Focused Passage

Isaiah 37:8-20

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

8 When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

9 Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “He has set out to fight against you.” On hearing this, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

10 “Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared?

12 Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar?

13 Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

14 So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

16 “O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

17 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.

18 Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands.

19 They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

20 And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

When כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction vvv רַב־ H7262 Noun - masculine singular the Rabshakeh שָׁקֵ֔ה H7262 Noun - masculine singular heard שָׁמַ֔ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction the king of Assyria had left נָסַ֖ע H5265 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Lachish מִלָּכִֽישׁ׃ H3923 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular he withdrew וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and found וַיִּמְצָא֙ H4672 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct - אַשּׁ֔וּר H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular fighting נִלְחָ֖ם H3898 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular against עַל־ H5921 Preposition Libnah לִבְנָ֑ה H3841 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Now Sennacherib had been warned וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular about עַל־ H5921 Preposition Tirhakah תִּרְהָ֤קָה H8640 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Cush כּוּשׁ֙ H3568 Noun - proper - feminine singular - לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct He has set out יָצָ֖א H3318 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to fight לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם H3898 Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct against you אִתָּ֑ךְ H854 Preposition | second person masculine singular On hearing this וַיִּשְׁמַע֙ H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Sennacherib sent וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular messengers מַלְאָכִ֔ים H4397 Noun - masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular saying לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

BSB notes

  • That is, the upper Nile region
Verse 10

Original words

Give this message תֹאמְר֗וּן H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun . . . כֹּ֣ה H3541 Adverb to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָה֙ H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular - לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb let your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular in whom אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֛ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular trust בּוֹטֵ֥חַ H982 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular deceive you יַשִּֽׁאֲךָ֣ H5377 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular by saying לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct that Jerusalem יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular will not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be delivered תִנָּתֵן֙ H5414 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular into the hand בְּיַ֖ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of the king מֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Assyria אַשּֽׁוּר׃ H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Surely הִנֵּ֣ה׀ H2009 Interjection you אַתָּ֣ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular have heard שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular what אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative the kings מַלְכֵ֥י H4428 Noun - masculine plural construct of Assyria אַשּׁ֛וּר H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular have done עָשׂ֜וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to all [the other] לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct countries הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת H776 Article | Noun - feminine plural devoting them to destruction לְהַחֲרִימָ֑ם H2763 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural Will you then וְאַתָּ֖ה H859 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular be spared תִּנָּצֵֽל׃ H5337 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
Verse 12

Original words

Did the gods אֱלֹהֵ֤י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of the nations הַגּוֹיִם֙ H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative destroyed הִשְׁחִ֣יתוּ H7843 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural by my fathers אֲבוֹתַ֔י H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker rescue [those nations] הַהִצִּ֨ילוּ H5337 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural [the gods of] אוֹתָ֜ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural Gozan גּוֹזָ֖ן H1470 Noun - proper - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Haran חָרָ֑ן H2771 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Rezeph וְרֶ֥צֶף H7530 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular and of the people וּבְנֵי־ H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of Eden עֶ֖דֶן H5729 Noun - proper - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative in Telassar בִּתְלַשָּֽׂר׃ H8515 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Where אַיֵּ֤ה H346 Interrogative are the kings מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Hamath חֲמָת֙ H2574 Noun - proper - feminine singular - וּמֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Arpad אַרְפָּ֔ד H774 Noun - proper - feminine singular - וּמֶ֖לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular vvv לָעִ֣יר H5892 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular construct Sepharvaim סְפַרְוָ֑יִם H5617 Noun - proper - feminine singular Hena הֵנַ֖ע H2012 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Ivvah וְעִוָּֽה׃ H5755 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

So Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֧הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker received וַיִּקַּ֨ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the letter הַסְּפָרִ֛ים H5612 Article | Noun - masculine plural from מִיַּ֥ד H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct the messengers הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים H4397 Article | Noun - masculine plural read it וַיִּקְרָאֵ֑הוּ H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular and went up וַיַּ֙עַל֙ H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to the house בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and spread it out וַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּ H6566 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular . . . חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

And Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular prayed וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ H6419 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 16

Original words

O LORD יְהוָ֨ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֜וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural God אֱלֹהֵ֤י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular enthroned יֹשֵׁ֣ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular above the cherubim הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים H3742 Article | Noun - masculine plural You אַתָּה־ H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular alone לְבַדְּךָ֔ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . ה֤וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular are God הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural over all לְכֹ֖ל H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct the kingdoms מַמְלְכ֣וֹת H4467 Noun - feminine plural construct of the earth הָאָ֑רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular You אַתָּ֣ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular made עָשִׂ֔יתָ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the earth הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Incline הַטֵּ֨ה H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Your ear אָזְנְךָ֙ H241 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular O LORD יְהוָ֤ה׀ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and hear וּֽשְׁמָ֔ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular open פְּקַ֧ח H6491 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Your eyes עֵינֶ֖ךָ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular O LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and see וּרְאֵ֑ה H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Listen to וּשְׁמַ֗ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the words דִּבְרֵ֣י H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative Sennacherib סַנְחֵרִ֔יב H5576 Noun - proper - masculine singular has sent שָׁלַ֔ח H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to defy לְחָרֵ֖ף H2778 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct the living חָֽי׃ H2416 Adjective - masculine singular God אֱלֹהִ֥ים H430 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

Truly אָמְנָ֖ם H551 Conjunction O LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the kings מַלְכֵ֥י H4428 Noun - masculine plural construct of Assyria אַשּׁ֛וּר H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker have laid waste הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ H2717 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these countries הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת H776 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and their lands אַרְצָֽם׃ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

They have cast וְנָתֹ֥ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their gods אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural into the fire בָּאֵ֑שׁ H784 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular and destroyed them וַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃ H6 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural for כִּי֩ H3588 Conjunction they הֵ֗מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural were not לֹ֨א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle gods אֱלֹהִ֜ים H430 Noun - masculine plural but only כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction wood עֵ֥ץ H6086 Noun - masculine singular and stone וָאֶ֖בֶן H68 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular the work מַעֲשֵׂ֧ה H4639 Noun - masculine singular construct of human אָדָ֛ם H120 Noun - masculine singular hands יְדֵֽי־ H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct
Verse 20

Original words

And now וְעַתָּה֙ H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb O LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular our God אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural save us הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּ H3467 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common plural from his hand מִיָד֑וֹ H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular so that all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the kingdoms מַמְלְכ֣וֹת H4467 Noun - feminine plural construct of the earth הָאָ֔רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular may know וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction You אַתָּ֥ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular alone לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular O LORD, are God יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • DSS (see also 2 Kings 19:19); MT You alone are the LORD

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.