Focused Passage

Isaiah 39:1-8

Hezekiah, Babylon’s Embassy, and the Shadow of Exile

Isaiah 39 moves from Babylon’s embassy arriving after Hezekiah’s recovery, to Hezekiah’s glad reception and display of his treasures, to Isaiah’s interrogation, to the prophecy that everything shown to Babylon will one day be carried away, including Hezekiah’s descendants, and finally to Hezekiah’s troubling response that the word of the LORD is good because peace and security will remain in his own days.

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

1At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness and recovery.

2And Hezekiah welcomed the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his entire armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

3Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?” “They came to me from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon.”

4“What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts:

6The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.

7And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

8But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

At thatהַהִ֡ואH1931Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singulartimeבָּעֵ֣תH6256Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularMerodach-baladanבַּ֠לְאֲדָןH4757Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּֽן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Baladanבַּלְאֲדָ֧ןH1081Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Babylonבָּבֶ֛לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularsentשָׁלַ֡חH7971Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularמְרֹדַ֣ךְמְרֹדַ֣ךְH4757Prepositionlettersסְפָרִ֥יםH5612Noun - masculine pluraland a giftוּמִנְחָ֖הH4503Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularfor he had heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֕עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularaboutכִּ֥יH3588Conjunction[Hezekiah’s] illnessחָלָ֖הH2470Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularand recoveryוַֽיֶּחֱזָֽק׃H2388Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

And Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּ֒H2396Noun - proper - masculine singularwelcomedוַיִּשְׂמַ֣חH8055Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular[the envoys] {gladly}עֲלֵיהֶם֮H5921Preposition | third person masculine pluraland showed themוַיַּרְאֵ֣םH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwhat was in his treasureנְכֹתָהH5238Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhouseבֵּ֣יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructthe silverהַכֶּסֶף֩H3701Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe goldהַזָּהָ֨בH2091Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe spicesהַבְּשָׂמִ֜יםH1314Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֵ֣ת׀H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the preciousהַטּ֗וֹבH2896Article | Adjective - masculine singular-וְאֵת֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markeroilהַשֶּׁ֣מֶןH8081Article | Noun - masculine singularas well as his entireכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructarmoryבֵּ֣יתH1004Noun - masculine singular construct. . .כֵּלָ֔יוH3627Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular-וְאֵ֛תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativewas foundנִמְצָ֖אH4672Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularin his storehousesבְּאֹֽצְרֹתָ֑יוH214Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularThere wasהָיָ֣הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularnothingלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .דָבָ֗רH1697Noun - masculine singularin his palaceבְּבֵית֖וֹH1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularor in allוּבְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructhis dominionמֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃H4475Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularthatאֲ֠שֶׁרH834Pronoun - relativeHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singulardid notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleshow themהֶרְאָ֧םH7200Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

Then the prophetהַנָּבִ֔יאH5030Article | Noun - masculine singularIsaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּH3470Noun - proper - masculine singularwentוַיָּבֹא֙H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionKingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְH4428Article | Noun - masculine singularHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularand askedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularWhereוּמֵאַ֙יִן֙H370Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverbdid those [men]הָאֵ֗לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common pluralcome fromיָבֹ֣אוּH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland whatמָ֥הH4100Interrogativedid they sayאָמְר֣וּ׀H559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural. . .הָאֲנָשִׁ֣יםH582Article | Noun - masculine pluralto youאֵלָ֜יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularThey cameבָּ֥אוּH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralto meאֵלַ֖יH413Preposition | first person common singularfromאֵלֶ֔יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singulara distantרְחוֹקָ֛הH7350Adjective - feminine singularlandמֵאֶ֧רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singularHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfrom Babylonמִבָּבֶֽל׃H894Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

Whatמָ֥הH4100Interrogativehave they seenרָא֖וּH7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralin your palaceבְּבֵיתֶ֑ךָH1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularIsaiah askedוַיֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularThey have seenרָא֔וּH7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraleverythingכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructאֲשֶׁ֤ראֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativein my palaceבְּבֵיתִי֙H1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularansweredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֵ֣תH853Direct object markerThere is nothingלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .הָיָ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .דָבָ֛רH1697Noun - masculine singularamong my treasuresבְּאוֹצְרֹתָֽי׃H214Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI did notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleshow themהִרְאִיתִ֖יםH7200Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Then Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּH3470Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הוּH2396Noun - proper - masculine singularHearשְׁמַ֖עH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularthe wordדְּבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָאֽוֹת׃H6635Noun - common plural
Verse 6

Original words

The timeיָמִ֣יםH3117Noun - masculine pluralwill surelyהִנֵּה֮H2009Interjectioncomeבָּאִים֒H935Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralwhen everythingכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructin your palaceבְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָH1004Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular-וַאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relativeand all thatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeyour fathersאֲבֹתֶ֛יךָH1Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularhave stored upאָצְר֧וּH686Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraluntilעַד־H5704Prepositionthisהַזֶּ֖הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singulardayהַיּ֥וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularwill be carried offוְנִשָּׂ֣א׀H5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularto Babylonבָּבֶ֑לH894Noun - proper - feminine singularNothingלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .דָּבָ֖רH1697Noun - masculine singularwill be leftיִוָּתֵ֥רH3498Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularsaysאָמַ֥רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

And some of your descendantsוּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָH1121Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relative-יֵצְא֧וּH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralyourמִמְּךָ֛H4480Preposition | second person masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeown flesh and bloodתּוֹלִ֖ידH3205Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularwill be taken awayיִקָּ֑חוּH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto beוְהָיוּ֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluraleunuchsסָרִיסִ֔יםH5631Noun - masculine pluralin the palaceבְּהֵיכַ֖לH1964Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the kingמֶ֥לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Babylonבָּבֶֽל׃H894Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

But Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙H2396Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶֽל־H413PrepositionIsaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּH3470Noun - proper - masculine singularThe wordדְּבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeyou have spokenדִּבַּ֑רְתָּH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularis goodט֥וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singularFor he thoughtוַיֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAt leastכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthere will beיִהְיֶ֛הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularpeaceשָׁל֥וֹםH7965Noun - masculine singularand securityוֶאֱמֶ֖תH571Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularin my lifetimeבְּיָמָֽי׃פH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common 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.