Jeremiah 15:7

7 And I shall scatter them with a winnowing instrument in the gates of [the] earth; I killed, and lost my people (I killed, and destroyed my people), and nevertheless they turned not again from 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 For why who shall have mercy on thee, Jerusalem, either who shall be sorry for thee, either who shall go to pray for thy peace?

6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou hast gone aback; and I shall stretch forth mine hand on thee, and I shall slay thee; I travailed praying. (Thou hast deserted me, saith the Lord, thou hast gone away; and I shall stretch forth my hand against thee, and I shall kill thee; I am weary of restraining myself.)

7 And I shall scatter them with a winnowing instrument in the gates of [the] earth; I killed, and lost my people (I killed, and destroyed my people), and nevertheless they turned not again from their ways.

8 The widows thereof be multiplied to me above the gravel of the sea; and I brought into them a destroyer in midday on the mother of a young man, I sent dread suddenly on [the] cities. (Its widows be multiplied by me, in number more than the sands of the sea; and I brought in upon them a destroyer at midday against the mothers of the young men, and I sent fear suddenly upon the cities.)

9 She was sick that childed seven, her soul failed; the sun went down to her, when day was yet. She was shamed, and was ashamed; and I shall give the residue thereof into sword in the sight of their enemies, saith the Lord. (She was sick who gave birth to seven, her life failed; her sun went down, while it was still daylight. She was shamed, and was ashamed; and I shall give all the rest who be alive unto the sword in the sight of their enemies, saith the Lord.)