Isaiah 13:14

New Living Translation

Everyone in Babylon will run about like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd. They will try to find their own people and flee to their own land.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Like wandering gazellesand like sheep without a shepherd,each one will turn to his own people,each one will flee to his own land.

Hebrew Names Version
It shall happen, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathers, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.

King James Version
And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

English Standard Version
And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.

New American Standard Bible
And it will be that, like a hunted gazelle, Or like sheep with no one to gather them, Each of them will turn to his own people, And each of them will flee to his own land.

New Century Version
"Then the people from Babylon will run away like hunted deer or like sheep who have no shepherd. Everyone will turn back to his own people; each will run back to his own land.

Amplified Bible
And like the hunted gazelle, Or like sheep that no man gathers, Each [foreign resident] will turn [and go back] to his own people, And each one flee to his own land.

World English Bible
It shall happen, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathers, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And it shall be as a chased doe, and as a sheepe that no man taketh vp. euery man shall turne to his owne people, and flee eche one to his owne lande.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that like a hunted gazelle,Or like sheep with none to gather them,They will each turn to his own people,And each one flee to his own land.

Berean Standard Bible
Like a hunted gazelle and like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.

Contemporary English Version
Everyone will run to their homelands, just as hunted deer run, and sheep scatter when they have no shepherd.

Complete Jewish Bible
Then, like a hunted gazelle, like sheep with no one to gather them, everyone will head back to his own people; everyone will flee to his own land.

Darby Translation
And it shall be as with a chased roe, and as with a flock that no man gathereth together; every one shall turn to his own people, and every one flee into his own land.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then the people from Babylon will run away like wounded deer or sheep that have no shepherd. Everyone will turn and run back to their own country and people.

George Lamsa Translation
And they shall be like gazelles when they flee, and like sheep that have no one to gather them; every man shall turn to his own people, and every one flee to his own land.

Good News Translation
"The foreigners living in Babylon will run away to their homelands, scattering like deer escaping from hunters, like sheep without a shepherd.

Lexham English Bible
And this shall happen: like a hunted gazelle or sheep with none to gather them, they will each turn to his own people, and they will each flee to his own land.

Literal Translation
And it shall be as a gazelle driven away, and as a sheep no one gathers; each man shall look to his own people, and each one shall flee to his land.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Babilon shalbe as an hunted or chased doo, and as a flocke wt out a shepherde. Euery ma shal turne to his owne people, & fle echone into his owne londe.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.

Bible in Basic English
And it will be that, like a roe in flight, and like wandering sheep, they will go every man to his people and to his land.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it shall come to pass, that as the chased gazelle, and as sheep that no man gathereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.

King James Version (1611)
And it shalbe as the chased Roe, and as a sheepe that no man taketh vp: they shall euery man turne to his owne people, and flee euery one into his owne land.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And [Babylon] shalbe as an hunted or chased Doe, and as a sheepe that no man taketh vp: Euery man shall turne to his owne people, and flee eche one into his owne lande.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they that are left shall be as a fleeing fawn, and as a stray sheep, and there shall be none to gather them: so that a man shall turn back to his people, and a man shall flee to his own land.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it schal be as a doo fleynge, and as a scheep, and noon schal be that schal gadere togidere; ech man schal turne to his puple, and alle bi hem silf schulen fle to her lond.

Update Bible Version
And it shall come to pass, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathers, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one to his own land.

New English Translation
Like a frightened gazelle or a sheep with no shepherd, each will turn toward home, each will run to his homeland.

New King James Version
It shall be as the hunted gazelle, And as a sheep that no man takes up; Every man will turn to his own people, And everyone will flee to his own land.

New Life Bible
Every man will turn to his own people and run to his own land like a hunted gazelle or like sheep with no shepherd.

New Revised Standard
Like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with no one to gather them, all will turn to their own people, and all will flee to their own lands.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it shall be - Like a gazelle that is chased, And like a sheep with none to lift it up, - Each, to his own people, will they turn, And, each, to his own land, will they flee:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they shall be as a doe fleeing away, and as a sheep: and there shall be none to gather them together: every man shall turn to his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land.

Revised Standard Version
And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, every man will turn to his own people, and every man will flee to his own land.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath been, as a roe driven away, And as a flock that hath no gatherer, Each unto his people -- they turn, And each unto his land -- they flee.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, Or like sheep with none to gather them, They will each turn to his own people, And each one flee to his own land.

Contextual Overview

⁶ Scream in terror, for the day of the Lord has arrived— the time for the Almighty to destroy. ⁷ Every arm is paralyzed with fear. Every heart melts, ⁸ and people are terrified. Pangs of anguish grip them, like those of a woman in labor. They look helplessly at one another, their faces aflame with fear. ⁹ For see, the day of the Lord is coming— the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it. ¹⁰ The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light. ¹¹ "I, the Lord , will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty. ¹² I will make people scarcer than gold— more rare than the fine gold of Ophir. ¹³ For I will shake the heavens. The earth will move from its place when the Lord of Heaven's Armies displays his wrath in the day of his fierce anger." ¹⁴ Everyone in Babylon will run about like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd. They will try to find their own people and flee to their own land. ¹⁵ Anyone who is captured will be cut down— run through with a sword.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as the: Isaiah 17:13, 1 Kings 22:17, 1 Kings 22:36

they shall: Isaiah 47:15, Jeremiah 50:16, Jeremiah 51:9, Revelation 18:9, Revelation 18:10

Reciprocal: Job 9:6 - shaketh Isaiah 14:6 - is persecuted Isaiah 16:2 - as Jeremiah 51:29 - the land Nahum 2:8 - Stand Nahum 3:18 - thy people Luke 21:25 - signs

Cross-References

Genesis 13:10
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Genesis 28:14
Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

Deuteronomy 3:27
But go up to Pisgah Peak, and look over the land in every direction. Take a good look, but you may not cross the Jordan River.

Isaiah 49:18
Look around you and see, for all your children will come back to you. As surely as I live," says the Lord , "they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display.

Isaiah 60:4
"Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it shall be as the chased roe,.... That is, Babylon, and the inhabitants thereof, shall be like a roe when hunted by the dogs; which is a very fearful creature, and at the sight and noise of the dogs flies here and there for safety; just so should be the most courageous of the Babylonians, when their city should be taken. The Syriac version renders it, "they shall be"; and the Septuagint and Arabic versions, "they that are left shall be as the fleeing roe", such who fall not by the sword. Kimchi interprets it of people of other nations that should be in Babylon when taken, which agrees with the latter part of the verse:

and as a sheep that no man taketh up; the Septuagint and Arabic versions read, "as a straying sheep", that flees from the wolf; and there being none to fetch it back, and bring it to the flock, it wanders about and perishes:

they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee everyone into his own land; this is to be understood of such foreigners, who were called in by the king of Babylon to his assistance, and the defence of the city; who perceiving it to be taken, or in danger, fled to their own countries, from whence they came, and so left the city naked and defenceless, see Jeremiah 50:16.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And it shall be - Babylon shall be.

As the chased roe - Once so proud. lofty, arrogant, and self-confident; it shall be as the trembling gazelle, or the timid deer pursued by the hunter, and panting for safety. The word (צבי ts^ebı̂y) denotes a deer of the most delicate frame; the species that is most fleet and graceful in its movements; properly the “gazelle” (see Bochart’s “Hieroz.” i. 3. 25). ‘To hunt the antelope is a favorite amusement in the East, but which, from its extraordinary swiftness, is attended with great difficulty. On the first alarm, it flies like an arrow from the bow, and leaves the best-mounted hunter, and the fleetest dog, far behind. The sportsman is obliged to call in the aid of the falcon, trained to the work, to seize on the animal, and impede its motions, to give the dogs time to overtake it. Dr. Russel thus describes the chase of the antelope: “They permit horsemen, without dogs, if they advance gently, to approach near, and do not seem much to regard a caravan that passes within a little distance; but the moment they take the alarm, they bound away, casting from time to time a look behind: and if they find themselves pursued, they lay their horns backward, almost close on the shoulders, and flee with incredible swiftness. When dogs appear, they instantly take the alarm, for which reason the sportsmen endeavor to steal upon the antelope unawares, to get as near as possible before slipping the dogs; and then, pushing on at full speed, they throw off the falcon, which being taught to strike or fix upon the cheek of the game, retards its course by repeated attacks, until the greyhounds have time to get up.”’ - (Burder’s “Orient. Cus.”)

As a sheep - Or like a scattered flock of sheep in the wilderness that has no shepherd, and no one to collect them together; an image also of that which is timid and defenseless.

That no man taketh up - That is astray, and not under the protection of any shepherd. The meaning is, that that people, once so proud and self-confident, would become alarmed, and scattered, and be afraid of everything.

They shall every man turn unto his own people - Babylon was the capital of the pagan world. It was a vast and magnificent city; the center of many nations. It would be the place, therefore, where numerous foreigners would take up a temporary residence, as London and other large cities are now. Jeremiah Jeremiah 50:37 describes Babylon as containing a mingled population - ‘and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her’ - that is, “the colluvies gentium,” as Tacitus describes Rome in his time. Jeremiah also Jeremiah 50:28 describes this mingled multitude as fleeing and escaping out of the land of Babylon, when these calamities should come upon them. The idea in Isaiah is, that this great and mixed multitude would endeavor to escape the impending calamities, and flee to their own nations.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 13:14. "And the remnant"] Here is plainly a defect in this sentence, as it stands in the Hebrew text; the subject of the proposition is lost. What is it that shall be like a roe chased? The Septuagint happily supply it, οι καταλελειμμενοι, שאר shear, the remnant. A MS. here supplies the word יושב yosheb, the inhabitant; which makes a tolerably good sense; but I much prefer the reading of the Septuagint.

They shall - turn - "They shall look"] That is, the forces of the king of Babylon, destitute of their leader, and all his auxiliaries, collected from Asia Minor, and other distant countries, shall disperse and flee to their respective homes.