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

21 Then 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,

22 this 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.

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

24 Through 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.

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

26 Have 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.

27 Therefore 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.

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

29 Because 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.’

30 And 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.

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

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

33 So 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.

34 He 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 Isaiah יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Amoz אָמ֔וֹץ H531 Noun - proper - masculine singular sent a message וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular לֵאמֹ֑ר לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct This is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֤ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Because אֲשֶׁר֙ H834 Pronoun - relative you have prayed הִתְפַּלַּ֣לְתָּ H6419 Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - second person masculine singular to Me אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular concerning אֶל־ H413 Preposition Sennacherib סַנְחֵרִ֖יב H5576 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Assyria אַשּֽׁוּר׃ H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

this זֶ֣ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular is the word הַדָּבָ֔ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has spoken דִּבֶּ֥ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular against him עָלָ֑יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular The Virgin בְּתוּלַת֙ H1330 Noun - feminine singular construct Daughter בַּת־ H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct of Zion צִיּ֔וֹן H6726 Noun - proper - feminine singular despises בָּזָ֨ה H959 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular you לְךָ֜ Preposition | second person masculine singular and mocks לָעֲגָ֣ה H3932 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular you לְךָ֗ Preposition | second person masculine singular the Daughter בַּ֖ת H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular shakes הֵנִ֔יעָה H5128 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular her head רֹ֣אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular behind you אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ H310 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

אֶת־ אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Whom מִ֤י H4310 Interrogative have you taunted חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ H2778 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular and blasphemed וְגִדַּ֔פְתָּ H1442 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Against וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition whom מִ֖י H4310 Interrogative have you raised הֲרִימ֣וֹתָה H7311 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular your voice קּ֑וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular and lifted וַתִּשָּׂ֥א H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular your eyes עֵינֶ֖יךָ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular in pride מָר֛וֹם H4791 Noun - masculine singular Against אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Holy One קְד֥וֹשׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Through בְּיַ֣ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct your servants עֲבָדֶיךָ֮ H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular you have taunted חֵרַ֣פְתָּ׀ H2778 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular the Lord אֲדֹנָי֒ H136 Noun - proper - masculine singular and you have said וַתֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular With my many בְּרֹ֥ב H7230 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct chariots רִכְבִּ֛י H7393 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular have ascended עָלִ֛יתִי H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to the heights מְר֥וֹם H4791 Noun - masculine singular construct of the mountains הָרִ֖ים H2022 Noun - masculine plural to the remote peaks יַרְכְּתֵ֣י H3411 Noun - feminine dual construct of Lebanon לְבָנ֑וֹן H3844 Noun - proper - feminine singular I have cut down וְאֶכְרֹ֞ת H3772 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular its tallest קוֹמַ֤ת H6967 Noun - feminine singular construct cedars אֲרָזָיו֙ H730 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular the finest מִבְחַ֣ר H4005 Noun - masculine singular construct of its cypresses בְּרֹשָׁ֔יו H1265 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular I have reached וְאָבוֹא֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular its farthest קִצּ֔וֹ H7093 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular heights מְר֣וֹם H4791 Noun - masculine singular construct the densest כַּרְמִלּֽוֹ׃ H3759 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular of its forests יַ֖עַר H3293 Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Or pines or junipers or firs
Verse 25

Original words

I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular have dug wells קַ֖רְתִּי H6979 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular and drunk [foreign] וְשָׁתִ֣יתִי H8354 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular waters מָ֑יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural With the soles בְּכַף־ H3709 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of my feet פְּעָמַ֔י H6471 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular I have dried up וְאַחְרִב֙ H2717 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular all כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the streams יְאֹרֵ֥י H2975 Noun - masculine plural construct of Egypt מָצֽוֹר׃ H4693 Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

Have you not הֲלֽוֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle heard שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Long ago לְמֵֽרָחוֹק֙ H7350 Preposition-l, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular - אוֹתָ֣הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular I ordained it עָשִׂ֔יתִי H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular in days מִ֥ימֵי H3117 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct of old קֶ֖דֶם H6924 Noun - masculine singular I planned it וִיצַרְתִּ֑יהָ H3335 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Now I have עַתָּ֣ה H6258 Adverb brought it to pass הֲבֵאתִ֔יהָ H935 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular . . . וּתְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular that you should crush לְהַשְׁא֛וֹת H7582 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct fortified בְּצֻרֽוֹת׃ H1219 Adjective - feminine plural cities עָרִ֥ים H5892 Noun - feminine plural into piles גַּלִּ֥ים H1530 Noun - masculine plural of rubble נִצִּ֖ים H5327 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Verse 27

Original words

Therefore their inhabitants וְיֹֽשְׁבֵיהֶן֙ H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural devoid קִצְרֵי־ H7116 Adjective - masculine plural construct of power יָ֔ד H3027 Noun - feminine singular are dismayed חַ֖תּוּ H2865 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural and ashamed וָבֹ֑שׁוּ H954 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural They are like הָי֞וּ H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural plants עֵ֤שֶׂב H6212 Noun - masculine singular construct in the field שָׂדֶה֙ H7704 Noun - masculine singular tender וִ֣ירַק H3419 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct green shoots דֶּ֔שֶׁא H1877 Noun - masculine singular grass חֲצִ֣יר H2682 Noun - masculine singular construct on the rooftops גַּגּ֔וֹת H1406 Noun - masculine plural scorched וּשְׁדֵמָ֖ה H7709 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct it is grown קָמָֽה׃ H7054 Noun - 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 know יָדָ֑עְתִּי H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular - וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker your sitting down וְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular your going out וְצֵאתְךָ֥ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular and coming in וּבוֹאֲךָ֖ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular and your raging הִֽתְרַגֶּזְךָ֥ H7264 Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular against Me אֵלָֽי׃ H413 Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 29

Original words

Because יַ֚עַן H3282 Adverb your rage הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ֣ H7264 Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular and arrogance וְשַׁאֲנַנְךָ֖ H7600 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular against Me אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular have reached עָלָ֣ה H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular My ears בְאָזְנָ֑י H241 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular I will put וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular My hook חַחִ֜י H2397 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular in your nose בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ H639 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and My bit וּמִתְגִּי֙ H4964 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular in your mouth בִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָ H8193 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singular I will send you back וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔יךָ H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular the way בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you came בָּ֥אתָ H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

And this וְזֶה־ H2088 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular will be a sign הָא֔וֹת H226 Article | Noun - common singular to you, [O Hezekiah] לְּךָ֣ Preposition | second person masculine singular This year הַשָּׁנָה֙ H8141 Article | Noun - feminine singular you will eat אָכ֤וֹל H398 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute what grows on its own סָפִ֔יחַ H5599 Noun - masculine singular and in the second הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית H8145 Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular year וּבַשָּׁנָ֥ה H8141 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular what springs from the same שָׁחִ֑יס H7823 Noun - masculine singular But in the third הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗ית H7992 Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular year וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה H8141 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular you will sow זִרְע֧וּ H2232 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural and reap וְקִצְר֛וּ H7114 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural you will plant וְנִטְע֥וּ H5193 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural vineyards כְרָמִ֖ים H3754 Noun - masculine plural and eat וְאָכוֹל H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural their fruit פִרְיָֽם׃ H6529 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 31

Original words

And the surviving הַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖ה H7604 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular remnant פְּלֵיטַ֧ת H6413 Noun - feminine singular construct of the house בֵּית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֛ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular will again וְיָ֨סְפָ֜ה H3254 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular take root שֹׁ֣רֶשׁ H8328 Noun - masculine singular below לְמָ֑טָּה H4295 Preposition-l | Adverb and bear וְעָשָׂ֥ה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular fruit פְרִ֖י H6529 Noun - masculine singular above לְמָֽעְלָה׃ H4605 Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular
Verse 32

Original words

For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction a remnant שְׁאֵרִ֔ית H7611 Noun - feminine singular will go forth תֵּצֵ֣א H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular from Jerusalem מִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ H3389 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular and survivors וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה H6413 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular from Mount מֵהַ֣ר H2022 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Zion צִיּ֑וֹן H6726 Noun - proper - feminine singular The zeal קִנְאַ֛ת H7068 Noun - feminine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֖וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural will accomplish תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular this זֹּֽאת׃ס H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular
Verse 33

Original words

So לָכֵ֗ן H3651 Adverb this is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֤ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular about אֶל־ H413 Preposition the king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Assyria אַשּׁ֔וּר H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular He will not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle enter יָבוֹא֙ H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition this הַזֹּ֔את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular . . . וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle city הָעִ֣יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular or shoot יוֹרֶ֥ה H3384 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular an arrow חֵ֑ץ H2671 Noun - masculine singular . . . וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle into it שָׁ֖ם H8033 Adverb He will not come before it יְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּה H6923 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular with a shield מָגֵ֔ן H4043 Noun - common singular . . . וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle or build up יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ H8210 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a siege ramp סֹלְלָֽה׃ H5550 Noun - feminine singular against it עֳלֶ֖יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular
Verse 34

Original words

He will go back יָשׁ֑וּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the way בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative he came בָּ֖א H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular and he will not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle enter וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition . . . יָב֖וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular this הַזֹּ֛את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular city הָעִ֥יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 35

Original words

I will defend וְגַנּוֹתִ֛י H1598 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition this הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular city הָעִ֥יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular and save it לְהֽוֹשִׁיעָ֑הּ H3467 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular for My own sake לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י H4616 Preposition | first person common singular and for the sake וּלְמַ֖עַן H4616 Conjunctive waw | Preposition of My servant עַבְדִּֽי׃ס H5650 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular David דָּוִ֥ד H1732 Noun - 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.