Jeremiah 50:8
New International Version
“Flee out of Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians, and be like the goats that lead the flock.

New Living Translation
“But now, flee from Babylon! Leave the land of the Babylonians. Like male goats at the head of the flock, lead my people home again.

English Standard Version
“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock.

Berean Standard Bible
Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock.

King James Bible
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

New King James Version
“Move from the midst of Babylon, Go out of the land of the Chaldeans; And be like the rams before the flocks.

New American Standard Bible
“Wander away from the midst of Babylon And go out from the land of the Chaldeans; Be like male goats at the head of the flock.

NASB 1995
“Wander away from the midst of Babylon And go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats at the head of the flock.

NASB 1977
“Wander away from the midst of Babylon, And go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats at the head of the flock.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Wander away from the midst of Babylon And go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats at the head of the flock.

Amplified Bible
“Wander away from the midst of Babylon And go out of the land of the Chaldeans; Be like the male goats [who serve as leaders] at the head of the flocks.

Christian Standard Bible
Escape from Babylon; depart from the Chaldeans’ land. Be like the rams that lead the flock.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Escape from Babylon; depart from the Chaldeans’ land. Be like the rams that lead the flock.

American Standard Version
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.

Contemporary English Version
Escape from Babylonia, my people. Get out of that country! Don't wait for anyone else.

English Revised Version
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Run away from Babylon. Leave the land of the Babylonians. Be like the male goats that lead the flock.

Good News Translation
"People of Israel, run away from Babylonia! Leave the country! Be the first to leave!

International Standard Version
Move away from the middle of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans. Be like male goats at the head of the flock.

Majority Standard Bible
Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock.

NET Bible
"People of Judah, get out of Babylon quickly! Leave the land of Babylonia! Be the first to depart! Be like the male goats that lead the herd.

New Heart English Bible
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.

Webster's Bible Translation
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth from the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.

World English Bible
“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Move from the midst of Babylon, "" And go out from the land of the Chaldeans; And be as male goats before a flock.

Young's Literal Translation
Move ye from the midst of Babylon, And from the land of the Chaldeans go out. And be as he-goats before a flock.

Smith's Literal Translation
Move from the midst of Babel, and from the land of the Chaldeans; come forth and be ye as the he goats before the flock.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans: and be ye as kids at the head of the flock.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Withdraw from the midst of Babylon, and go forth from the land of the Chaldeans. And be like young goats before the flock.

New American Bible
Flee from the midst of Babylon, leave the land of the Chaldeans, be like rams at the head of the flock.

New Revised Standard Version
Flee from Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be like male goats leading the flock.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Flee from the midst of Babylon and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Flee from within Babel and go out from the land of the Chaldeans and be as goats before sheep
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, And go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, And be as the he-goats before the flocks.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Flee ye out of the midst of Babylon, and from the land of the Chaldeans, and go forth, and be as serpents before sleep.
Audio Bible



Context
Hope for Israel and Judah
7All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’ 8Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock. 9For 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.…

Cross References
Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.

Isaiah 48:20
Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”

Jeremiah 51:6
Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.

Jeremiah 51:45
Come out of her, My people! Save your lives, each of you, from the fierce anger of the LORD.

Zechariah 2:6-7
“Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD. / “Get up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!”

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Genesis 19:12-17
Then the two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—a son-in-law, your sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, / because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.” / So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. ...

Matthew 24:15-16
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Isaiah 13:14
Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.

Revelation 18:20
Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.

Micah 4:10
Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!

Isaiah 10:31
Madmenah flees; the people of Gebim take refuge.

Jeremiah 46:19
Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited.

Revelation 11:12
And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.


Treasury of Scripture

Remove out of the middle of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

out of the midst

Jeremiah 51:6,45
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence…

Numbers 16:26
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

Isaiah 48:20
Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

he goats

Proverbs 30:31
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

Jump to Previous
Babylon Babylonians Chaldaeans Chaldeans Chalde'ans Flee Flight Flock Flocks Forth Goats Head He-Goats Leave Male Midst Move Remove Wander
Jump to Next
Babylon Babylonians Chaldaeans Chaldeans Chalde'ans Flee Flight Flock Flocks Forth Goats Head He-Goats Leave Male Midst Move Remove Wander
Jeremiah 50
1. The judgment of Babylon and the redemption of Israel














Flee out of Babylon
The phrase "Flee out of Babylon" is a direct call to action, urging the people to leave a place of impending judgment. In the Hebrew text, the word for "flee" is "נֻסוּ" (nusu), which conveys a sense of urgency and escape from danger. Babylon, historically, was a symbol of pride, idolatry, and opposition to God. This call to flee is not just a physical departure but also a spiritual one, urging believers to separate themselves from sin and corruption. The historical context here is significant, as Babylon was a dominant empire known for its wealth and power, yet it was destined for divine judgment. This serves as a reminder of the transient nature of worldly power and the importance of aligning oneself with God's will.

Leave the land of the Chaldeans
The Chaldeans were a people known for their wisdom and astrology, often associated with the ruling class of Babylon. The command to "leave the land of the Chaldeans" emphasizes a complete disassociation from the cultural and spiritual influences of Babylon. The Hebrew word for "leave" is "יָצָא" (yatsa), which means to go out or come forth. This is a call to abandon the practices and ideologies that are contrary to God's commandments. Historically, the Chaldeans were seen as a people of great knowledge and influence, yet their wisdom was ultimately futile against the sovereignty of God. This phrase encourages believers to seek wisdom from God rather than from worldly sources.

Be like the goats that lead the flock
This metaphorical phrase paints a vivid picture of leadership and guidance. Goats, in ancient Near Eastern culture, were often seen as leaders of the flock due to their assertive nature. The Hebrew word for "goats" is "עַתּוּדִים" (attudim), which can also refer to leaders or chiefs. The imagery here suggests that those who heed the call to flee should do so with confidence and purpose, leading others by example. In a spiritual sense, this is a call for believers to be proactive in their faith, guiding others away from sin and towards righteousness. The historical context of shepherding in the Bible often symbolizes care, guidance, and protection, reinforcing the idea that believers are to lead others in their journey of faith.

(8) Remove out of the midst of Babylon . . .--The prophet re-echoes almost the very words of Isaiah 48:20; Isaiah 52:11. It is obviously in marked contrast with the counsels in Jeremiah 29:5-7 that the exiles should build houses and plant gardens, and seek the peace of the city of their conquerors. That was a wise and right counsel for the time, but it was for a time only; and when the hour of the fall of Babylon came they were to be as the he-goats (better, rams) of the flock, leading the captives of other nations in the work of liberation and of flight. That was their only way of escape from being involved in the destruction of the doomed city.

Verse 8. - The prophet returns to the fate of Babylon. He exhorts the captive Israelites to flee in time, before the hostile army reaches the city (comp. Isaiah 48:20). Be as the he goats before the flocks; rather, as the rams, whose example is followed unhesitatingly by the flock. The "flocks" in this case are the strangers in Babylon (ver. 16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Flee
נֻ֚דוּ (nu·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5110: To nod, waver, to wander, flee, disappear, to console, deplore, taunt

from the midst
מִתּ֣וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

of Babylon;
בָּבֶ֔ל (bā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

depart
צֵ֑אוּ (ṣê·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from the land
וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ (ū·mê·’e·reṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the Chaldeans;
כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים (kaś·dîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3778: Chaldeans -- a region of southern Babylon and its inhab

be
וִהְי֕וּ (wih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

like the he-goats
כְּעַתּוּדִ֖ים (kə·‘at·tū·ḏîm)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6260: Prepared, full grown, of he-goats, leaders of the people

that lead
לִפְנֵי־ (lip̄·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the flock.
צֹֽאן׃ (ṣōn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


Links
Jeremiah 50:8 NIV
Jeremiah 50:8 NLT
Jeremiah 50:8 ESV
Jeremiah 50:8 NASB
Jeremiah 50:8 KJV

Jeremiah 50:8 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 50:8 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 50:8 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 50:8 French Bible
Jeremiah 50:8 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 50:8 Flee out of the midst of Babylon (Jer.)
Jeremiah 50:7
Top of Page
Top of Page