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 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 48:20 | Go out from Babylon; flee from Chaldea; declare with a voice of singing. | Direct command of deliverance |
| Jeremiah 51:6 | Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and let every one save his life. | Parallel warning to flee Babylon |
| Revelation 18:4 | Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins. | NT call to separation |
| Exodus 12:31 | And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Arise, and get you forth from among my people. | Exodus narrative of departure |
| Joshua 6:2 | And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho. | God granting victory |
| Isaiah 40:3 | The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD. | Foretelling divine intervention |
| Isaiah 43:14 | Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb. | God as Redeemer |
| Isaiah 44:6 | Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts. | God's unique role as redeemer |
| Isaiah 52:11 | Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing. | Similar call to separation |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. | Warning against spiritual compromise |
| 2 Corinthians 6:17 | Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord. | Call for holiness and separation |
| Psalms 135:5 | For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. | God's supremacy acknowledged |
| Psalms 95:3 | For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. | Affirmation of God's sovereignty |
| Jeremiah 10:11 | Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth. | Contrast with pagan deities |
| Isaiah 41:4 | Who hath wrought and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first and with the last; I am he. | God's eternality and power |
| Isaiah 45:12 | Yea, mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens. | God's creative power |
| John 1:3 | All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. | Christ's role in creation |
| Acts 4:12 | Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. | Salvation in Christ alone |
| Romans 11:36 | For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. | God as the source of all things |
| Colossians 1:16 | For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. | Christ as creator |
Isaiah 48 verses
Isaiah 48 20 Meaning
This verse is a divine command and assurance to the exiled people of Israel. God declares that they should depart from Babylon and that He will redeem them. This redemption will be a powerful display of His covenant faithfulness and His supreme power, which is unmatched by any other deity.
Isaiah 48 20 Context
Chapter 48 of Isaiah focuses on God's relationship with Israel, particularly His past faithfulness despite their repeated rebellions and idolatry. In this specific verse, the prophet is speaking to a generation of Israelites living in Babylonian exile. God reminds them that He has declared future events, proving His divine nature, unlike the idols of Babylon which cannot predict anything. This chapter is a prelude to the redemption that God will bring about for His people, liberating them from their captivity. It underscores God's sovereignty and His unique ability to bring about salvation. The instruction to flee Babylon is not just a physical departure but also a spiritual separation from its corrupting influences.
Isaiah 48 20 Word Analysis
- Go (H1695: tṣēʾû): Imperative verb, plural, masculine. This denotes an active, urgent departure.
- out (H4480: mēʿ): Preposition showing separation from a place.
- of (H7627: mi-): Attached preposition indicating origin.
- Babylon (H894: Bāḇel): Proper noun. Refers to the powerful empire and city, the center of exile.
- flee (H5127: nūṭû): Imperative verb, plural, masculine. Suggests a rapid and urgent escape from danger.
- from (H7627: mi-): Preposition indicating origin or source of removal.
- Chaldea (H3778: Kaśdîm): Proper noun. Referring to the land and people of Babylon.
- declare (H5046: naggîdû): Imperative verb, plural, masculine. To make known, to announce.
- with (H7069: qōl): Preposition and noun meaning "voice."
- a (H8799: ṣalḥâ): Noun meaning "song" or "melody." Here it indicates a joyful and triumphant declaration.
- of (H7627: mi-): Preposition of source.
- singing (H7892: rînnâ): Noun meaning "shout of joy," "cry of exultation," or "singing." Suggests an expression of extreme happiness and victory.
Words-group analysis:
- "Go out from Babylon; flee from Chaldea": This paired imperative emphasizes a dual action: physical departure and a rapid escape from the oppressive entity. It is a command to abandon their place of captivity and its surrounding influence.
- "declare with a voice of singing": This phrase combines the act of proclaiming with joyful expression. It highlights the nature of the message—it is good news, worthy of celebration and a public announcement of God's deliverance.
Isaiah 48 20 Bonus Section
The phrase "voice of singing" encapsulates the essence of true worship and triumphant testimony. Throughout Scripture, singing is a frequent expression of gratitude, praise, and victory in the Lord (Exodus 15, Psalms 95-100). For the Israelites in exile, this would represent a return to the songs of Zion and a celebration of restored fellowship with God after a period of punishment and alienation. This declaration foreshadows the greater exodus and salvation experienced through Jesus Christ, which believers proclaim with joy and thanksgiving.
Isaiah 48 20 Commentary
The call to "go out" and "flee" from Babylon signifies more than just a physical relocation. It's a divine mandate for separation from the spiritual and moral corruptions inherent in that pagan society. The directive to "declare with a voice of singing" underscores the joy and victory that accompanies God's redemptive acts. This act of singing is a testament to God's power, setting Him apart from impotent idols. It is an anticipation of liberation, a declaration of faith in God's ability to save and to make His people triumphant over their oppressors.