King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 50:16 Mean?

Jeremiah 50:16 in the King James Version says “Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing swor... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 50 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. sickle; or, scythe

Jeremiah 50:16 · KJV


Context

14

Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.

15

Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

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. sickle; or, scythe

17

Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

18

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.


Commentary

KJV Study 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.

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Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the flight of foreigners from Babylon teach about the fragility of unity based on power rather than covenant relationship?
  2. How does the cutting off of sowers and reapers illustrate that God's judgment touches every aspect of life, not just military defeat?
  3. In what ways does this verse foreshadow the principle that what is built by the sword perishes by the sword (Matthew 26:52)?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
כִּרְת֤וּ1 of 17

Cut off

H3772

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

זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙2 of 17

the sower

H2232

to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify

מִבָּבֶ֔ל3 of 17

from Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְתֹפֵ֥שׂ4 of 17

and him that handleth

H8610

to manipulate, i.e., seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably

מַגָּ֖ל5 of 17

the sickle

H4038

a sickle

בְּעֵ֣ת6 of 17

in the time

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc

קָצִ֑יר7 of 17

of harvest

H7105

severed, a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage)

מִפְּנֵי֙8 of 17

for fear

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

חֶ֣רֶב9 of 17

sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

הַיּוֹנָ֔ה10 of 17

of the oppressing

H3238

to rage or be violent; by implication, to suppress, to maltreat

וְאִ֥ישׁ11 of 17

every one

H376

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)

אֶל12 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

עַמּוֹ֙13 of 17

to his people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

יִפְנ֔וּ14 of 17

they shall turn

H6437

to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc

וְאִ֥ישׁ15 of 17

every one

H376

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)

לְאַרְצ֖וֹ16 of 17

to his own land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

יָנֻֽסוּ׃17 of 17

and they shall flee

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 50:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 50:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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