King James Version

What Does Isaiah 48:20 Mean?

Isaiah 48:20 in the King James Version says “Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the ...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 48 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Isaiah 48:20 · KJV

Salvation

Context

18

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

19

Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

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.

21

And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

22

There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

Read Isaiah 48 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans (צְאוּ מִבָּבֶל בִּרְחוּ מִכַּשְׂדִּים)—The imperatives tse'u (go out) and birchu (flee) command urgent exodus from Babylon. Written 150 years before Babylon's rise, this prophecy anticipates Cyrus's decree (539 BC) allowing Jewish return. With a voice of singing declare ye, tell this—The exodus shouldn't be silent retreat but vocal testimony. The verbs haggidu (declare) and hotzi'u (bring forth, publish) mean proclaim internationally. Utter it even to the end of the earth—To qetseh ha-arets (end of earth), broadcast the message: say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

The verb ga'al (redeem) is kinsman-redeemer language—God as nearest relative buying back enslaved family. This typological exodus prefigures multiple fulfillments: (1) historical return under Zerubbabel/Ezra; (2) spiritual exodus through Christ who 'redeemed us from the curse of the law' (Galatians 3:13); (3) eschatological 'come out of her, my people' from Revelation 18:4 regarding end-times Babylon. Each generation hears the command: flee from systems opposed to God, proclaim redemption, and live as liberated people. The Christian life is exodus-shaped: saved from bondage, journeying toward promised rest.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Cyrus conquered Babylon (539 BC) and issued a decree allowing Jewish return (Ezra 1:1-4). About 50,000 returned under Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:64-65). Many remained in Babylon, comfortable in exile—to them Isaiah's 'flee!' applied. The New Testament uses Babylon as code for Rome (1 Peter 5:13) and for the world system opposed to God (Revelation 17-18), extending the exodus metaphor to Christian experience.

Reflection Questions

  1. What modern 'Babylons' do Christians need to 'flee from'—cultural systems, value structures, worldly entanglements?
  2. How does the exodus pattern (slavery, redemption, wilderness, promise) structure Christian testimony and experience?
  3. Why must proclamation of redemption be public ('declare ye, tell this') rather than private religious experience?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ1 of 18

“Go ye forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

מִבָּבֶל֮2 of 18

“of Babylon”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

בִּרְח֣וּ3 of 18

“flee”

H1272

to bolt, i.e., figuratively, to flee suddenly

מִכַּשְׂדִּים֒4 of 18

“ye from the Chaldeans”

H3778

a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people

בְּק֣וֹל5 of 18

“with a voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

רִנָּ֗ה6 of 18

“of singing”

H7440

properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e., shout (of joy or grief)

הַגִּ֤ידוּ7 of 18

“declare”

H5046

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

הַשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙8 of 18

“ye tell”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

זֹ֔את9 of 18
H2063

this (often used adverb)

הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ10 of 18

“Go ye forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

עַד11 of 18
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

קְצֵ֣ה12 of 18

“it even to the end”

H7097

an extremity

הָאָ֑רֶץ13 of 18

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

אִמְר֕וּ14 of 18

“say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

גָּאַ֥ל15 of 18

“hath redeemed”

H1350

to redeem (according to the middle eastern law of kinship), i.e., to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his wido

יְהוָ֖ה16 of 18

“ye The LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

עַבְדּ֥וֹ17 of 18

“his servant”

H5650

a servant

יַעֲקֹֽב׃18 of 18

“Jacob”

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 48:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 48:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 50:8Isaiah 52:9Jeremiah 51:45Revelation 18:4Jeremiah 51:6Zechariah 2:6-7

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
ChaldeaRegion · Modern: Tell el Muqayyar · 30.96°N, 46.10°E85 verses across 11 books
View all places in Isaiah 48 →

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