2 Chronicles 32 20

2 Chronicles 32:20 kjv

And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

2 Chronicles 32:20 nkjv

Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven.

2 Chronicles 32:20 niv

King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.

2 Chronicles 32:20 esv

Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.

2 Chronicles 32:20 nlt

Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.

2 Chronicles 32 verses

2 Chronicles 32 20 Meaning

This verse recounts a pivotal moment during the Assyrian invasion of Judah when King Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah responded to Sennacherib's blasphemous threats. Faced with overwhelming military power and a direct challenge to God's sovereignty, both leaders engaged in fervent, desperate prayer, crying out to heaven for divine intervention and deliverance from their dire predicament. Their actions demonstrate profound trust in God amidst an existential crisis.

2 Chronicles 32 20 Context

This verse is set during the 14th year of King Hezekiah's reign, when Sennacherib, the mighty king of Assyria, launched a devastating campaign against Judah. After conquering many fortified cities, Sennacherib threatened Jerusalem, dispatching his officers (including the Rabshakeh) to demand surrender. The Rabshakeh mocked Judah's trust in God, blaspheming the Lord and asserting that He was no different from the gods of the nations conquered by Assyria. Verse 20 directly follows the detailing of these mocking and threatening messages. Faced with overwhelming military force and deep spiritual challenge, Hezekiah and Isaiah's immediate and united response was not to mobilize further defenses or negotiate, but to humble themselves before God in desperate prayer. This highlights the true source of their hope and resilience.

2 Chronicles 32 20 Word analysis

• And: (Hebrew: WaY or wə) - Functions as a conjunction, connecting this action directly to the preceding events of Sennacherib's siege and blasphemous threats. It signals a consequential shift from human defiance to divine appeal.
• Hezekiah: (Hebrew: חִזְקִיָּהוּ, Chizqiyyahu) - Meaning "The Lord is my strength" or "The Lord strengthens." He was the righteous king of Judah who sought to abolish idolatry and restore proper worship of God. His name ironically reflects the very strength he sought in this crisis. Hezekiah had earlier demonstrated faith by cleansing the Temple and reinstituting Passover. His personal example profoundly impacted the nation.
• the king: (Hebrew: הַמֶּלֶךְ, hammelek) - Designates Hezekiah's official authority and responsibility. As king, his actions impacted the entire nation. His prayer was not just personal but intercessory for his people and the covenant. This act solidified his reputation as a faithful leader who depended on God.
• and Isaiah: (Hebrew: וְיֵשַׁעְיָהוּ, wəYesha'yahu) - Meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "Salvation of the Lord." Isaiah was a major prophet during this era, contemporary with Hezekiah, whose ministry spanned the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. His prophetic messages frequently stressed trust in God and warning against human alliances.
• the prophet: (Hebrew: הַנָּבִיא, hannāvî') - Denotes his divine calling as God's spokesperson. Isaiah's role was to convey God's will and truth. His joining in prayer with the king symbolizes a united front of political and spiritual authority in seeking God's face. This shows divine endorsement for their course of action.
• the son of Amoz: (Hebrew: בֶּן־אָמוֹץ, ben-ʾāmôṣ) - A standard identifier for prophetic lineage, distinguishing him from other individuals named Isaiah. Amoz himself may have been a person of some note, possibly related to the royal family or a wise figure.
• prayed: (Hebrew: וַיִּתְפַּלְלוּ, waYyitpallēlû) - From the root pālal, meaning "to intervene, to interpose, to mediate." In the Niphal stem (hitpa'el), it implies "to pray" in a personal, often self-reflective, way—engaging with God. It speaks of earnest and specific petition. Their prayer was deliberate and heartfelt.
• for this reason: (Hebrew: עַל־זֹאת, ʿal-zōʾt) - Connects their prayer directly to the preceding threat and blasphemy of Sennacherib. It wasn't a general prayer, but an urgent, focused response to the immediate, desperate situation that challenged God's honor.
• and cried: (Hebrew: וַיִּזְעֲקוּ, waYyizʿăqû) - From the root za'aq, meaning "to cry out," "to shout," often implying a desperate cry for help or intervention. It suggests an intensity beyond normal prayer, an anguished appeal, perhaps a physical manifestation of their distress. This crying indicates great urgency and an awareness of total dependence on God.
• to heaven: (Hebrew: הַשָּׁמַיִם, haššāmayim) - This idiom signifies that their prayers were directed to God Himself, whose throne is in heaven. It indicates recognition of God's supreme authority, transcendent power, and ultimate control over earthly affairs. They were appealing to a higher court, the ultimate authority, rejecting the notion that any earthly king or false god could compare.

Words-group Analysis

• Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet: This pairing is highly significant. It represents the unity of righteous temporal leadership and spiritual authority. In a national crisis, the combined prayers of the king (representing the people's temporal head) and the prophet (representing God's voice) carried immense weight and legitimacy. It reflects ideal divine order and underscores the idea that a nation thrives when its leaders seek God together. This joint prayer strengthens the narrative of their exemplary faith.
• prayed for this reason and cried to heaven: This phrase captures the nature and target of their prayer. "For this reason" clarifies the urgency and specific context of their plea – direct response to the Assyrian challenge to God. "Cried to heaven" denotes the intensity and ultimate recipient of their desperate plea. It shows absolute reliance on divine intervention, acknowledging that human means had failed or were insufficient, and that only God in His heavenly dwelling could provide salvation. The crying amplifies the earnestness of their appeal beyond simple verbal petition.

2 Chronicles 32 20 Bonus section

• The parallel accounts in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37 further emphasize the specificity of their prayer, where Hezekiah laid Sennacherib's threatening letters before the Lord in the temple, directly presenting the challenge to God.
• The emphasis on "cried to heaven" reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine abode and ultimate authority. While prayer is heard everywhere, "heaven" symbolizes God's transcendent power and His ability to act decisively in the affairs of mankind from His sovereign throne.
• This act of combined king and prophet seeking divine counsel and intervention is a pattern found throughout Israel's history, highlighting the intertwining roles of righteous leadership and prophetic guidance. It contrasts sharply with the kings who ignored or persecuted prophets.
• The immediate and miraculous deliverance by God in the following verses (an angel striking 185,000 Assyrian soldiers) is a direct, tangible answer to this specific prayer, serving as a powerful demonstration of God's direct involvement in human history when His people call upon Him.
• This event serves as a foundational example of God's covenant faithfulness to Jerusalem and His chosen people, reassuring future generations of His protective power when they turn to Him.

2 Chronicles 32 20 Commentary

2 Chronicles 32:20 profoundly illustrates the power of united, fervent prayer in the face of insurmountable odds. When confronted with Sennacherib's overwhelming military might and, more importantly, his blasphemous defiance of the one true God, King Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah did not rely on military strategy or human negotiations. Instead, they recognized the spiritual nature of the conflict—a direct challenge to God's sovereignty. Their response was one of humble and desperate appeal to the Lord, indicating complete reliance on divine intervention. This moment encapsulates a crucial lesson: ultimate security and deliverance come from God alone, not from earthly powers. It demonstrates that when leaders and the spiritual authority are united in seeking God earnestly, He responds powerfully. Their 'cry to heaven' signifies an urgent, deep-seated plea rooted in faith that God, who dwells in heaven, alone possesses the power to deliver His people and vindicate His name against the boastings of arrogant men. This verse sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention, affirming His faithfulness to those who truly seek Him.