Focused Passage

Isaiah 37:21-35

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

21Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to Me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria,

22this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you.

23Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!

24Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.

25I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

26Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.

27Therefore their inhabitants, devoid of power, are dismayed and ashamed. They are like plants in the field, tender green shoots, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown.

28But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me.

29Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’

30And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

31And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root below and bear fruit above.

32For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

33So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it.

34He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD.

35‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

Then Isaiahיְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּH3470Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Amozאָמ֔וֹץH531Noun - proper - masculine singularsent a messageוַיִּשְׁלַח֙H7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularלֵאמֹ֑רלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructThis is whatכֹּֽה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֣יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֤רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularBecauseאֲשֶׁר֙H834Pronoun - relativeyou have prayedהִתְפַּלַּ֣לְתָּH6419Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - second person masculine singularto Meאֵלַ֔יH413Preposition | first person common singularconcerningאֶל־H413PrepositionSennacheribסַנְחֵרִ֖יבH5576Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶ֥לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Assyriaאַשּֽׁוּר׃H804Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

thisזֶ֣הH2088Pronoun - masculine singularis the wordהַדָּבָ֔רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas spokenדִּבֶּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularagainst himעָלָ֑יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularThe Virginבְּתוּלַת֙H1330Noun - feminine singular constructDaughterבַּת־H1323Noun - feminine singular constructof Zionצִיּ֔וֹןH6726Noun - proper - feminine singulardespisesבָּזָ֨הH959Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularyouלְךָ֜Preposition | second person masculine singularand mocksלָעֲגָ֣הH3932Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularyouלְךָ֗Preposition | second person masculine singularthe Daughterבַּ֖תH1323Noun - feminine singular constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃H3389Noun - proper - feminine singularshakesהֵנִ֔יעָהH5128Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singularher headרֹ֣אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singularbehind youאַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙H310Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

אֶת־אֶת־H853Direct object markerWhomמִ֤יH4310Interrogativehave you tauntedחֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙H2778Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularand blasphemedוְגִדַּ֔פְתָּH1442Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularAgainstוְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionwhomמִ֖יH4310Interrogativehave you raisedהֲרִימ֣וֹתָהH7311Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularyour voiceקּ֑וֹלH6963Noun - masculine singularand liftedוַתִּשָּׂ֥אH5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularyour eyesעֵינֶ֖יךָH5869Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularin prideמָר֛וֹםH4791Noun - masculine singularAgainstאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Holy Oneקְד֥וֹשׁH6918Adjective - masculine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Throughבְּיַ֣דH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructyour servantsעֲבָדֶיךָ֮H5650Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularyou have tauntedחֵרַ֣פְתָּ׀H2778Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularthe Lordאֲדֹנָי֒H136Noun - proper - masculine singularand you have saidוַתֹּ֗אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularWith my manyבְּרֹ֥בH7230Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructchariotsרִכְבִּ֛יH7393Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularhave ascendedעָלִ֛יתִיH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularto the heightsמְר֥וֹםH4791Noun - masculine singular constructof the mountainsהָרִ֖יםH2022Noun - masculine pluralto the remote peaksיַרְכְּתֵ֣יH3411Noun - feminine dual constructof Lebanonלְבָנ֑וֹןH3844Noun - proper - feminine singularI have cut downוְאֶכְרֹ֞תH3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularits tallestקוֹמַ֤תH6967Noun - feminine singular constructcedarsאֲרָזָיו֙H730Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularthe finestמִבְחַ֣רH4005Noun - masculine singular constructof its cypressesבְּרֹשָׁ֔יוH1265Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularI have reachedוְאָבוֹא֙H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularits farthestקִצּ֔וֹH7093Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularheightsמְר֣וֹםH4791Noun - masculine singular constructthe densestכַּרְמִלּֽוֹ׃H3759Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularof its forestsיַ֖עַרH3293Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Or pines or junipers or firs
Verse 25

Original words

Iאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularhave dug wellsקַ֖רְתִּיH6979Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularand drunk [foreign]וְשָׁתִ֣יתִיH8354Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularwatersמָ֑יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralWith the solesבְּכַף־H3709Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof my feetפְּעָמַ֔יH6471Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singularI have dried upוְאַחְרִב֙H2717Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularallכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe streamsיְאֹרֵ֥יH2975Noun - masculine plural constructof Egyptמָצֽוֹר׃H4693Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • DSS (see also 2 Kings 19:24); MT does not include foreign.
Verse 26

Original words

Have you notהֲלֽוֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleheardשָׁמַ֤עְתָּH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularLong agoלְמֵֽרָחוֹק֙H7350Preposition-l, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular-אוֹתָ֣הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularI ordained itעָשִׂ֔יתִיH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularin daysמִ֥ימֵיH3117Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural constructof oldקֶ֖דֶםH6924Noun - masculine singularI planned itוִיצַרְתִּ֑יהָH3335Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularNow I haveעַתָּ֣הH6258Adverbbrought it to passהֲבֵאתִ֔יהָH935Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular. . .וּתְהִ֗יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singularthat you should crushלְהַשְׁא֛וֹתH7582Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructfortifiedבְּצֻרֽוֹת׃H1219Adjective - feminine pluralcitiesעָרִ֥יםH5892Noun - feminine pluralinto pilesגַּלִּ֥יםH1530Noun - masculine pluralof rubbleנִצִּ֖יםH5327Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Verse 27

Original words

Therefore their inhabitantsוְיֹֽשְׁבֵיהֶן֙H3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine pluraldevoidקִצְרֵי־H7116Adjective - masculine plural constructof powerיָ֔דH3027Noun - feminine singularare dismayedחַ֖תּוּH2865Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraland ashamedוָבֹ֑שׁוּH954Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralThey are likeהָי֞וּH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralplantsעֵ֤שֶׂבH6212Noun - masculine singular constructin the fieldשָׂדֶה֙H7704Noun - masculine singulartenderוִ֣ירַקH3419Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructgreen shootsדֶּ֔שֶׁאH1877Noun - masculine singulargrassחֲצִ֣ירH2682Noun - masculine singular constructon the rooftopsגַּגּ֔וֹתH1406Noun - masculine pluralscorchedוּשְׁדֵמָ֖הH7709Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructit is grownקָמָֽה׃H7054Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • DSS, some MT manuscripts, and some LXX manuscripts (see also 2 Kings 19:26); most MT manuscripts on the rooftops and terraced fields
Verse 28

Original words

But I knowיָדָ֑עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular-וְאֵ֖תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markeryour sitting downוְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛H3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularyour going outוְצֵאתְךָ֥H3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularand coming inוּבוֹאֲךָ֖H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularand your ragingהִֽתְרַגֶּזְךָ֥H7264Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularagainst Meאֵלָֽי׃H413Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 29

Original words

Becauseיַ֚עַןH3282Adverbyour rageהִתְרַגֶּזְךָ֣H7264Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularand arroganceוְשַׁאֲנַנְךָ֖H7600Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularagainst Meאֵלַ֔יH413Preposition | first person common singularhave reachedעָלָ֣הH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularMy earsבְאָזְנָ֑יH241Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singularI will putוְשַׂמְתִּ֨יH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularMy hookחַחִ֜יH2397Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin your noseבְּאַפֶּ֗ךָH639Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand My bitוּמִתְגִּי֙H4964Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin your mouthבִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָH8193Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singularI will send you backוַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔יךָH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularthe wayבַּדֶּ֖רֶךְH1870Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyou cameבָּ֥אתָH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

And thisוְזֶה־H2088Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singularwill be a signהָא֔וֹתH226Article | Noun - common singularto you, [O Hezekiah]לְּךָ֣Preposition | second person masculine singularThis yearהַשָּׁנָה֙H8141Article | Noun - feminine singularyou will eatאָכ֤וֹלH398Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolutewhat grows on its ownסָפִ֔יחַH5599Noun - masculine singularand in the secondהַשֵּׁנִ֖יתH8145Article | Number - ordinal feminine singularyearוּבַשָּׁנָ֥הH8141Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularwhat springs from the sameשָׁחִ֑יסH7823Noun - masculine singularBut in the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗יתH7992Article | Number - ordinal feminine singularyearוּבַשָּׁנָ֣הH8141Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularyou will sowזִרְע֧וּH2232Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraland reapוְקִצְר֛וּH7114Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralyou will plantוְנִטְע֥וּH5193Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralvineyardsכְרָמִ֖יםH3754Noun - masculine pluraland eatוְאָכוֹלH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraltheir fruitפִרְיָֽם׃H6529Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 31

Original words

And the survivingהַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖הH7604Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularremnantפְּלֵיטַ֧תH6413Noun - feminine singular constructof the houseבֵּית־H1004Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֛הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularwill againוְיָ֨סְפָ֜הH3254Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singulartake rootשֹׁ֣רֶשׁH8328Noun - masculine singularbelowלְמָ֑טָּהH4295Preposition-l | Adverband bearוְעָשָׂ֥הH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularfruitפְרִ֖יH6529Noun - masculine singularaboveלְמָֽעְלָה׃H4605Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular
Verse 32

Original words

Forכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctiona remnantשְׁאֵרִ֔יתH7611Noun - feminine singularwill go forthתֵּצֵ֣אH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularfrom Jerusalemמִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙H3389Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularand survivorsוּפְלֵיטָ֖הH6413Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularfrom Mountמֵהַ֣רH2022Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructZionצִיּ֑וֹןH6726Noun - proper - feminine singularThe zealקִנְאַ֛תH7068Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralwill accomplishתַּֽעֲשֶׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularthisזֹּֽאת׃סH2063Pronoun - feminine singular
Verse 33

Original words

Soלָכֵ֗ןH3651Adverbthis is whatכֹּֽה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֤רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularaboutאֶל־H413Prepositionthe kingמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Assyriaאַשּׁ֔וּרH804Noun - proper - feminine singularHe will notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleenterיָבוֹא֙H935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionthisהַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singular. . .וְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlecityהָעִ֣ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularor shootיוֹרֶ֥הH3384Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularan arrowחֵ֑ץH2671Noun - masculine singular. . .וְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleinto itשָׁ֖םH8033AdverbHe will not come before itיְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּהH6923Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularwith a shieldמָגֵ֔ןH4043Noun - common singular. . .וְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleor build upיִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְH8210Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara siege rampסֹלְלָֽה׃H5550Noun - feminine singularagainst itעֳלֶ֖יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singular
Verse 34

Original words

He will go backיָשׁ֑וּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe wayבַּדֶּ֥רֶךְH1870Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativehe cameבָּ֖אH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularand he will notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleenterוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Preposition. . .יָב֖וֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthisהַזֹּ֛אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֥ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 35

Original words

I will defendוְגַנּוֹתִ֛יH1598Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular. . .עַל־H5921Prepositionthisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֥ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularand save itלְהֽוֹשִׁיעָ֑הּH3467Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularfor My own sakeלְמַֽעֲנִ֔יH4616Preposition | first person common singularand for the sakeוּלְמַ֖עַןH4616Conjunctive waw | Prepositionof My servantעַבְדִּֽי׃סH5650Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularDavidדָּוִ֥דH1732Noun - proper - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.