Jeremiah 50:16
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
“Eliminate the sower from Babylon And the one who wields the sickle at the time of harvest; From the sword of the oppressor Each of them will turn back to his own people And each of them will flee to his own land.

NASB 1995
“Cut off the sower from Babylon And the one who wields the sickle at the time of harvest; From before the sword of the oppressor They will each turn back to his own people And they will each flee to his own land.

NASB 1977
“Cut off the sower from Babylon, And the one who wields the sickle at the time of harvest; From before the sword of the oppressor They will each turn back to his own people, And they will each flee to his own land.

Legacy Standard Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon And the one who seizes the sickle at the time of harvest; From before the sword of the oppressor They will each turn back to his own people, And they will each flee to his own land.

Amplified Bible
“Cut off the sower from Babylon And the one who handles the sickle at the time of harvest. For fear of the sword of the oppressor Everyone will return to his own people And everyone will flee to his own land.

Christian Standard Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon as well as him who wields the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon as well as him who wields the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
There is no one in Babylonia to plant or harvest crops. Even foreigners who lived there have left for their homelands, afraid of the enemy armies.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't allow anyone in Babylon to plant or harvest. Everyone will turn to his own people and flee to his own homeland because of the enemies' swords.

Good News Translation
Do not let seeds be planted in that country nor let a harvest be gathered. Every foreigner living there will be afraid of the attacking army and will go back home."

International Standard Version
Eliminate from Babylon the one who plants seeds and the one who uses the sickle at harvest time. Because of the oppressor's sword, let each one turn toward his own people and flee to his own land."

Majority Standard Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor?s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.

NET Bible
Kill all the farmers who sow the seed in the land of Babylon. Kill all those who wield the sickle at harvest time. Let all the foreigners return to their own people. Let them hurry back to their own lands to escape destruction by that enemy army.

New Heart English Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land."'

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword, they will each return to their own people, and they will each flee to their own land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Cut off the sower from Babylon, "" And him handling the sickle in the time of harvest, "" Because of the oppressing sword, "" Each to his people—they turn, "" And each to his land—they flee.

Young's Literal Translation
Cut off the sower from Babylon, And him handling the sickle in the time of harvest, Because of the oppressing sword, Each unto his people -- they turn, And each to his land -- they flee.

Smith's Literal Translation
Cut off him sowing from Babel, and him holding the sickle in time of harvest: from the face of the Grecian sword they shall turn a man to his people, and they shall flee a man to his land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Destroy the sower out of Babylon, and him that holdeth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the sword of the dove every man shall return to his people, and every one shall flee to his own land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Destroy the founder from Babylon, and the one who holds the sickle in the time of harvest. Before the face of the sword of the dove, each one will turn back to his people, and every one will flee to his own land.

New American Bible
Cut off the sower from Babylon and those who wield sickles at harvest time! Before the destroying sword, all of them turn back to their own people, all flee to their own land.

New Revised Standard Version
Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the wielder of the sickle in time of harvest; because of the destroying sword all of them shall return to their own people, and all of them shall flee to their own land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Cut off from Babylon both the sower and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest; because of the fear of the oppressing sword, they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And destroy the Sower from Babel, and seize the sickle in time of harvest. Because of the sword that makes a man wretched, they shall turn to his people and they shall flee, each man, to his land
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Utterly destroy seed out of Babylon, and him that holds a sickle in time of harvest: for fear of the Grecian sword, they shall return every one to his people, and every one shall flee to his own land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Babylon's Fall is Certain
15Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her. 16Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.

Cross References
Isaiah 13:14
Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.

Isaiah 47:15
This is what they are to you—those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.

Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.

Revelation 18:11
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—

Isaiah 13:17-19
Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. / Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children. / And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah 14:22-23
“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will cut off from Babylon her name and her remnant, her offspring and her posterity,” declares the LORD. / “I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

Revelation 18:21-23
Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. / And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again. / The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

Isaiah 21:9
Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Isaiah 48:20
Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”

Jeremiah 51:6
Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

Isaiah 13:6
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

Revelation 18:8
Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

Isaiah 14:4-5
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended! / The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.


Treasury of Scripture

Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handles 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.

the sower

Jeremiah 51:23
I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

Joel 1:11
Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

Amos 5:16
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

sickle.

Jeremiah 46:16
He 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.

Jeremiah 51:9
We 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.

Isaiah 13:14
And 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.

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Jeremiah 50
1. The judgment of Babylon and the redemption of Israel














Cut off from Babylon the sower
The phrase "Cut off from Babylon the sower" signifies a divine judgment against Babylon, a city that had become synonymous with pride, idolatry, and opposition to God. The Hebrew root for "cut off" is "karath," which often implies a decisive and complete action, such as making a covenant or cutting down. In this context, it indicates God's intention to bring an end to Babylon's prosperity and agricultural productivity. Historically, Babylon was a center of power and wealth, and agriculture was a significant part of its economy. By cutting off the sower, God is declaring that the very sustenance and life of Babylon will be removed, symbolizing the end of its dominance and the futility of its efforts against God's will.

and the reaper with his sickle at harvest time
The imagery of "the reaper with his sickle at harvest time" evokes a scene of abundance and the culmination of hard work. The Hebrew word for "reaper" is "qatsar," which means to gather or harvest. The sickle is a tool used for cutting grain, representing the peak of agricultural success. However, in this context, it is a symbol of what will be lost. The harvest, a time of joy and celebration, will be interrupted and nullified. This serves as a metaphor for the impending judgment and desolation that will befall Babylon. The historical context reveals that Babylon, despite its grandeur, was not immune to divine justice, and its fall was a testament to the sovereignty of God over nations.

Because of the sword of the oppressor
The "sword of the oppressor" refers to the instrument of God's judgment. The Hebrew word for "sword" is "chereb," often used in the Old Testament to denote war, destruction, and divine retribution. The "oppressor" here can be understood as the invading forces that God would use to execute His judgment on Babylon. Historically, this was fulfilled by the Medo-Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon. The sword symbolizes the inevitability and severity of God's judgment against those who defy Him. It serves as a reminder that no earthly power can withstand the decrees of the Almighty.

Each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land
This phrase indicates a scattering and a return to origins, a reversal of the unity and strength that Babylon once represented. The Hebrew word for "flee" is "barach," which means to run away or escape. This suggests a sense of urgency and desperation. The historical context shows that Babylon was a melting pot of various peoples and cultures, brought together by conquest and trade. However, in the face of divine judgment, this unity dissolves, and individuals seek refuge among their own kin. This scattering is emblematic of the collapse of Babylon's power and influence, as well as the futility of relying on human strength and alliances. It underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and the ultimate return to God's ordained order.

(16) Cut off the sower . . .--The rich alluvial plains of Babylon, so plentiful that they yielded an increase of two hundred-fold (Herod. iii. 8), were to be laid waste. There may, possibly, be a special reference to the fields within the walls of the city, upon which the population largely depended, and which were now to be devastated. (Diod. Sic. ii. 9; Pliny, Hist. Nat. xi. 111.)

For fear of the oppressing sword.--The versions present the same noticeable variations, as in Jeremiah 46:16, the LXX. giving "from the Greek sword," possibly with reference to the belief that Cyrus had subdued the 'olians and Ionians before the conquest of Babylon, and that they were fighting in his army, or to Alexander's capture of the city, and the Vulg. "from the sword of the dove," the latter rendering being supposed to refer to the dove on the Babylonian standard, as the emblem of Semiramis. Here, however, as Babylon is the object of attack, the latter allusion is scarcely applicable, and there is no sufficient reason for altering the English version. (See Note on Jeremiah 25:38; Jeremiah 46:16.)

They shall flee every one to his own land.--The words are significant as showing that the Jews were not the only people for whom the fall of Babylon was the signal of a return from exile. The policy of Nebuchadnezzar, like that of Assyria, had been to people his own territory with the captive populations of other countries, and Israel (as in Jeremiah 50:8) was to lead the way in the return.

Verse 16. - Cut off the sower, etc. "Babylon" here probably means Babylonia, for it is clear from ver. 12 that the curse belongs to the country as well as the city of Babylon; indeed, "Babylon" in ver. 13 seems to be used in the wider sense. Others think of the open spaces within the walls of Babylon, in which it is said that crops were raised to provision the city in case of a siege (see Rawlinson, 'Ancient Monarchies,' 2:518); but this is less natural. They shall turn, etc. The subject is, not the husbandmen, but the strangers in Babylonia; comp. the parallel passage, Isaiah 13:14, on which this passage is based. AEsehylus ('Pers.,' 53) speaks of the Πάμμικτος ὄχλος in Babylon. Whether brought by force from their homes, like the Jews, or voluntary residents for the sake of commerce, all should hurry from the doomed city.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Cut off
כִּרְת֤וּ (kir·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

the sower
זוֹרֵ֙עַ֙ (zō·w·rê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2232: To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify

from Babylon,
מִבָּבֶ֔ל (mib·bā·ḇel)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

and the one who wields
וְתֹפֵ֥שׂ (wə·ṯō·p̄êś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably

the sickle
מַגָּ֖ל (mag·gāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4038: A sickle

at harvest
קָצִ֑יר (qā·ṣîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7105: Severed, harvest, the crop, the time, the reaper, a limb

time.
בְּעֵ֣ת (bə·‘êṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

In the face of
מִפְּנֵי֙ (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the oppressor’s
הַיּוֹנָ֔ה (hay·yō·w·nāh)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3238: To rage, be violent, to suppress, to maltreat

sword,
חֶ֣רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

each
אִ֤ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

will turn
יִפְנ֔וּ (yip̄·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his own people,
עַמּוֹ֙ (‘am·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

each
וְאִ֥ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

will flee
יָנֻֽסוּ׃ (yā·nu·sū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

to his own land.
לְאַרְצ֖וֹ (lə·’ar·ṣōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 50:16 Cut off the sower from Babylon (Jer.)
Jeremiah 50:15
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