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

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

9Now 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.

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

12Did 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?

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

14So 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.

15And 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.

17Incline 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.

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

19They 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.

20And 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

Whenכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionvvvרַב־H7262Noun - masculine singularthe Rabshakehשָׁקֵ֔הH7262Noun - masculine singularheardשָׁמַ֔עH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthe king of Assyria had leftנָסַ֖עH5265Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLachishמִלָּכִֽישׁ׃H3923Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularhe withdrewוַיָּ֙שָׁב֙H7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand foundוַיִּמְצָא֙H4672Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe kingמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular construct-אַשּׁ֔וּרH804Noun - proper - feminine singularfightingנִלְחָ֖םH3898Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularagainstעַל־H5921PrepositionLibnahלִבְנָ֑הH3841Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Now Sennacherib had been warnedוַיִּשְׁמַ֗עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularaboutעַל־H5921PrepositionTirhakahתִּרְהָ֤קָהH8640Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Cushכּוּשׁ֙H3568Noun - proper - feminine singular-לֵאמֹ֔רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructHe has set outיָצָ֖אH3318Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto fightלְהִלָּחֵ֣םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructagainst youאִתָּ֑ךְH854Preposition | second person masculine singularOn hearing thisוַיִּשְׁמַע֙H8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularSennacherib sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularmessengersמַלְאָכִ֔יםH4397Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413PrepositionHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularsayingלֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

BSB notes

  • That is, the upper Nile region
Verse 10

Original words

Give this messageתֹאמְר֗וּןH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun. . .כֹּ֣הH3541Adverbtoאֶל־H413PrepositionHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֤הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָה֙H3063Noun - proper - masculine singular-לֵאמֹ֔רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructDo notאַל־H408Adverblet your Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularin whomאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyouאַתָּ֛הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singulartrustבּוֹטֵ֥חַH982Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singulardeceive youיַשִּֽׁאֲךָ֣H5377Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularby sayingלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthat Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularwill notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebe deliveredתִנָּתֵן֙H5414Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularinto the handבְּיַ֖דH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof the kingמֶ֥לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Assyriaאַשּֽׁוּר׃H804Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Surelyהִנֵּ֣ה׀H2009Interjectionyouאַתָּ֣הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularhave heardשָׁמַ֗עְתָּH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularwhatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe kingsמַלְכֵ֥יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof Assyriaאַשּׁ֛וּרH804Noun - proper - feminine singularhave doneעָשׂ֜וּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralto all [the other]לְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructcountriesהָאֲרָצ֖וֹתH776Article | Noun - feminine pluraldevoting them to destructionלְהַחֲרִימָ֑םH2763Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralWill you thenוְאַתָּ֖הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularbe sparedתִּנָּצֵֽל׃H5337Verb - 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 godsאֱלֹהֵ֤יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֙H1471Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativedestroyedהִשְׁחִ֣יתוּH7843Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralby my fathersאֲבוֹתַ֔יH1Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerrescue [those nations]הַהִצִּ֨ילוּH5337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural[the gods of]אוֹתָ֜םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralGozanגּוֹזָ֖ןH1470Noun - proper - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerHaranחָרָ֑ןH2771Noun - proper - feminine singularand Rezephוְרֶ֥צֶףH7530Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singularand of the peopleוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof Edenעֶ֖דֶןH5729Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativein Telassarבִּתְלַשָּֽׂר׃H8515Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Whereאַיֵּ֤הH346Interrogativeare the kingsמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Hamathחֲמָת֙H2574Noun - proper - feminine singular-וּמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructArpadאַרְפָּ֔דH774Noun - proper - feminine singular-וּמֶ֖לֶךְH4428Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularvvvלָעִ֣ירH5892Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular constructSepharvaimסְפַרְוָ֑יִםH5617Noun - proper - feminine singularHenaהֵנַ֖עH2012Noun - proper - feminine singularand Ivvahוְעִוָּֽה׃H5755Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

So Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֧הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerreceivedוַיִּקַּ֨חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe letterהַסְּפָרִ֛יםH5612Article | Noun - masculine pluralfromמִיַּ֥דH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructthe messengersהַמַּלְאָכִ֖יםH4397Article | Noun - masculine pluralread itוַיִּקְרָאֵ֑הוּH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularand went upוַיַּ֙עַל֙H5927Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto the houseבֵּ֣יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand spread it outוַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּH6566Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular. . .חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

And Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularprayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙H6419Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 16

Original words

O LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֜וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralGodאֱלֹהֵ֤יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularenthronedיֹשֵׁ֣בH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularabove the cherubimהַכְּרֻבִ֔יםH3742Article | Noun - masculine pluralYouאַתָּה־H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularaloneלְבַדְּךָ֔H905Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .ה֤וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularare Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙H430Article | Noun - masculine pluralover allלְכֹ֖לH3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe kingdomsמַמְלְכ֣וֹתH4467Noun - feminine plural constructof the earthהָאָ֑רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularYouאַתָּ֣הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularmadeעָשִׂ֔יתָH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe heavensהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃H776Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Inclineהַטֵּ֨הH5186Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularYour earאָזְנְךָ֙H241Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularO LORDיְהוָ֤ה׀H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand hearוּֽשְׁמָ֔עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularopenפְּקַ֧חH6491Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularYour eyesעֵינֶ֖ךָH5869Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularO LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand seeוּרְאֵ֑הH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularListen toוּשְׁמַ֗עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular-אֵ֚תH853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יH1697Noun - masculine plural constructthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeSennacheribסַנְחֵרִ֔יבH5576Noun - proper - masculine singularhas sentשָׁלַ֔חH7971Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto defyלְחָרֵ֖ףH2778Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructthe livingחָֽי׃H2416Adjective - masculine singularGodאֱלֹהִ֥יםH430Noun - masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

Trulyאָמְנָ֖םH551ConjunctionO LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe kingsמַלְכֵ֥יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof Assyriaאַשּׁ֛וּרH804Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhave laid wasteהֶחֱרִ֜יבוּH2717Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthese countriesהָאֲרָצ֖וֹתH776Article | Noun - feminine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand their landsאַרְצָֽם׃H776Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

They have castוְנָתֹ֥ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir godsאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralinto the fireבָּאֵ֑שׁH784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularand destroyed themוַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃H6Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine pluralforכִּי֩H3588Conjunctiontheyהֵ֗מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralwere notלֹ֨אH3808Adverb - Negative particlegodsאֱלֹהִ֜יםH430Noun - masculine pluralbut onlyכִּ֣יH3588Conjunction. . .אִם־H518Conjunctionwoodעֵ֥ץH6086Noun - masculine singularand stoneוָאֶ֖בֶןH68Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularthe workמַעֲשֵׂ֧הH4639Noun - masculine singular constructof humanאָדָ֛םH120Noun - masculine singularhandsיְדֵֽי־H3027Noun - feminine dual construct
Verse 20

Original words

And nowוְעַתָּה֙H6258Conjunctive waw | AdverbO LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularour Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּH430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralsave usהוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּH3467Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common pluralfrom his handמִיָד֑וֹH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularso that allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe kingdomsמַמְלְכ֣וֹתH4467Noun - feminine plural constructof the earthהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularmay knowוְיֵֽדְעוּ֙H3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthatכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionYouאַתָּ֥הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularaloneלְבַדֶּֽךָ׃H905Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularO LORD, are Godיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - 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.