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.

And I will fan {H2219} them with a fan {H4214} in the gates {H8179} of the land {H776}; I will bereave {H7921} them of children, I will destroy {H6} my people {H5971}, since they return {H7725} not from their ways {H1870}.

With a winnowing fork I am scattering them to the wind at the gates of the land; I am bereaving them, destroying my people, because they will not return from their ways.

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.

And I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them of children, I have destroyed my people; they returned not from their ways.

Commentary

Jeremiah 15:7 from the King James Version delivers a stark prophecy of divine judgment upon the kingdom of Judah, emphasizing the severe consequences of their persistent disobedience and refusal to repent.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy delivered by Jeremiah during a period of intense spiritual decline in Judah, prior to the Babylonian exile. God had repeatedly called His people to repentance through various prophets, but they largely ignored these warnings, continuing in idolatry and social injustice. By this point in Jeremiah's ministry, God's patience has worn thin, and the pronouncements of judgment become increasingly severe, signaling that the time for mercy is drawing to a close and the promised consequences are imminent. The "gates of the land" refer to the public squares and entrances of cities, places where justice was administered, commerce conducted, and public announcements made, indicating that this judgment would be visible and affect the entire populace.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse clearly articulates God's active role in bringing calamity upon His people. The imagery is forceful, underscoring the certainty and severity of the impending judgment.
  • Consequences of Unrepentance: The phrase "since they return not from their ways" highlights the core reason for God's action. It's not arbitrary punishment but a direct result of Judah's stubborn refusal to abandon their sinful practices and return to Him. This underscores the principle that prolonged disobedience inevitably leads to divine discipline.
  • Loss and Devastation: The prophecy of being "bereaved of children" signifies a deep, generational loss, striking at the very future and continuity of the nation. This was one of the most severe forms of judgment in ancient Near Eastern thought, echoing warnings found in Deuteronomy's covenant curses.

Linguistic Insights

  • "I will fan them with a fan": This is an agricultural metaphor. A "fan" (or winnowing fork/shovel) was used to toss threshed grain into the air. The wind would then blow away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier, valuable grain. Here, God uses this image to describe a process of sifting, scattering, and separating His people. It implies a violent dispersion and purification process, often associated with judgment, as seen in John the Baptist's prophecy about the Messiah's winnowing fan.
  • "bereave [them] of children": The Hebrew word for "bereave" (Χ©ΦΈΧΧ›ΦΉΧœ - shakol) conveys a profound sense of loss and childlessness, emphasizing the deep sorrow and destruction God would bring upon the nation, targeting their very hope for the future.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 15:7 serves as a solemn reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of repentance. While God is merciful and long-suffering, His justice is also certain. For believers today, this verse underscores:

  • The Seriousness of Persistent Sin: It highlights that unaddressed and unrepented sin has severe consequences, both individually and corporately.
  • God's Justice: It affirms that God is righteous in His judgments. He does not punish arbitrarily but in response to sustained rebellion against His commands and grace.
  • The Call to Repentance: The implied message is a perpetual call to examine our ways and turn back to God before His patience runs out. Understanding the potential severity of God's discipline can motivate genuine change and a deeper commitment to His will.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 51:2

    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.

  • Matthew 3:12

    Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 9:13

    For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 5:3

    O LORD, [are] not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, [but] they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

  • Psalms 1:4

    ΒΆ The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

  • Hosea 9:12

    Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, [that there shall] not [be] a man [left]: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
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