The prophet moves from a cosmic image to one in which the people of Babylon compared to frightened animals. The scene of helpless animals scattering symbolizes chaos and the presence of danger. Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have a different interpretation (see below).

And like a hunted gazelle is a simile. The gazelle is a member of the antelope family. A gazelle is described here as it darts away in an attempt to escape hunters. In cultures where gazelles are unknown, it is possible to use a general expression, such as “[wild] animal.” Translators should not substitute the name of another animal, especially if that animal is unknown in the Bible.

Or like sheep with none to gather them: This second simile is a common biblical picture and signifies a lack of leadership and the chaos that results. We may say “they are like sheep that have no one to guard them” or “… take care of them.” For sheep see 7.21.

Every man will turn to his own people: Every man means “every person” in this context. This line has to be seen in the context of the fearful events of divine punishment. People will turn to one another, especially to members of their family and clan, for help and comfort in such fearful times.

Every man will flee to his own land is parallel to the previous line. The last two lines could mean that foreigners living in the stricken nation will flee that country when they see the disaster unfolding, and return to their homeland. This is made explicit in Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and hinted at in Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, and Bible en français courant. But this could be taking the poetic imagery here too literally. The picture could simply be that of desperately frightened people trying to find a place to which they can escape. The land could be the countryside, or their farms. They want to avoid God’s punishing action, in this case brought by an enemy invasion. Both interpretations are acceptable. Those who favor the interpretation followed by Good News Translation can suggest it subtly by rendering turn as “return” and flee as “flee back.”

The last two lines are the main clauses of the verse. Some languages will prefer to put them at the beginning, and follow them with the two comparisons. This is what Good News Translation does; see also the third example below.

For the translation of this verse we suggest:

• Like a gazelle escaping the hunter, like sheep with nobody to round them up, people will turn to one another; they will flee to their land.

• Like a hunted deer and scattered sheep, foreigners will return to their own people; they will flee back to their own country.

• People will turn to one another; they will flee to their land like a gazelle escaping from a hunter or like sheep with nobody leading them.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .