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.
Original Language Analysis
כִּרְת֤וּ
Cut off
H3772
כִּרְת֤וּ
Cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
1 of 17
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙
the sower
H2232
זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙
the sower
Strong's:
H2232
Word #:
2 of 17
to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
מִבָּבֶ֔ל
from Babylon
H894
מִבָּבֶ֔ל
from Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
3 of 17
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְתֹפֵ֥שׂ
and him that handleth
H8610
וְתֹפֵ֥שׂ
and him that handleth
Strong's:
H8610
Word #:
4 of 17
to manipulate, i.e., seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably
בְּעֵ֣ת
in the time
H6256
בְּעֵ֣ת
in the time
Strong's:
H6256
Word #:
6 of 17
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
מִפְּנֵי֙
for fear
H6440
מִפְּנֵי֙
for fear
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
8 of 17
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
חֶ֣רֶב
sword
H2719
חֶ֣רֶב
sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
9 of 17
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
הַיּוֹנָ֔ה
of the oppressing
H3238
הַיּוֹנָ֔ה
of the oppressing
Strong's:
H3238
Word #:
10 of 17
to rage or be violent; by implication, to suppress, to maltreat
וְאִ֥ישׁ
every one
H376
וְאִ֥ישׁ
every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
11 of 17
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
עַמּוֹ֙
to his people
H5971
עַמּוֹ֙
to his people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
13 of 17
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִפְנ֔וּ
they shall turn
H6437
יִפְנ֔וּ
they shall turn
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
14 of 17
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
וְאִ֥ישׁ
every one
H376
וְאִ֥ישׁ
every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
15 of 17
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Cross References
Isaiah 13:14And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.Jeremiah 51:9We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.Jeremiah 46:16He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.Joel 1:11Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
Historical Context
The Babylonian Empire included diverse peoples—Arameans, Egyptians, Arabs, Greeks, and others. When Cyrus conquered Babylon, many of these groups did indeed return to their homelands or shift allegiance to Persia. The Cyrus Cylinder records his policy of allowing captive peoples to return home—including the Jewish exiles who returned to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 1). The agricultural devastation was also literal; warfare disrupted farming, and Babylon's irrigation-dependent agriculture required stable governance to maintain.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the flight of foreigners from Babylon teach about the fragility of unity based on power rather than covenant relationship?
- How does the cutting off of sowers and reapers illustrate that God's judgment touches every aspect of life, not just military defeat?
- In what ways does this verse foreshadow the principle that what is built by the sword perishes by the sword (Matthew 26:52)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest—agricultural imagery depicts total economic devastation. The zore'a (זֹרֵעַ, sower) who plants and the reaper with the maggil (מַגָּל, sickle) represent the entire agricultural cycle from planting to harvest. Cutting them off means no food production, economic collapse, famine. This fulfills covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:33, 51)—enemies will consume the fruit of your labor.
For fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land—the cosmopolitan empire disintegrates. The 'oppressing sword' (cherev hayonah, חֶרֶב הַיּוֹנָה) causes mass exodus. Babylon was multi-ethnic, with conquered peoples and mercenary soldiers from many nations. Under pressure, these foreigners abandon Babylon, fleeing to their homelands. The reversal is complete: Babylon had forcibly gathered nations into her empire; now those nations scatter in panic. This illustrates that empires built on conquest and forced unity collapse when the coercive power fails. Only covenant unity based on God's grace endures.