Jeremiah 50:8

8 "Wander away from the 1midst of Babylon And go forth from the land of the Chaldeans; Be also like male goats at the head of 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 become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains; They have gone along from mountain to hill And have forgotten their resting place.
7 "All who came upon them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, 'We are not guilty, Inasmuch as they have sinned against the LORD who is the habitation of righteousness, Even the LORD , the hope of their fathers.'
8 "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.
9 "For behold, I am going to arouse and bring up against Babylon A horde of great nations from the land of the north, And they will draw up their battle lines against her; From there she will be taken captive. Their arrows will be like an expert warrior Who does not return empty-handed.
10 "Chaldea will become plunder; All who plunder her will have enough," declares the LORD .

Cross References 1

  • 1. Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 51:6; Revelation 18:4

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Another reading is "let them go forth"
  • [b]. Or "in front of"
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