Jeremiah 15:7

7 I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of their country. I will bereave and destroy my people because they haven't changed their ways.

Jeremiah 15:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 15:7

I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land
Either of their own land, the land of Judea; and so the Septuagint version, "in the gates of my people"; alluding to the custom of winnowing corn in open places; and by fanning is meant the dispersion of the Jews, and their being carried captive out of their own land into other countries: or of the land of the enemy, into their cities, as the Targum paraphrases it; gates being put for them frequently; whither they should be scattered by the fan of the Lord; for what was done by the enemy, as an instrument, is ascribed to him: I will bereave them of children;
which shall die of famine, or pestilence, or by the sword, or in captivity: I will destroy my people; which must be when children are cut off, by which families, towns, cities, and kingdoms, are continued and kept up; and this he was resolved to do, though they were his people: since they return not from their ways;
their evil ways, which they had gone into, forsaking the ways of God, and his worship: or, yet they return not from their ways
^F4; though fanned with the fan of affliction, bereaved of their children, and threatened with destruction: it expresses their obstinate continuance in their evil ways, and the reason of God's dealing with them as above.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (wbv al Mhykrdm) "et tamen a viis suis non sunt reversi", V. L. Diodatus, Genevenses.

Jeremiah 15:7 In-Context

5 Who will pity you, Jerusalem? Who will shed tears over you? Who will stop and ask how you're doing?

6 You have deserted me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back on me. So I will turn my hand against you and destroy you. I'm tired of holding back.

7 I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of their country. I will bereave and destroy my people because they haven't changed their ways.

8 Their widows will outnumber the sand on the shore. I will bring a destroyer in broad daylight against the mothers of young men. Suddenly I will bring distress and terror upon them.

9 The mother of seven will grow weak and gasp for air; her sun will set while it is yet day; she will be ashamed and disgraced. I will deliver the survivors to the sword, to the power of their enemies, declares the LORD.