אִבַּ֙דְתִּי֙
them of children I will destroy
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַמִּ֔י
my people
H5971
עַמִּ֔י
my people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
8 of 11
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֖ם
not from their ways
H1870
מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֖ם
not from their ways
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
9 of 11
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Cross References
Jeremiah 51:2And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.Matthew 3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.Isaiah 41:16Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.Isaiah 9:13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.Jeremiah 5:3O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.Psalms 1:4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.Jeremiah 18:21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.Zechariah 1:4Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.Deuteronomy 28:41Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.Ezekiel 24:25Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
Historical Context
Winnowing was agricultural judgment—wind separated valuable grain from worthless chaff. Applied to population, it describes exile's scattering. 'Bereaving of children' occurred through siege conditions, military casualties, and deportation that separated families. The exile would indeed eliminate a generation from the land. 'Not returning from their ways' summarizes the fundamental problem—refusal to repent despite repeated warning.
Questions for Reflection
- How does winnowing imagery picture judgment's separation of people for different fates?
- What makes bereavement of children such a devastating element of judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes comprehensive judgment: 'And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.' 'Fan with a fan' (zaritim bemizreh) uses winnowing imagery—separating chaff from grain, scattering the worthless. 'In the gates of the land' suggests border locations where enemies enter. 'Bereave of children' (shakkaltim) describes loss of the next generation—the future eliminated. 'They return not from their ways' reiterates the persistent refusal to repent (shuv) that justifies judgment.