Jeremiah 50:8

8 "Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chalde'ans, and be as he-goats before the flock.

Jeremiah 50:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 50:8

Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the
land of the Chaldeans
This, in the literal sense, is a call to the Jews in Babylon, and in other parts of Chaldea, to go out from thence upon the proclamation of Cyrus; and especially to the chief of them, to animate the rest, and set them an example; such as Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Ezra, and others: and, in the mystical sense, is a call to the people of God in Rome, and the antichristian states, to come out from thence, a little before the destruction thereof, as in ( Revelation 18:4 ) ; which seems to refer to this passage: and be as the he goats before the flocks;
which walk stately and nimbly, cheerfully and readily, without fear and dread, boldly and confidently, and encourage others to follow them. The Targum is,

``as princes at the head of their people.''

Jeremiah 50:8 In-Context

6 "My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their fold.
7 All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, 'We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true habitation, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.'
8 "Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chalde'ans, and be as he-goats before the flock.
9 For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a company of great nations, from the north country; and they shall array themselves against her; from there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.
10 Chalde'a shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, says the LORD.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.