Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 50:8
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.
8. Having told of the repentance of Israel, and of their sufferings in the land of exile, the prophet now calls upon them to set out upon their return. Cp. Isa 48:20.
be as the he-goats ] who press to the front of the flock. So be ye the first of the exiled nations to leave before the crash comes.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So firmly did the Jews settle themselves in Babylon under Jeremiahs counsels, that they were the last to abandon the place.
He goats – See Isa 14:9 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon] The sentence of destruction is gone out against it; prepare for your flight, that ye be not overwhelmed in its ruin.
Be as the he-goats before the flocks.] Who always run to the head of the flock, giving the example for others to follow. This may be addressed to the elders and persons of authority among the people.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
These words immediately following the other, confirm Mr. Calvins notion. God by his prophet commanding his people to remove out of Babylon, and to go forth cheerfully, and skipping like the he-goats of the flock leading the way, and setting an example unto others. We find much such a call Isa 48:20; Jer 51:6, which is applied to spiritual Babylon, Rev 18:4, where the coming out is to be understood of a separation from them as to any religious communion, which also was their duty as to old Babylon; but that is not the coming out here spoken of.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. (Jer 51:6;Jer 51:45; Isa 48:20;Zec 2:6; Zec 2:7;Rev 18:4). Immediately availyourselves of the opportunity of escape.
be as . . . he-goats before .. . flocksLet each try to be foremost in returning, animatingthe weak, as he-goats lead the flock; such were the companions ofEzra (Ezr 1:5; Ezr 1:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 Re 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.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This verse confirms the exposition which I have given; for God does not now reprove his people, nor does he condemn their sins; but on the contrary, he exhorts them to entertain good hope, though they were overwhelmed with extreme miseries, he then pursues the same subject when he bids them to flee from Babylon and to go forth from Chaldea; for he promises deliverance to the faithful, and at the same time reminds them of the coming ruin of the Chaldean empire, so that they who went the farthest off would best consult their own safety. For the Prophet intimates that all found in Chaldea would be exposed to the violence of enemies; hence he bids them to flee and to go forth quickly. But as I have before said, he promises a free exit to the Jews; for he would have in vain exhorted them to depart had they been shut up, for we know that they had been confined as within inclosures. Had they then been thus captives, the Prophet would have spoken in mockery by saying to them, Flee and go forth But he shows that their captivity would not be perpetual, because God would remove all obstacles and open a way for the miserable exiles to return to their own country.
He bids them to be as he-goats before the flocks: by which he means that they were to hasten with all confidence. For the he-goats possess more boldness than sheep, and they go before the flock because no fear restrains them. So God takes away every fear of danger from the Jews when he bids them to be as he-goats before the flock; as though he had said that they were no more to fear, lest the Chaldeans should punish them for avowing their wish to return to their own country; for it was a capital offense to speak of their return as long as the Chaldeans ruled over the Jews. But God now promises a change, for he would dissipate the terror by which they had been for a time restrained. It follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Remove out of the midst of Babylon . . .The prophet re-echoes almost the very words of Isa. 48:20; Isa. 52:11. It is obviously in marked contrast with the counsels in Jer. 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. As the he goats before the flocks Israel should be as an example and leader, strengthening the weak, guiding the bewildered, and animating and encouraging the despondent.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 50:8. Be as the he-goats before the flocks “Let each of the princes of Judah endeavour to lead the way to others, and give them an example of speedily obeying God’s call, without shewing any fondness to the place, or to the idolatries there practised.” See Zec 10:3. Homer frequently compares his heroes to rams, bulls, and he-goats.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 50:8 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.
Ver. 8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon. ] “Ho, ho, come forth.” as Zec 2:6 “Away, this is not your rest, for it is polluted.” Mic 2:10 See Isa 48:20 Rev 18:4 .
Be as the he-goats.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 50:8-10
8Wander 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.
9For 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.
10Chaldea will become plunder;
All who plunder her will have enough, declares the Lord.
Jer 50:8 Babylon. . .the Chaldeans These are two ways of referring to the peoples/nations of the southern area of the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (cf. Jer 50:1; Jer 50:8; Jer 50:35; Jer 50:45). The terms Babylonian and Chaldean are parallel. See Special Topic: Chaldeans .
Jer 50:9 There is a sound play between the first three verbs of Jer 50:9.
1. – BDB 734, KB 802, arouse
2. – BDB 748, KB 828, bring up
3. – BDB 789, KB 884, draw up their battle lines
a horde of great nations The Persian army was made up of Medes and Persians and the mercenaries of conquered armies (cf. Jer 51:27-28).
NASB, NKJV,
LXXan expert warrior
NRSV, JPSOAa skilled warrior
TEVskillful hunters
NJBexperienced soldiers
The MT has the verb miscarry (BDB 1013, KB 1491, Hiphil participle, i.e., make childless). Most translations take it from the root skilled (BDB 968). The first letter in MT is , but in the other versions, . The rest of the consonants are the same. These were lethal archers!
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
go forth. Hebrew text reads “they will go forth”; but margin, with some codices and two early printed editions, reads “go ye forth”. Compare Jer 51:4, Jer 51:6. Rev 18:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
out of the midst: Jer 51:6, Jer 51:45, Num 16:26, Isa 48:20, Isa 52:1, Zec 2:6, Zec 2:7, 2Co 6:17, Rev 18:4
he goats: Pro 30:31
Reciprocal: Isa 14:9 – chief ones Isa 52:11 – depart ye Jer 51:50 – escaped
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 50:8. This verse comes back to the subject of the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity. The passage is a prediction of the return stated 1n the form of an order for them to leave the land of their bondage. He goads before the flocks. A he goat being strong and rugged would be able to brave the wilderness and lead the way for the more timid sheep. In Ezr 1:5 we see this prediction fulfilled when the chief of the fathers rose up because their spirit God raised to go build the house of the Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 50:8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon All exhortation often used by the prophets on this subject: see the margin. Some learned men suppose that this exhortation relates to the siege of Babylon carried on by Darius Hystaspes in the fifth and sixth years of his reign. Before which time God had warned the Jews, by the Prophet Zechariah, (Zec 2:6-7,) to flee out of Babylon, and to deliver themselves from the miseries that should befall that city during the siege: see Dr. Prideaux. And be as the he-goats before the flocks Let every one strive to lead the way to others, and give them an example of speedily obeying Gods call, without showing any fondness to the place, or the idolatries there practised.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
50:8 {i} Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth from the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats {k} before the flocks.
(i) When God will deliver you by Cyrus.
(k) That is, most forward and without fear.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord encouraged His people to leave Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans. They should step out like rams to lead the rest of the flock. People other than Israelites left Babylon after it fell, but this prediction probably points primarily to Israel’s leadership of other nations to Messiah in the future.