Jeremiah 50:1

Judgment Against Babylon

50:1 The Lord spoke concerning Babylon and the land of Babylonia ¹  through the prophet Jeremiah. ² 

Jeremiah 50:8

50:8 “People of Judah, ³  get out of Babylon quickly!

Leave the land of Babylonia! ⁴ 

Be the first to depart! ⁵ 

Be like the male goats that lead the herd.

Jeremiah 50:35

50:35 “Destructive forces will come against the Babylonians,” ⁶  says the Lord. ⁷ 

“They will come against the people who inhabit Babylonia,

against her leaders and her men of wisdom.

[50:1]  ¹ tn Heb “the land of the Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.

[50:1]  ² tn Heb “The word which the Lord spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet.”

[50:8]  ³ tn The words “People of Judah” are not in the Hebrew text but are implicit from the context. They have been supplied in the translation to clarify the subject of the address.

[50:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “the land of the Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.

[50:8]  ⁵ tn The words “Be the first to leave” are not in the text but spell out the significance of the simile that follows. They have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[50:35]  ⁵ tn Heb “the Chaldeans.” For explanation of the rendering see the study note on 21:4. There is no verb in this clause. Therefore it is difficult to determine whether this should be understood as a command or as a prediction. The presence of vav (ו) consecutive perfects after a similar construction in vv. 36b, d, 37c, 38a and the imperfects after “therefore” (לָכֵן, lakhen) all suggest the predictive or future nuance. However, the vav consecutive perfect could be used to carry on the nuance of command (cf. GKC 333 §112.q) but not in the sense of purpose as NRSV, NJPS render them.

[50:35]  ⁶ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”