Isaiah 48 20

Isaiah 48:20 kjv

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.

Isaiah 48:20 nkjv

Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, "The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!"

Isaiah 48:20 niv

Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, "The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob."

Isaiah 48:20 esv

Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, "The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!"

Isaiah 48:20 nlt

Yet even now, be free from your captivity!
Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.
Sing out this message!
Shout it to the ends of the earth!
The LORD has redeemed his servants,
the people of Israel.

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 20 meaning

This verse is a direct divine command for the exiles in Babylon to depart from their captivity with shouts of joy and to widely proclaim the message of their liberation. It declares that the Lord, Yahweh, has acted as the Redeemer for His covenant people, Jacob (Israel), a pronouncement to be broadcast globally. It signifies not merely a physical release but a profound act of God's faithfulness and power over human empires.

Isaiah 48 20 Context

Isaiah 48 concludes a significant section of prophecies (chapters 40-48) that focus on God's unwavering faithfulness to Israel despite their rebellions, and His power demonstrated through His prophecies and sovereign control over nations. Leading up to verse 20, God has repeatedly declared Himself as the unique Creator, the First and Last, the One who reveals the future, contrasting Himself sharply with the powerless idols of Babylon. He reminds Israel of their stubbornness yet reaffirms His love and intent to redeem them. This chapter specifically details God’s commitment to deliver His people from Babylonian captivity, a "new exodus" that would echo their liberation from Egypt, designed to display His glory and prove His word true. The command to leave Babylon is therefore a call to participate in this grand, divinely orchestrated rescue, moving from oppression and idolatry towards a joyful freedom under Yahweh's protection, and sharing this news with the entire world.

Isaiah 48 20 Word analysis

• Go forth (יְצְאוּ - ye'tsu): An imperative verb, a forceful command to "come out" or "exit." It implies an active step, not a passive waiting. This verb is also used for leaving Egypt (Ex 12:41) highlighting the parallel "new exodus."
• from Babylon (מִבָּבֶל - mibbavel): Literally, "from Babel." This identifies the specific location of their captivity, the capital city of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which was renowned for its power, wealth, and idolatry.
• Flee (בִּרְחוּ - bir'khu): Another imperative, but stronger than "go forth." It means to "run away," "escape quickly," or "take flight." It conveys urgency and the necessity of immediate separation from a dangerous place.
• from Chaldea (מִכַּשְׂדִּים - mikkasdim): Chaldea was the southern region of Babylonia and is often used interchangeably with Babylon to refer to the empire itself. Its inclusion emphasizes the definitive nature of the command to completely abandon the place of captivity.
• Declare (הַגִּידוּ - haggidu): An imperative meaning "to tell," "to report," "to make known." It suggests a clear and specific communication.
• this with a shout of joy (בְּקוֹל רִנָּה - b'qōl rinnāh): Not just an announcement, but one accompanied by jubilation. Rinnāh refers to a ringing cry, a joyful shout, a singing with elation. It indicates that their departure should be a celebrated event, publicly glorifying God.
• proclaim it (הַשְׁמִיעוּ - hashmi'u): An imperative verb meaning "cause to hear," "publish," "sound abroad." It implies making something widely known so that everyone can hear and understand.
• send it out to the end of the earth (הוֹצִיאוּהָ עַד קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ - hōtsî'ûhā ‘ad qtsēh hā'ārets): This phrase emphasizes the universal scope of the proclamation. Their redemption is not just for Israel, but a testimony to all nations, reaching the most distant corners. Katsêh signifies the extremity or furthest edge.
• Say (אִמְרוּ - imrû): A simple imperative, "to say," introducing the precise message to be proclaimed.
• The Lord (יהוה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His unique power as the one true God, as opposed to Babylonian deities.
• has redeemed (גָאַל - gā'al): A critical term meaning "to act as kinsman-redeemer," "to buy back," "to rescue," "to set free by payment." The past tense ("has redeemed") implies a completed, definitive act by God, not something pending. It connects to the legal and social practice of a close relative acting to liberate another from slavery or debt.
• His servant Jacob (עַבְדּוֹ יַעֲקֹב - 'avdô ya'aqōv): "Jacob" here refers to the nation of Israel. "His servant" highlights their covenant relationship and God's sovereign care over His chosen people, despite their failures.

• "Go forth from Babylon! Flee from Chaldea!": This emphatic doubling of the command, using two distinct verbs and two names for the same entity, underscores the urgency and absolute necessity of physical and spiritual separation from the place of exile and its associated idolatry and oppression. It's a call to actively disengage.
• "Declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth": This phrase group details the manner and reach of the proclamation. It's not a secret departure or a quiet witness, but a triumphant, jubilant, and globally announced declaration. This universal outreach sets a precedent for later missions.
• "The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!": This is the core message, a declarative statement of accomplished fact. It names the agent (the Lord), the action (redeemed), and the recipient (His servant Jacob). The redemption is presented as a completed act of divine intervention, signaling God's faithfulness and power to liberate His people.

Isaiah 48 20 Bonus section

The "new exodus" theme running through Isaiah, prominently highlighted in chapter 48, signifies a theological rather than purely historical event for its original audience. It promised not just a physical return, but a profound restoration and spiritual renewal for the covenant people. The use of "Jacob" as God's "servant" here also serves as a reminder of the covenant made with the patriarch, emphasizing the enduring nature of God's promises despite Israel's historical unfaithfulness. The concept of go'el (redeemer) would have deeply resonated with the exiles, offering hope that a close kinsman (God Himself) was stepping in to reverse their desperate state of enslavement and indebtedness. This verse can also be seen as an initial call for Israel to become evangelists of their redemption, setting a precedent for God's desire for His message to reach all peoples, eventually fulfilled in the Great Commission through the New Testament.

Isaiah 48 20 Commentary

Isaiah 48:20 is a powerful prophetic declaration, marking a triumphant turning point for the exiled Israelites. It is a divine mandate, not an invitation, for God's people to decisively abandon Babylon. The dual command to "go forth" and "flee" stresses both the divine initiative and the urgency for human participation in this divinely orchestrated release. This departure is to be celebrated with a "shout of joy," signifying that God's rescue from Babylonian captivity is a cause for profound exultation, paralleling the joyous freedom from Egypt in the first exodus. Crucially, the good news of "The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!" is not to be confined but is commanded to be broadcast "to the end of the earth." This universal proclamation elevates Israel's physical redemption to a global testimony of Yahweh's sovereign power and faithfulness, serving as a beacon of hope for all who witness His redemptive acts, and foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel through Christ, the ultimate redeemer. It asserts that God's acts are meant for His glory to be revealed to all nations, turning Israel's liberation into a public demonstration of His unparalleled power and redemptive love.