Isaiah 48:20-21
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The verse isn't just a command to escape; it's a proclamation of why they can leave – because God has already acted to redeem them. This liberation isn't meant to be whispered; it's a "voice of singing" and a declaration to the "end of the earth," highlighting that God's saving power is a cosmic event, not just a personal rescue.
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!” They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord has just finished rebuking Israel for their persistent disobedience and idolatry, warning them that their stubbornness has led to judgment. Now, the focus shifts from their past failures to a glorious future, proclaiming their impending liberation from Babylonian exile. This command to depart and rejoice marks a pivotal moment, announcing a divine act of redemption that is to be celebrated and proclaimed to the entire world.
Imagine a command that sounds like a celebration! This verse doesn't just tell God's people to leave Babylon; it tells them how to leave.
The command to 'Go out from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans' is given with an overwhelming sense of joy. The phrase 'with a voice of singing' (or 'shouting') isn't just about being happy; it's an active proclamation of freedom. This isn't a silent, fearful retreat, but an exultant declaration that their captivity is over. It emphasizes that liberation from oppressive situations, especially God's redemptive acts, should be met with public, joyful expression. This joy isn't an emotion to be hidden, but a testimony to be shared.
This isn't just news for the exiles; it's a message for the whole world. Why would God's message of redemption be broadcast so widely?
The instruction to 'declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth' elevates the redemption of Jacob from a local event to a global declaration. This highlights God's sovereignty not just over Israel, but over all nations. It signifies that God's redemptive work has implications far beyond the immediate recipients, pointing towards a universal scope of His plan. It also suggests that the world needs to witness and hear about God's faithfulness and power. The declaration isn't just for encouragement, but for testimony to all peoples that the LORD is the true God.
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Amidst the commands to flee and proclaim, there's a single, powerful statement that underpins it all. What makes this truth so significant?
The heart of the proclamation is the simple yet profound declaration: 'The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob.' This is not just about a political or physical release from Babylon; it's about God's active, powerful intervention to save and restore His people. 'Redeemed' speaks of liberation through a costly act, implying a debt paid or a bondage broken. The focus on 'his servant Jacob' emphasizes God's personal relationship and commitment to His chosen people, even when they are unfaithful. This declaration is the ultimate source of their joy and the reason for its worldwide proclamation – God Himself is the rescuer.
Understand the original words
Babel · Hebrew Proper Noun
A place historically symbolic of idolatry, pride, opposition to God, and the captivity of His people, representing the kingdom of darkness or the world system separated from God.
padah · Hebrew Verb
The act of rescuing or purchasing someone out of bondage, used most significantly to describe God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt and later from Babylonian exile, foreshadowing the ultimate redemption in Christ.
tsame' · Hebrew Verb
A feeling of physical need for liquid, used metaphorically in Scripture to describe a deep spiritual longing for God or, conversely, the judgment of spiritual dryness.
chorebah · Hebrew Noun
An arid, desolate, or uninhabited region. In a theological context, it often symbolizes places of testing, isolation, or dependency upon God for survival.
This verse is a powerful call to action and declaration of God's faithfulness issued at a critical moment. It’s not just a hopeful prophecy; it’s an immediate command and proclamation for the exiles in Babylon following Cyrus the Great's conquest and his decree allowing their return. The joy and proclamation are to be universal, announcing that God's redemptive power is now at work, freeing His servant Jacob.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants and scattering them throughout the empire.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, beginning the exile of Judeans to Babylon. This marks the start of the period addressed by prophetic warnings and promises.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a further, larger exile of Judeans. This event profoundly shapes Israelite identity and hope for restoration.
c. 540 BC
Isaiah's Prophecies Written
The prophecies in Isaiah, including chapter 48, are written or compiled, offering comfort and hope of future deliverance to the exiles in Babylon.
539 BC— this verse
Conquest of Babylon by Persia
Cyrus the Great and the Persian army conquer the Babylonian Empire. This pivotal event sets the stage for the exiles' return.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree of Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
This passage describes the Israelites' liberation from Egypt, mirroring the joy and proclamation of salvation found in Isaiah, emphasizing God's powerful redemption of His people.
Jeremiah 50:8Jeremiah also calls God's people to 'flee from the midst of Babylon,' echoing Isaiah's command and highlighting Babylon as a place of judgment from which God's people must depart.
Zechariah 2:6-7This passage parallels Isaiah's call to flee Babylon with a message of return and refuge, showing God's desire to gather His people back to Himself with shouts of joy and deliverance.
Matthew 1:21The angel's announcement of Jesus' birth as the one who will 'save his people from their sins' connects to Isaiah's theme of redemption, revealing the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for His 'servant Jacob'.
Revelation 18:4This New Testament passage directly echoes Isaiah's command to 'come out of her, my people,' calling believers to separate from spiritual Babylon, just as the Israelites were called to leave literal Babylon.
barnesIsaiah 48:20: "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."
Go ye forth of Babylon - The prophet now directly addresses those who were in exile in Babylon, and commands them to depart from it. The design of this is, to furnish the assurance that they should be delivered, and to show them the duty of leaving the place of their long captivity when the opp…
wesleyIsaiah 48:20: "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."
48:20 Singing - With joy and songs of praise. Declare - Publish God's wonderful works.
The verse isn't just a command to escape; it's a proclamation of why they can leave – because God has already acted to redeem them. This liberation isn't meant to be whispered; it's a "voice of singing" and a declaration to the "end of the earth," highlighting that God's saving power is a cosmic event, not just a personal rescue.
The Lord has just finished rebuking Israel for their persistent disobedience and idolatry, warning them that their stubbornness has led to judgment. Now, the focus shifts from their past failures to a glorious future, proclaiming their impending liberation from Babylonian exile. This command to depart and rejoice marks a pivotal moment, announcing a divine act of redemption that is to be celebrated and proclaimed to the entire world.
The Lord has just finished rebuking Israel for their persistent disobedience and idolatry, warning them that their stubbornness has led to judgment. Now, the focus shifts from their past failures to a glorious future, proclaiming their impending liberation from Babylonian exile. This command to depart and rejoice marks a pivotal moment, announcing a divine act of redemption that is to be celebrated and proclaimed to the entire world.
"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!” They did not thirst when he led them through th…" — The verse isn't just a command to escape; it's a proclamation of why they can leave – because God has already acted to redeem them. This liberation isn't meant to be whispered; it's a "voice of sin…
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Last reviewed October 2026
