Jeremias 15:7

7 And I will completely scatter them; in the gates of my people they are bereaved of children: they have destroyed my people because of their iniquities.

Jeremias 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.

Jeremias 15:7 In-Context

5 Who will spare thee, O Jerusalem? and who will fear for thee? or who will turn back for thy welfare?

6 Thou hast turned away from me, saith the Lord, thou wilt go back: therefore I will stretch out my hand, and will destroy thee, and will no more spare them.

7 And I will completely scatter them; in the gates of my people they are bereaved of children: they have destroyed my people because of their iniquities.

8 Their widows have been multiplied more than the sand of the sea: I have brought young men against the mother, distress at noon-day: I have suddenly cast upon her trembling and anxiety.

9 She that bore seven is spent; her soul has fainted under trouble; her sun is gone down while it is yet noon; she is ashamed and disgraced: I will give the remnant of them to the sword before their enemies.