Jeremiah 50:8

50:8 “People of Judah,¹ get out of Babylon quickly!

Leave the land of Babylonia!²

Be the first to depart!³

Be like the male goats that lead the herd.

Jeremiah 50:35

50:35 “Destructive forces will come against the Babylonians,”⁴ says the Lord.⁵

“They will come against the people who inhabit Babylonia,

against her leaders and her men of wisdom.

Jeremiah 51:8

51:8 But suddenly Babylonia will fall and be destroyed.⁶

Cry out in mourning over it!

Get medicine for her wounds!

Perhaps she can be healed!

¹tn 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.

²tn Heb “the land of the Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.

³tn 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.

⁴tn 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.

sn Heb “A sword against the Chaldeans.” The “sword” here is metaphorical for destructive forces in the persons of the armies of the north (vv. 3, 9) which the Lord is marshaling against Babylon and which he has addressed by way of command several times (e.g., vv. 14, 21, 26-27, 29). Compare 46:14 and the study note there.

⁵tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

⁶tn The verbs in this verse and the following are all in the Hebrew perfect tense, a tense that often refers to a past action or a past action with present results. However, as the translator’s notes have indicated, the prophets use this tense to view the actions as if they were as good as done (the Hebrew prophetic perfect). The stance here is ideal, viewed as already accomplished.