And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The imagery of a "hunted gazelle" and "sheep with none to gather them" highlights that the impending doom won't just scatter a unified army, but will unravel the very fabric of alliances, leaving each individual—even foreign soldiers hired for defense—isolated and desperately seeking their own scattered families and homelands for survival.
And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is declaring a "burden" against Babylon, predicting its utter destruction and downfall at the hands of the Medes and Persians. This passage vividly describes the chaos and panic that will grip the city and its diverse population as the enemy approaches, leading to a desperate and futile flight. The imagery emphasizes the vulnerability and helplessness of the once-mighty empire.
Imagine the sheer panic: a swift animal, known for its grace, now desperately trying to outrun the hunter. Or a lost sheep, vulnerable and alone. What does this vivid imagery tell us about Babylon's downfall?
Isaiah uses powerful comparisons to paint a picture of utter helplessness.
The Chased Roe
The gazelle, or 'roe' in some translations, was known for its speed and beauty. Yet, when pursued by a hunter, its grace turns to terror. It flees wildly, looking for any escape, its instinct to survive overriding all else. This mirrors the panicked state of Babylon's inhabitants and its allied soldiers as the enemy closes in.
The Scattered Sheep
A sheep without a shepherd is defenseless, easily preyed upon. It wanders aimlessly, unable to protect itself or find its way back to safety. This image highlights the disintegration of order and leadership within Babylon. The once mighty empire is left vulnerable and exposed.
These comparisons emphasize not just defeat, but a profound loss of control and security. It’s a picture of a people utterly overwhelmed and scattered.
When disaster strikes, where do people naturally run? The verse gives a specific answer, revealing a complex society in its final moments of collapse.
The final part of the verse describes the desperate, individualistic response to the impending doom:
A Fragmented People
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Babylon was a vast empire, a melting pot of many nationalities, including foreign soldiers and traders. When the crisis hits, the shared identity of 'Babylonian' dissolves. The immediate instinct is self-preservation, not collective defense.
The Flight to Kin and Country
'Each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.' This is a powerful image of a society literally breaking apart. Foreign soldiers abandon their posts to return to their homelands. Even those who lived in Babylon but were not native will seek refuge in their ancestral territories. The empire's unity, already fragile, shatters completely.
This isn't a heroic last stand; it's a panicked exodus. The impressive, multinational force crumbles as everyone prioritizes their own kin and their own land over the fate of the city.
Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon's destruction wasn't just about a future military conquest; it was a powerful message to the exiled Judeans, assuring them that the empire oppressing them would fall, just as God had promised. The vivid imagery of panicked flight reflects the chaos and despair of a once-mighty power crumbling under divine judgment.
745 BC
Assyrian Empire Dominates
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, a formidable military power, exerts strong influence over the Near East, including the region of Babylon.
626 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire Rises
Nabopolassar revolts against Assyria, establishing the Neo-Babylonian Empire, marking a resurgence of Babylonian power.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II deports a portion of the Jewish population, including Daniel, to Babylon following a victory over Egypt.
587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling many more Judeans to Babylon. This event deeply impacts Jewish identity and prophecy.
c. 550 BC
Rise of the Medo-Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians, creating a powerful new empire that will soon challenge Babylonian dominance.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This event, prophesied by Isaiah, marks the end of Babylonian sovereignty and leads to the eventual return of the Jewish exiles.
This passage echoes Isaiah's imagery, describing Babylon's downfall and the flight of foreigners from the city, reinforcing the theme of scattering and a loss of refuge.
Ezekiel 34:5-6This prophetic oracle vividly portrays sheep scattered without a shepherd due to neglectful leaders, mirroring the image of the helpless, ungathered sheep in Isaiah 13:14 and highlighting divine judgment on failed leadership.
Zephaniah 1:14-15This passage describes the 'day of the Lord' as a time of terror and panic, directly paralleling the fearful, scattered state of those facing destruction described in Isaiah.
Matthew 24:29-30Jesus uses cosmic imagery of celestial disturbances to describe a time of immense upheaval and judgment, resonating with Isaiah's portrayal of a world thrown into chaos during the fall of Babylon.
barnesIsaiah 13:14: "And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land."
And it shall be - Babylon shall be. As the chased roe - Once so proud. lofty, arrogant, and self-confident; it shall be as the trembling gazelle, or the timid deer pursued by the hunter, and panting for safety. The word (צבי tsebı̂y) denotes a deer of the most delicate frame; the species that is most fleet and graceful in it…
wesleyIsaiah 13:14: "And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land."
13:14 It - Babylon. A roe - Fearful in itself, especially when it is pursued by the hunter. A sheep - In a most forlorn condition. Every man - Those soldiers of other nations, whom she had hired to assist her.
The imagery of a "hunted gazelle" and "sheep with none to gather them" highlights that the impending doom won't just scatter a unified army, but will unravel the very fabric of alliances, leaving each individual—even foreign soldiers hired for defense—isolated and desperately seeking their own scattered families and homelands for survival.
The prophet Isaiah is declaring a "burden" against Babylon, predicting its utter destruction and downfall at the hands of the Medes and Persians. This passage vividly describes the chaos and panic that will grip the city and its diverse population as the enemy approaches, leading to a desperate and futile flight. The imagery emphasizes the vulnerability and helplessness of the once-mighty empire.
The prophet Isaiah is declaring a "burden" against Babylon, predicting its utter destruction and downfall at the hands of the Medes and Persians. This passage vividly describes the chaos and panic that will grip the city and its diverse population as the enemy approaches, leading to a desperate and futile flight. The imagery emphasizes the vulnerability and helplessness of the once-mighty empire.
"And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land." — The imagery of a "hunted gazelle" and "sheep with none to gather them" highlights that the impending doom won't just scatter a unified army, but will unravel the very fabric of alliances, leaving eac…
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Last reviewed October 2026