Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The repeated command to "Depart, depart" highlights the profound difficulty of leaving Babylon, suggesting many exiles had grown too comfortable or attached to their foreign life. This wasn't just a physical exit, but a call to spiritual separation from everything that had defiled them during their exile.
Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet is calling the Israelites to physically leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem, emphasizing the need for ritual and moral purity in this exodus. This command to depart and separate from the "unclean" Babylonian society is a crucial step before God's promised restoration and re-establishment of His presence in Jerusalem, as detailed in the following verses. The instruction to "be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD" specifically highlights the responsibility of those appointed to carry sacred objects, likely the priests and Levites, to maintain utmost holiness.
Imagine being offered freedom after decades of captivity. What would compel you to leave everything behind, even the familiar, for a difficult journey home? Isaiah shouts an urgent command: 'Depart! Depart!'
This repeated command, 'Depart, depart, go out from thence,' emphasizes the absolute necessity and urgency of leaving Babylon. It wasn't just a suggestion; it was a divine imperative for the exiles.
Leaving the Familiar
Many Israelites had been born in Babylon and knew no other home. They had built lives, businesses, and families. The journey back was perilous and uncertain. This repetition highlights God's awareness of their potential reluctance and the immense spiritual and emotional cost of leaving a place that had, over time, become comfortable, even if it was a place of exile.
A Divine Imperative
The command is not about simply moving; it's about a complete break. 'Go out of the midst of her' signifies a radical separation, not just physical but spiritual. God knew that lingering attachments and unpurified hearts would hinder their return and their renewed relationship with Him.
You are tasked with carrying something precious, something holy. What kind of person must you be? Isaiah addresses those 'who bear the vessels of the LORD' with a critical demand: 'be ye clean.'
The phrase 'you who bear the vessels of the LORD' refers primarily to the priests and Levites, those designated to carry the sacred items of the Temple. However, its significance extends beyond them.
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Sanctified Service
These 'vessels' were not ordinary objects; they were symbols of God's presence and holiness among His people. To carry them meant to be directly involved in God's sacred service. Therefore, the command to 'be ye clean' was paramount. Any impurity on the part of the carriers would desecrate the holy vessels and dishonor God Himself.
A Royal Priesthood
In a broader sense, all believers are called to be a 'royal priesthood' (1 Peter 2:9). We, too, are called to bear the 'vessels' of God – His presence within us (2 Corinthians 6:19), His message of salvation, and His character to the world. This makes the call to purity a universal one for all who claim to follow God. Our lives, our actions, and our motives must be purified to reflect the holiness of the One we represent.
Understand the original words
tame' · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to anything ceremonially defiled or morally corrupt, which renders a person or object unfit for holy service. It often involves separation from things associated with idolatry or sin.
barar · Hebrew Verb
To set apart for a holy use or to cleanse from ritual defilement. This often involves actions or sacrifices that remove impurity, allowing a person to enter the presence of God.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of the Creator God, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature. It is the name through which God enters into a personal, redemptive relationship with His people.
This command to 'depart' and 'purify' is given to the exiles in Babylon, urging them to separate themselves from the impurity of that land and its practices as they prepare to return home and restore the Temple. It highlights the practical and spiritual separation required for God's people to re-establish their worship and identity.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many and scattering them among their vast empire.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and begins deporting Judean elites, including Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent temple, taking the remaining significant population captive to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire. This marks a turning point for the Jewish exiles.
538 BC— this verse
Cyrus's Decree for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple, marking the end of the Babylonian captivity.
This passage directly quotes and applies the command to 'come out from them and be separate' from Isaiah 52:11 to believers separating themselves from the world's defilement.
1 Corinthians 6:18Echoing the command to 'touch no unclean thing,' this verse urges believers to flee from sexual immorality, highlighting the importance of purity in action and thought.
Revelation 18:4This verse echoes the call to 'depart from Babylon' and 'not share in her sins,' directly paralleling the urgency in Isaiah for God's people to separate themselves from corrupt systems.
Ezra 1:7-11This historical account demonstrates the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, showing the return of the sacred vessels from Babylon to Jerusalem, carried by those appointed for such a holy task.
1 Peter 2:9This passage describes believers as a 'royal priesthood' and 'God's own people,' connecting to Isaiah's call for purity for those 'who bear the vessels of the LORD,' emphasizing the sacred calling of all believers.
barnesIsaiah 52:11: "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD."
Depart ye, depart ye - This is a direct address to the exiles in their captivity. The same command occurs in Isaiah 48:20 (see the notes on that place). It is repeated here for the sake of emphasis; and the urgency of the command implies that there was some delay likely to be apprehended on the part of the exiles themselves. The fact…
gillIsaiah 52:11: "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD."
Depart ye, depart ye,.... Not from Jerusalem, as some, for that is now said to be redeemed, and its waste places made joyful; but Babylon, even mystical Babylon. The Targum is, "be ye separated, be ye separated": and so the apostle, 2 Corinthians 6:17 . It denotes a separation from the idolatrous church of Rome; and the exhortation i…
The repeated command to "Depart, depart" highlights the profound difficulty of leaving Babylon, suggesting many exiles had grown too comfortable or attached to their foreign life. This wasn't just a physical exit, but a call to spiritual separation from everything that had defiled them during their exile.
The prophet is calling the Israelites to physically leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem, emphasizing the need for ritual and moral purity in this exodus. This command to depart and separate from the "unclean" Babylonian society is a crucial step before God's promised restoration and re-establishment of His presence in Jerusalem, as detailed in the following verses. The instruction to "be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD" specifically highlights the responsibility of those appointed to carry sacred objects, likely the priests and Levites, to maintain utmost holiness.
The prophet is calling the Israelites to physically leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem, emphasizing the need for ritual and moral purity in this exodus. This command to depart and separate from the "unclean" Babylonian society is a crucial step before God's promised restoration and re-establishment of His presence in Jerusalem, as detailed in the following verses. The instruction to "be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD" specifically highlights the responsibility of those appointed to carry sacred objects, likely the priests and Levites, to maintain utmost holiness.
"Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD." — The repeated command to "Depart, depart" highlights the profound difficulty of leaving Babylon, suggesting many exiles had grown too comfortable or attached to their foreign life. This wasn't just a…
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Last reviewed October 2026