Jeremiah 51:2

¹ This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will stir up against Babylon and against the people of Leb-kamai the spirit of a destroyer.

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.

³ Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!

⁴ And they will fall slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and pierced through in her streets.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: 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.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: and I will send unto Babylon strangers, who shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
BLB: 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.

ÅB: Og jeg sender fremmede mot Babel, og de skal kaste det som korn og tømme dets land; for de skal falle over det fra alle kanter på ulykkens dag.
OTB: «‘Forkynn og proklamér blant nasjonene, løft opp et banner; proklamér det og skjul det ikke, si: «Babylon har blitt erobret, Bel har blitt gjort til skamme, Marduk har blitt knust; hennes bilder har blitt gjort til skamme, hennes avguder har blitt knust.»
B1930: Og jeg sender fremmede mot Babel, og de skal kaste det som korn og tømme dets land; for de skal falle over det fra alle kanter på ulykkens dag.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

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.
Read in context
Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Read in context
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.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:32
The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:14–15
Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:29
Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:27–28
“Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her— Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.
Read in context
Ezekiel 5:12
A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them.
Read in context