Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I will send foreigners to Babylon to winnow her and to devastate her land; they will oppose her on every side in the day of her disaster. New Living Translation Foreigners will come and winnow her, blowing her away as chaff. They will come from every side to rise against her in her day of trouble. English Standard Version and I will send to Babylon winnowers, and they shall winnow her, and they shall empty her land, when they come against her from every side on the day of trouble. Berean Standard Bible I will send strangers to Babylon to winnow her and empty her land; for they will come against her from every side in her day of disaster. Berean Literal Bible And I will send to Babylon winnowers, and they will winnow her, and will empty her land; for they will be against her all around on the day of evil. King James Bible And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. New King James Version And I will send winnowers to Babylon, Who shall winnow her and empty her land. For in the day of doom They shall be against her all around. New American Standard Bible “I will send foreigners to Babylon so that they may winnow her And devastate her land; For they will be opposed to her on every side On the day of her disaster. NASB 1995 “I will dispatch foreigners to Babylon that they may winnow her And may devastate her land; For on every side they will be opposed to her In the day of her calamity. NASB 1977 “And I shall dispatch foreigners to Babylon that they may winnow her And may devastate her land; For on every side they will be opposed to her In the day of her calamity. Legacy Standard Bible I will send strangers to Babylon that they may winnow her And may empty her land to destruction; For on every side they will be against her In the day of her calamity. Amplified Bible And I will send foreigners to Babylon that they may winnow her And may devastate and empty her land; For in the day of destruction They will be against her on every side. Berean Annotated Bible I will send strangers to Babylon (confusion by mixing) to winnow her and empty her land; for they will come against her from every side in her day of disaster. Christian Standard Bible I will send strangers to Babylon who will scatter her and strip her land bare, for they will come against her from every side in the day of disaster. Holman Christian Standard Bible I will send strangers to Babylon who will scatter her and strip her land bare, for they will come against her from every side in the day of disaster. American Standard Version And I will send unto Babylon strangers, that shall winnow her; and they shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Contemporary English Version Foreign soldiers will come from every direction, and when the disaster is over, Babylonia will be empty and worthless. English Revised Version And I will send unto Babylon strangers, that shall fan her; and they shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. GOD'S WORD® Translation I will send people to winnow Babylon, to winnow it and strip its land bare. They will attack it from every direction on the day of trouble. Good News Translation I will send foreigners to destroy Babylonia like a wind that blows straw away. When that day of destruction comes, they will attack from every side and leave the land bare. International Standard Version I'll send foreigners to Babylon, and they'll winnow her, and devastate her land. They'll come against her from every side on the day of her disaster. NET Bible I will send people to winnow Babylonia like a wind blowing away chaff. They will winnow her and strip her land bare. This will happen when they come against her from every direction, when it is time to destroy her. New Heart English Bible I will send to Babylon foreigners who shall winnow her; and they shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her around. Webster's Bible Translation And will send to Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her on all sides. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI will send strangers to Babylon to winnow her and empty her land; for they will come against her from every side in her day of disaster. World English Bible I will send to Babylon strangers, who will winnow her. They will empty her land; for in the day of trouble they will be against her all around. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I have sent fanners to Babylon, "" And they have fanned her, and they empty her land, "" For they have been against her, "" All around—in the day of evil. Berean Literal Bible And I will send to Babylon winnowers, and they will winnow her, and will empty her land; for they will be against her all around on the day of evil. Young's Literal Translation And I have sent to Babylon fanners, And they have fanned it, and they empty its land, For they have been against it, Round about -- in the day of evil. Smith's Literal Translation And I sent forth to Babel those scattering, and they scattered her, and they shall empty her land: for they were against her round about in the day of evil. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I will send to Babylon fanners, and they shall fan her, and shall destroy her land: for they are come upon her on every side in the day of her affliction. Catholic Public Domain Version And I will send winnowers into Babylon, and they will winnow her, and they will demolish her land. For they will overwhelm her from every side in the day of her affliction. New American Bible To Babylon I will send winnowers to winnow and lay waste the land; They shall besiege it on every side on the day of affliction. New Revised Standard Version and I will send winnowers to Babylon, and they shall winnow her. They shall empty her land when they come against her from every side on the day of trouble. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd I will send to Babylon destroyers, and they shall plunder her and tread her land under their feet; and they shall gather against her from every side in the day of trouble. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I shall send against Babel plunderers, and they shall plunder her, and they shall tread her land and they shall be assembled against her all around her in the day of evil OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And I will send unto Babylon strangers, that shall fan her, And they shall empty her land; For in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Brenton Septuagint Translation And I will send forth against Babylon spoilers, and they shall spoil her, and shall ravage her land. Woe to Babylon round about her in the day of her affliction. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Judgment on Babylon1This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will stir up against Babylon and against the people of Leb-kamai the spirit of a destroyer. 2I will send strangers to Babylon to winnow her and empty her land; for they will come against her from every side in her day of disaster. 3Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!… Cross References strangers to Babylon Jeremiah 50:9 For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed. Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.” Isaiah 13:17 Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. to winnow her and empty her land; Jeremiah 15:7 I will scatter them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land. I will bereave and destroy My people who have not turned from their ways. Isaiah 41:16 You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants— for they will come against her from every side Ezekiel 23:22 Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side— Ezekiel 16:37 therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked. Jeremiah 6:3 Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion: in her day of disaster. Jeremiah 50:27 Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come—the time of their punishment. Isaiah 47:11 But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly. 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.” Revelation 18:2-3 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. / All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.” Isaiah 13:19-22 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. / She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. … Revelation 14:8 Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.” 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!” Treasury of Scripture And will send to Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. fanners Jeremiah 15:7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways. Isaiah 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. Ezekiel 5:12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. in the day Jeremiah 51:27,28 Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers… Jeremiah 50:14,15,29,32 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… Jump to Previous Babylon Clean Cleared Devastate Dispatch Empty Evil Fan Fanned Foreigners Oppose Opposed Round Side Sides Strangers Trouble WinnowJump to Next Babylon Clean Cleared Devastate Dispatch Empty Evil Fan Fanned Foreigners Oppose Opposed Round Side Sides Strangers Trouble WinnowJeremiah 51 1. The severe judgment of God against Babylon, in revenge of Israel59. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into Euphrates, 64. in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon I will send strangers to Babylon This phrase indicates God's sovereign action in using foreign nations as instruments of His judgment against Babylon. Historically, the "strangers" refer to the Medes and Persians, who conquered Babylon in 539 BC. This aligns with the prophecy in Isaiah 13:17, where God declares He will stir up the Medes against Babylon. The use of "strangers" emphasizes that these were not local or familiar forces but external powers raised by God for His purposes. to winnow her and empty her land for they will come against her from every side in her day of disaster Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and restoration of Israel and the surrounding nations. 2. Babylon An ancient city and empire known for its wealth, power, and opposition to God’s people. It symbolizes human pride and rebellion against God. 3. Strangers Refers to foreign nations or peoples that God would use as instruments of judgment against Babylon. 4. Winnowing An agricultural process used to separate grain from chaff, symbolizing judgment and purification. 5. Day of Disaster A prophetic term indicating a time of divine judgment and calamity for Babylon. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over NationsGod is in control of all nations and uses them to accomplish His purposes, even when they are unaware of it. The Certainty of Divine Judgment Just as Babylon faced judgment, all systems and nations that oppose God will ultimately be held accountable. The Role of God's People in a Hostile World Believers are called to remain faithful and trust in God's justice, even when surrounded by worldly powers. The Importance of Spiritual Discernment Like the winnowing process, believers must discern and separate themselves from worldly influences that lead away from God. Hope in God's Ultimate Victory Despite the apparent power of worldly systems, God's plan will prevail, offering hope and assurance to His people. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 51:2?2. How does Jeremiah 51:2 illustrate God's judgment on Babylon's idolatry and pride? 3. What role do the "winnowers" play in God's plan for Babylon's downfall? 4. How can we apply the warning in Jeremiah 51:2 to modern-day societies? 5. Which other scriptures highlight God's sovereignty in executing judgment like in Jeremiah 51:2? 6. How should believers respond to God's justice as seen in Jeremiah 51:2? 7. What does Jeremiah 51:2 mean by "winnowers" in the context of Babylon's destruction? 8. How does Jeremiah 51:2 reflect God's judgment on nations? 9. What historical events align with the prophecy in Jeremiah 51:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 51? 11. Jeremiah 51:26 states no stone from Babylon will ever be used again, yet evidence suggests later civilizations reused its materials--does this contradict the prophecy? 12. How do skeptics reconcile Jeremiah 22:24-27's prophecy against Coniah with his later release and royal favor in Babylon (2 Kings 25:27-30)? 13. Isaiah 47:14 - Where is the historical or scientific evidence of people burning up like stubble as a direct fulfillment of this prophecy? 14. Jeremiah 51:41 foretells Babylon's complete humiliation, but historical records show subsequent rulers maintained parts of it--does this undermine the chapter's claims? What Does Jeremiah 51:2 Mean I will send strangers to BabylonGod Himself is speaking, reminding us that He—not chance or politics—directs the rise and fall of nations. The “strangers” are the Medo-Persian coalition who would breach Babylon’s walls in 539 B.C. • Jeremiah has already forecast this moment: “For behold, I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north” (Jeremiah 50:9). • Isaiah echoes the same plan two centuries earlier: “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them” (Isaiah 13:17). • God’s action here mirrors His earlier use of pagan powers to chasten Judah (Jeremiah 25:9); now Babylon receives the same treatment. to winnow her The winnowing process tossed grain into the air so the wind carried off worthless chaff. That vivid picture captures God’s intent: a deliberate separation of valuable from valueless, of prideful empire from lasting kingdom purposes. • “I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land” (Jeremiah 15:7) shows the same imagery applied to Judah; no double standard exists. • The Medes and Persians became the “wind,” blowing away Babylon’s illusion of invincibility, just as God once “winnowed” Egypt (Exodus 12:12). • The lesson travels well into every age: when God winnows, what is hollow cannot endure (Matthew 3:12). and empty her land The judgment is not symbolic; it is geographical, economic, and demographic. • “Because of the LORD’s wrath she will not be inhabited but will be totally desolate” (Jeremiah 50:13). • Archaeology verifies that the sprawling city gradually emptied until, by New Testament times, it lay mostly in ruins—exactly what the prophet describes. • The emptiness is also moral: Babylon’s idols and pride leave a vacuum only God can fill (Jeremiah 51:17-18). for they will come against her from every side A single army might be resisted; a surrounding force cannot. The Medes, Persians, and their allies converged simultaneously, fulfilling God’s word down to tactical detail. • “Draw your bows against Babylon on every side… shoot at her, spare no arrows” (Jeremiah 50:14). • Daniel 5 reports the night this encirclement climaxed: while Belshazzar feasted inside, the enemy diverted the Euphrates and entered unopposed—an unexpected fulfillment of the “every side” warning. • No fortress, no policy, no worldview stands secure when God decrees encirclement (Psalm 33:10-11). in her day of disaster Judgment has a schedule known to God. For decades Babylon looked untouchable, yet the “day” finally arrived. • “This is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will repay her what she deserves” (Jeremiah 51:6). • Habakkuk 2:3 reminds us that a vision “awaits an appointed time… though it lingers, wait for it; it will surely come.” • Daniel 5:30 records the precise fulfillment: “That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain.” The “day” had dawned, and it could neither be hurried nor delayed. summary Jeremiah 51:2 paints a five-part portrait of divine judgment: God sends foreign agents, uses them as a winnowing wind, leaves the land emptied, surrounds the city on every side, and times it all for an appointed day. The verse assures us that the Lord’s sovereignty is meticulous, His justice unquestionable, and His timetable perfect. What He foretells, He fulfills—down to the last grain of chaff. (2) Fanners, that shall fan her.--The Hebrew word as it stands means "strangers," but a change of the vowel-points would give etymologically "winnowers" or "fanners," though the word is not found elsewhere. On the whole it would seem best to accept the meaning of "strangers," the prophet connecting it with the verb for "fan," which contains the same consonants, for the sake of a rhythmical assonance. The imagery in either case is that of the familiar picture of the "threshing-floor," where the "strong wind" scatters the chaff in all directions (Psalm 1:4; Psalm 35:5; Isaiah 17:13; Isaiah 29:5). The word for "empty" is the same as that used with an emphatic significance in Jeremiah 19:7.Verse 2. - Farmers. This is supported by the Septuagint, Peshito, Targum, Vulgate, according to the Massoretic pointing, however, we should render "enemies." Possibly the prophet intended to suggest both meanings, a and o being so nearly related. Shall empty her land. The original has a much mere striking word, shall pour out (for the figures, comp. Jeremiah 48:12), which occurs again in similar contexts in Isaiah 24:1; Nahum 2:3 (Hebrew, 2).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I will sendוְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֨י (wə·šil·laḥ·tî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out strangers זָרִים֙ (zā·rîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery to Babylon לְבָבֶ֤ל ׀ (lə·ḇā·ḇel) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city to winnow her וְזֵר֔וּהָ (wə·zê·rū·hā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person feminine singular Strong's 2219: To toss about, to diffuse, winnow and empty וִיבֹקְק֖וּ (wî·ḇō·qə·qū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1238: To pour out, to empty, to depopulate, to spread out her אֶת־ (’eṯ-) Direct object marker Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case land; אַרְצָ֑הּ (’ar·ṣāh) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they will come הָי֥וּ (hā·yū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be against her עָלֶ֛יהָ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against from every side מִסָּבִ֖יב (mis·sā·ḇîḇ) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around in the day בְּי֥וֹם (bə·yō·wm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3117: A day of [her] disaster. רָעָֽה׃ (rā·‘āh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil Links Jeremiah 51:2 NIVJeremiah 51:2 NLT Jeremiah 51:2 ESV Jeremiah 51:2 NASB Jeremiah 51:2 KJV Jeremiah 51:2 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 51:2 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 51:2 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 51:2 French Bible Jeremiah 51:2 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 51:2 I will send to Babylon strangers who (Jer.) |
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