2 Kings 16:7 kjv
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
2 Kings 16:7 nkjv
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me."
2 Kings 16:7 niv
Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, "I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me."
2 Kings 16:7 esv
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me."
2 Kings 16:7 nlt
King Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria with this message: "I am your servant and your vassal. Come up and rescue me from the attacking armies of Aram and Israel."
2 Kings 16 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 7:3-9 | Then the Lord said to Isaiah, "Go out... say to him... If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." | Isaiah's direct counsel to Ahaz to trust God |
| Isa 30:1-3 | "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine... who set out to go down to Egypt without asking for my direction..." | Condemnation of seeking foreign alliances |
| Isa 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots... but do not look to the Holy One of Israel... | Rebuking reliance on military might, not God |
| Jer 2:18-19 | "What has gotten you into this by going to Egypt...?" Your evil will chastise you... that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God." | Consequences of abandoning God for foreign aid |
| Hos 5:13 | "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria... but he could not cure you..." | Nations failing to provide true healing |
| Hos 8:9-10 | For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers... I will gather them..." | Desperation in seeking foreign alliances |
| Ps 146:3 | Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. | Trusting man (Assyrian king) rather than God |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. | Contrast between military trust and trust in God |
| Jer 17:5 | Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. | Direct condemnation of trusting man |
| 1 Ki 11:4-8 | For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. | Departing from sole devotion to God |
| Deut 17:16-17 | The king must not acquire many horses for himself... or acquire many wives... or accumulate great silver and gold. | Against accumulation of foreign military power or wealth/alliances that lead away from God. |
| Exod 34:15-16 | Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they prostitute themselves to their gods... they invite you... | Warning against foreign alliances leading to idolatry |
| Neh 9:36-37 | Behold, we are slaves today; in the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are slaves in it... to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. | Acknowledgment of foreign dominion due to sin |
| Lam 1:3 | Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place... | Outcome of not relying on God; captivity |
| 2 Ki 17:3-4 | Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria... and the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt... | Subsequent treachery against Assyria; shows foreign policy pitfalls |
| Dan 4:17 | ...that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom he will... | God's ultimate sovereignty over kingdoms |
| Matt 4:8-10 | Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world... "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve." | Temptation to gain earthly power by submitting to other masters |
| 1 Pet 2:16 | Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. | Believers called to serve God, not man |
| Gal 5:1 | For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. | Not returning to any form of spiritual/physical bondage |
| Rom 6:16-18 | Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey... but thank God that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart... | Spiritual mastership: either sin or righteousness, analogous to who Ahaz serves. |
| 2 Cor 6:14 | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? | Principle of not joining with those opposed to God |
| Eph 6:6 | ...not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart... | True service is to God alone, not men or their demands |
2 Kings 16 verses
2 Kings 16 7 Meaning
2 Kings 16:7 describes King Ahaz of Judah's desperate appeal for help to Tiglath-Pileser, the mighty king of Assyria. Faced with an invasion from Aram (Syria) and Israel, Ahaz seeks human military aid instead of relying on the Lord. His declaration, "I am your servant and your son," signifies complete submission, seeking vassalage under Assyrian protection, thereby replacing allegiance to God with allegiance to a foreign pagan power and inviting Assyrian dominion over Judah.
2 Kings 16 7 Context
Chapter 16 of 2 Kings is set during the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah (735-715 BC), a period marked by significant regional instability and the growing dominance of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Judah finds itself caught between the northern kingdom of Israel (under King Pekah) and Aram (under King Rezin), who have formed an alliance against Assyria and are now attacking Judah to force Ahaz to join their anti-Assyrian coalition. This conflict is known as the Syro-Ephraimite War (734-732 BC). Instead of seeking God's intervention, as Prophet Isaiah urged (Isa 7:3-9), Ahaz demonstrates a profound lack of faith by sending envoys and treasures to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria. Verse 7 specifically outlines Ahaz's message of complete capitulation and request for military assistance, initiating a relationship that would prove costly and bring Judah further away from the Lord.
2 Kings 16 7 Word analysis
- Ahaz (
אחז,’Āḥaz): King of Judah. His name means "he has grasped" or "possessor." Ironically, he tries to "grasp" power and security through human means rather than trusting God, leading to him being "grasped" by Assyria. He was an unrighteous king, explicitly doing "what was not right in the eyes of the LORD his God" (2 Ki 16:2). - sent messengers (
מלאכים,mal’akhim): The act of sending diplomatic representatives, indicating a formal, high-stakes communication, often involving negotiation or declaration. Ahaz bypassing prayer to God demonstrates his human-centric approach. - Tiglath-Pileser (
תּגלת פלאסר,Tiḡlat Pīle’āser): Also known as Pul. A powerful and expansionist king of Assyria (745-727 BC) who transformed Assyria into a true empire, renowned for his military campaigns and annexation policies. Appealing to him was akin to asking the global superpower for help, but with immense costs. - king of Assyria (
מלך אשור,melek ’Aššûr): Assyria, an ancient Near Eastern empire centered in northern Mesopotamia, was at this time the dominant global power. Its rise meant the decline of independent smaller kingdoms like Judah. Ahaz's plea solidified Judah's place within Assyria's vast dominion. - saying (
לאמר,lĕ’mōr): Introduces direct speech, indicating the precise words of Ahaz's surrender. - I am your servant (
עבדך,‘abdĕḵā): A formal declaration of submission and loyalty. In the ancient Near East, a "servant" (‘eved) status implied absolute obedience and tribute payment to the master (adon). It was a legally binding submission. - and your son (
ובנך,uvinḵā): Further intensifies the submission. While "servant" suggests a contractual obligation, "son" implies filial devotion, loyalty, and dependency, establishing a family-like, though still subordinate, bond. This meant total fealty, far beyond a typical alliance, essentially offering Judah's kingdom and himself as property of Assyria. It carries religious implications as Judah was supposed to be the "son" of God (Exod 4:22). - Come up and rescue me (
עלה והושעני,‘alēh v'hoshî‘ēnî): A direct military appeal. "Come up" indicates the physical journey of troops. "Rescue me" (הושעני,hoshî‘ēnî) carries the rootyasha‘which means "to save" or "deliver," a verb commonly used in the Old Testament for God's divine salvation. Here, Ahaz attributes saving power to an earthly king. - from the hand of the king of Aram (
מכף מלך ארם,mikkap melek ’Ărām): "Hand" (kap) often represents power, authority, or control. Ahaz is asking for deliverance from the hostile power of Aram (Syria), under King Rezin. - and from the hand of the king of Israel (
ומכף מלך ישראל,umikkap melek Yiśrā’ēl): Referring to King Pekah of the northern kingdom of Israel. This internal struggle among God's covenant people ironically leads Ahaz to turn to a foreign, pagan king for help, indicating a severe spiritual breakdown. - who are attacking me (
הקמים עלי,haqqamim ‘ālāy): "Who are rising up against me," describing the active threat and military aggression from the Syro-Ephraimite alliance. Ahaz’s desperation is evident, yet his method of deliverance is misdirected.
2 Kings 16 7 Bonus section
The appeal by Ahaz to Tiglath-Pileser parallels other instances where Israel or Judah relied on foreign powers (e.g., Egypt, Assyria, Babylon) instead of God for protection. This behavior consistently led to negative consequences, demonstrating a cycle of faithlessness, punitive action by God, and eventual lament. Ahaz's move here foreshadows future captivities and God's judgments upon both kingdoms for their idolatry and lack of trust. The heavy tribute promised by Ahaz (mentioned in the subsequent verses 8-9) directly illustrates the cost of his "rescue"—emptying the temple treasuries and effectively making Judah a junior partner to an oppressive pagan regime. The irony is that the "son" of God's covenant people willingly declares himself "son" of an idolatrous human king, highlighting the depth of his apostasy and misplacement of identity and security. This act initiated a chain of events that directly led to further spiritual corruption in Judah, including Ahaz bringing Assyrian altars into the Jerusalem Temple.
2 Kings 16 7 Commentary
2 Kings 16:7 vividly portrays King Ahaz's tragic decision to choose human political strategy over divine trust. Facing a formidable two-pronged invasion from Aram and Israel, Ahaz bypasses prophetic counsel (Isa 7) to place Judah under the iron yoke of Assyria. His declaration "I am your servant and your son" is a profound act of spiritual and national surrender. The phrase was a standard, humiliating form of tribute and political submission in the ancient Near East, marking Judah's transition from a supposedly independent, divinely protected kingdom to a vassal state paying immense tribute and bound to Assyrian policy. This was not merely a pragmatic political alliance; it was an act of forsaking the covenant loyalty owed to the Lord, who had repeatedly demonstrated His ability to deliver His people. Instead of asking God to "rescue" Judah, Ahaz asks a pagan king to do so, misattributing divine saving power. This action directly contradicted centuries of Israel's prophetic tradition that warned against foreign entanglements and exhorted exclusive reliance on Yahweh. The consequence of Ahaz's choice would be a series of further Assyrian interventions and eventual subjugation, culminating in Judah's later downfall. It serves as a stark warning against placing trust in human power and wisdom above the omnipotence and faithfulness of God.
- Practical example: Instead of praying for God's wisdom in a financial crisis, one might resort to questionable business practices or risky schemes.
- Practical example: When facing family conflict, instead of seeking reconciliation and biblical counsel, one might gossip or form damaging alliances.