Focused Passage

Isaiah 37:1-7

Hezekiah’s Prayer and the LORD’s Deliverance from Assyria

Isaiah 37 moves from Hezekiah’s grief and appeal to the LORD, to Isaiah’s assurance that Assyria’s king will not prevail, to Sennacherib’s renewed letter of intimidation, to Hezekiah spreading the letter before the LORD, to a theologically rich prayer confessing the LORD as the living God over all kingdoms, to the LORD’s oracle against Assyria, and finally to the angelic destruction of the Assyrian army and Sennacherib’s downfall.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.

2 And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz

3 to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.

4 Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.”

5 So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah,

6 who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

2 Kings 19 BSB references 2 Kings 19:1 Classic cross-references Esther 4:3 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 26:19 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

On וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular hearing [this report] כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ H8085 Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct King הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular tore וַיִּקְרַ֖ע H7167 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his clothes בְּגָדָ֑יו H899 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular put on וַיִּתְכַּ֣ס H3680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular sackcloth בַּשָּׂ֔ק H8242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and entered וַיָּבֹ֖א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the house בֵּ֥ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Isaiah 22:20 Classic cross-references Isaiah 22:15 Classic cross-references Isaiah 38:1 Classic cross-references Isaiah 1:1 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

And he sent וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Eliakim אֶלְיָקִ֨ים H471 Noun - proper - masculine singular the palace הַבַּ֜יִת H1004 Article | Noun - masculine singular vvv אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative administrator עַל־ H5921 Preposition - וְאֵ֣ת׀ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Shebna שֶׁבְנָ֣א H7644 Noun - proper - masculine singular the scribe הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר H5608 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the leading זִקְנֵ֣י H2205 Adjective - masculine plural construct priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים H3548 Article | Noun - masculine plural all wearing מִתְכַּסִּ֖ים H3680 Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural sackcloth בַּשַּׂקִּ֑ים H8242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the prophet הַנָּבִֽיא׃ H5030 Article | Noun - masculine singular Isaiah יְשַֽׁעְיָ֥הוּ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Amoz אָמ֖וֹץ H531 Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Isaiah 66:9 Classic cross-references Hosea 13:13 Classic cross-references Psalms 120:1 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 19:3 Classic cross-references Isaiah 26:17 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

to tell וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural him אֵלָ֗יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular This is what כֹּ֚ה H3541 Adverb Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Today יוֹם־ H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular is a day הַיּ֣וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular of distress צָרָ֧ה H6869 Noun - feminine singular rebuke וְתוֹכֵחָ֛ה H8433 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and disgrace וּנְאָצָ֖ה H5007 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction children בָנִים֙ H1121 Noun - masculine plural have come בָ֤אוּ H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to the point of עַד־ H5704 Preposition birth מַשְׁבֵּ֔ר H4866 Noun - masculine singular but there is no אַ֖יִן H369 Adverb strength וְכֹ֥חַ H3581 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular to deliver them לְלֵדָֽה׃ H3205 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

1 Samuel 7:8 Classic cross-references Amos 7:2 Classic cross-references Isaiah 46:3 Classic cross-references Numbers 12:2 Classic cross-references Isaiah 1:9 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Perhaps אוּלַ֡י H194 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֨ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular - אֵ֣ת׀ H853 Direct object marker will hear יִשְׁמַע֩ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the words דִּבְרֵ֣י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct vvv רַב־ H7262 Noun - masculine singular of the Rabshakeh שָׁקֵ֗ה H7262 Noun - masculine singular whom אֲשֶׁר֩ H834 Pronoun - relative his master אֲדֹנָיו֙ H113 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular the king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Assyria אַשּׁ֤וּר׀ H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular has sent שְׁלָח֨וֹ H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular to defy לְחָרֵף֙ H2778 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct the living חַ֔י H2416 Adjective - masculine singular God אֱלֹהִ֣ים H430 Noun - masculine plural and He will rebuke him וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ H3198 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for the words בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים H1697 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular has heard שָׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Therefore lift up וְנָשָׂ֣אתָ H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular a prayer תְפִלָּ֔ה H8605 Noun - feminine singular for בְּעַ֥ד H1157 Preposition the remnant הַשְּׁאֵרִ֖ית H7611 Article | Noun - feminine singular that still survives הַנִּמְצָאָֽה׃ H4672 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

So the servants עַבְדֵ֛י H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct of King הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular went וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָֽהוּ׃ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Psalms 146:3 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 19:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 7:4 Classic cross-references Isaiah 35:4 Classic cross-references Isaiah 10:24 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

who יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural כֹּ֥ה כֹּ֥ה H3541 Adverb Tell תֹאמְר֖וּן H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition your master אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם H113 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural that this is what כֹּ֣ה׀ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּירָא֙ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular of מִפְּנֵ֤י H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct the words הַדְּבָרִים֙ H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural you have heard שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative with which אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative the servants נַעֲרֵ֥י H5288 Noun - masculine plural construct of the king מֶלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Assyria אַשּׁ֖וּר H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular - אוֹתִֽי׃ H853 Direct object marker | first person common singular have blasphemed Me גִּדְּפ֛וּ H1442 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural

Verse 7

Cross-references

Isaiah 48:3 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 32:21 Classic cross-references Isaiah 31:8 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 7:6 Classic cross-references Exodus 15:8 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:14-15 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 4:16 OliveGrove study links James 5:16 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Behold הִנְנִ֨י H2005 Interjection | first person common singular I will put נוֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular a spirit ר֔וּחַ H7307 Noun - common singular in him בּוֹ֙ Preposition | third person masculine singular so that he will hear וְשָׁמַ֥ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular a rumor שְׁמוּעָ֖ה H8052 Noun - feminine singular and return וְשָׁ֣ב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition his own land אַרְצ֑וֹ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular where בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular I will cause him to fall וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥יו H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular by the sword בַּחֶ֖רֶב H2719 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular

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