41 Heb “Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time.” For the meaning “kill” for the root “cut off” see 503 כָּרַת Qal.1.b and compare usage in Jer 11:19. The verb is common in this nuance in the Hiphil, cf. 504 כָּרַת Hiph, 2.b.
42 Heb “Because of [or out of fear of] the sword of the oppressor, let each of them turn toward his [own] people and each of them flee to his [own] country.” Compare a similar expression in 46:16 where the reference was to the flight of the mercenaries. Here it refers most likely to foreigners who are counseled to leave Babylon before they are caught up in the destruction. Many of the commentaries and English versions render the verbs as futures but they are more likely third person commands (jussives). Compare the clear commands in v. 8 followed by essentially the same motivation. The “sword of the oppressor,” of course, refers to death at the hands of soldiers wielding all kinds of weapons, chief of which has been a reference to the bow (v. 14).

In other versions

Cut off from Babylon the sower,

and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest;

because of the sword of the oppressor,

every one shall turn to his own people,

and every one shall flee to his own land.

Cut off from Babylon the sower,

and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.

Because of the sword of the oppressor

let everyone return to their own people,

let everyone flee to their own land.

Cut off the sower from Babylon

as well as him who wields the sickle at harvest time.

Because of the oppressor’s sword,

each will turn to his own people,

each will flee to his own land.

Take from Babylon all those who plant crops;

send all the harvesters away.

Because of the sword of the enemy,

everyone will run away and rush back to their own lands.

Cut off the sower from Babylon,

and the one who uses the sickle in the time of harvest.

Because of the sword of the oppressor

each one will turn to their people,

and each one will flee to their land.

Cut off the sower from Babylon,

And him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest:

For fear of the oppressing sword

They shall turn every one to his people,

And they shall flee every one to his own land.

Public Domain