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

1 At 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.

2 And 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.

3 Then 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.”

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

6 The 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.

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

8 But 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 that הַהִ֡וא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular time בָּעֵ֣ת H6256 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Merodach-baladan בַּ֠לְאֲדָן H4757 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּֽן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Baladan בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן H1081 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Babylon בָּבֶ֛ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular sent שָׁלַ֡ח H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular מְרֹדַ֣ךְ מְרֹדַ֣ךְ H4757 Preposition letters סְפָרִ֥ים H5612 Noun - masculine plural and a gift וּמִנְחָ֖ה H4503 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular for he had heard וַיִּשְׁמַ֕ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular about כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction [Hezekiah’s] illness חָלָ֖ה H2470 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular and recovery וַֽיֶּחֱזָֽק׃ H2388 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

And Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּהוּ֒ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular welcomed וַיִּשְׂמַ֣ח H8055 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular [the envoys] {gladly} עֲלֵיהֶם֮ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural and showed them וַיַּרְאֵ֣ם H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker what was in his treasure נְכֹתָה H5238 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker house בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct the silver הַכֶּסֶף֩ H3701 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the gold הַזָּהָ֨ב H2091 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the spices הַבְּשָׂמִ֜ים H1314 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֵ֣ת׀ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the precious הַטּ֗וֹב H2896 Article | Adjective - masculine singular - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker oil הַשֶּׁ֣מֶן H8081 Article | Noun - masculine singular as well as his entire כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct armory בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . כֵּלָ֔יו H3627 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular - וְאֵ֛ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative was found נִמְצָ֖א H4672 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular in his storehouses בְּאֹֽצְרֹתָ֑יו H214 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular There was הָיָ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular nothing לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . דָבָ֗ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular in his palace בְּבֵית֖וֹ H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or in all וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct his dominion מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃ H4475 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular that אֲ֠שֶׁר H834 Pronoun - relative Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular did not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle show them הֶרְאָ֧ם H7200 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

Then the prophet הַנָּבִ֔יא H5030 Article | Noun - masculine singular Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular went וַיָּבֹא֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition King הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular and asked וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Where וּמֵאַ֙יִן֙ H370 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverb did those [men] הָאֵ֗לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural come from יָבֹ֣אוּ H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and what מָ֥ה H4100 Interrogative did they say אָמְר֣וּ׀ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural . . . הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים H582 Article | Noun - masculine plural to you אֵלָ֜יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular They came בָּ֥אוּ H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to me אֵלַ֖י H413 Preposition | first person common singular from אֵלֶ֔יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular a distant רְחוֹקָ֛ה H7350 Adjective - feminine singular land מֵאֶ֧רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular from Babylon מִבָּבֶֽל׃ H894 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

What מָ֥ה H4100 Interrogative have they seen רָא֖וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural in your palace בְּבֵיתֶ֑ךָ H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Isaiah asked וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular They have seen רָא֔וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural everything כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative in my palace בְּבֵיתִי֙ H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular answered וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֵ֣ת H853 Direct object marker There is nothing לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . הָיָ֥ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . דָבָ֛ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular among my treasures בְּאוֹצְרֹתָֽי׃ H214 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative I did not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle show them הִרְאִיתִ֖ים H7200 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Then Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular Hear שְׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the word דְּבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָאֽוֹת׃ H6635 Noun - common plural
Verse 6

Original words

The time יָמִ֣ים H3117 Noun - masculine plural will surely הִנֵּה֮ H2009 Interjection come בָּאִים֒ H935 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural when everything כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct in your palace בְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָ H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular - וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative and all that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative your fathers אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular have stored up אָצְר֧וּ H686 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural until עַד־ H5704 Preposition this הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular day הַיּ֥וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular will be carried off וְנִשָּׂ֣א׀ H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to Babylon בָּבֶ֑ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular Nothing לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . דָּבָ֖ר H1697 Noun - masculine singular will be left יִוָּתֵ֥ר H3498 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular says אָמַ֥ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

And some of your descendants וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ H1121 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative - יֵצְא֧וּ H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural your מִמְּךָ֛ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative own flesh and blood תּוֹלִ֖יד H3205 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular will be taken away יִקָּ֑חוּ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural to be וְהָיוּ֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural eunuchs סָרִיסִ֔ים H5631 Noun - masculine plural in the palace בְּהֵיכַ֖ל H1964 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the king מֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Babylon בָּבֶֽל׃ H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

But Hezekiah חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ H2396 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ H3470 Noun - proper - masculine singular The word דְּבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you have spoken דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular is good ט֥וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular For he thought וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular At least כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction there will be יִהְיֶ֛ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular peace שָׁל֥וֹם H7965 Noun - masculine singular and security וֶאֱמֶ֖ת H571 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular in my lifetime בְּיָמָֽי׃פ H3117 Preposition-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.