2 Kings 18:25 kjv
Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
2 Kings 18:25 nkjv
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land, and destroy it.' "
2 Kings 18:25 niv
Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the LORD? The LORD himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.'?"
2 Kings 18:25 esv
Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, "Go up against this land and destroy it."'"
2 Kings 18:25 nlt
What's more, do you think we have invaded your land without the LORD's direction? The LORD himself told us, 'Attack this land and destroy it!'"
2 Kings 18 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 19:6-7 | Then Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Be not afraid... I will put a spirit in him..." | God contradicts Rabshakeh's lie, showing true sovereignty. |
| Isa 10:5-7 | Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!... but he does not so intend..." | God uses Assyria as His instrument, but Assyria acts ignorantly and pridefully. |
| Isa 36:10 | “Have I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it?..." | Parallel verse in Isaiah confirming Rabshakeh's lie. |
| Jer 14:14 | Then the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name... I have not sent them..." | Warnings against those falsely claiming God's word. |
| Jer 23:21 | “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied." | Further denunciation of false prophetic claims. |
| Eze 13:6 | They have envisioned falsehood and lying divination... the Lord has not sent them..." | Condemnation of prophets who invent messages. |
| Deut 18:20 | “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak..." | Warning against false prophets who speak presumptuously. |
| Matt 7:15 | “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | New Testament warning about deceitful speakers. |
| 2 Cor 11:14 | And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. | Highlights the nature of ultimate spiritual deception. |
| Gen 3:4-5 | But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows..." | First lie claiming God's true intentions are malign. |
| Jn 8:44 | He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him... he is a liar and the father of lies." | Describes the source of deception, Satan. |
| Job 1:6-12 | Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord... and the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand..." | Satan permitted to act, but not by divine command. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples... but the counsel of the Lord stands forever." | God's ultimate control over human and national plans. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding... and he will make straight your paths." | Exhortation to trust God over discouraging words. |
| Isa 37:17-19 | Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see... " | Hezekiah's prayer, recognizing Rabshakeh's blasphemy. |
| 2 Kgs 17:7-8 | And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God... they walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel..." | Earlier reasons for Israel's judgment and why Judah feared. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. | God's deliverance comes from His Spirit, not human strength. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | Reassurance that God's people are not abandoned. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. | Contrasting earthly might with divine trust. |
| Ps 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man... in princes." | Emphasis on God as the sole source of security. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you..." | God's promise of presence and strength amidst fear. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication..." | Remedy for anxiety caused by intimidating threats. |
2 Kings 18 verses
2 Kings 18 25 Meaning
In 2 Kings 18:25, the Assyrian field commander, Rabshakeh, boldly claims that his military campaign against Jerusalem is not an act of human aggression but is, in fact, divinely sanctioned by the Lord (Yahweh), the very God of Israel. He asserts that the Lord himself commanded him to attack and destroy the land of Judah. This statement is a profound psychological weapon aimed at demoralizing the people and King Hezekiah, implying that even their own God has turned against them and authorized their destruction.
2 Kings 18 25 Context
This verse is situated in the eighteenth chapter of 2 Kings, which details the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah. Chapters 18-20 recount Hezekiah's righteous reforms, his initial tribute payment to Sennacherib, King of Assyria, and then the subsequent Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Specifically, 2 Kings 18 begins to describe the formidable Assyrian threat. Rabshakeh, the Assyrian field commander, delivers a series of demoralizing speeches in Hebrew to Hezekiah's officials and the people gathered on the city wall. His tactics involve ridiculing their trust in Egypt, belittling Hezekiah's religious reforms, and questioning their trust in Yahweh. Verse 25 is a crucial point in his third line of attack, where he elevates his human ambition to the level of divine mandate, directly challenging Hezekiah's faith and the people's allegiance to their God by claiming Yahweh himself has sent the Assyrians to destroy them. Historically, the Assyrians were known for their psychological warfare, and this claim was a calculated attempt to break the morale of Jerusalem without a full-scale assault. It implicitly questions Yahweh's power or His favor towards Judah, echoing the polytheistic Assyrian worldview where gods could abandon their people.
2 Kings 18 25 Word analysis
"Have I now come up without the Lord"
- "Have I now come up": A rhetorical question (hā-ʿǎlîṯî ʿattâ), implying "Surely, I have not come up without the Lord." Rabshakeh aims to remove any doubt about his alleged divine sanction.
- "without the Lord": Hebrew: מִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְהוָה (mibbalʿăḏê Yahweh). This phrase literally means "from apart from Yahweh" or "without Yahweh." The crucial word here is יְהוָה (Yahweh), the unique covenant name of God used by Israel. By using "Yahweh" and not a generic "god" (Elohim), Rabshakeh attempts to lend ultimate credibility to his false claim, suggesting an intimate knowledge or direct communication with Judah's God. This is a profound polemic against monotheism and trust in Yahweh. He implies that Yahweh has abandoned Judah or even commanded against them, which directly challenges the core belief in Yahweh as their protector.
"against this place to destroy it?"
- "this place": הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה (hammaqom hazzeh), referring to Jerusalem. It emphasizes the direct target of his supposed divine mission.
- "to destroy it": לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ (lehashḥiṯāh). The infinitive construct "to destroy" carries the weight of the complete devastation intended, implying a divine judgment on Judah. This verb root (שחת - shachat) is often used in scripture for divine judgment leading to ruin.
"The Lord said to me"
- "The Lord": Again, יְהוָה (Yahweh). Rabshakeh doubles down on his deceptive claim, now presenting it as a direct quote.
- "said to me": אָמַר אֵלַי (ʾāmar ʾēlay). This phrase implies a personal, authoritative revelation, attempting to mirror the prophetic experience common in Israel, where God directly "spoke" to His prophets. This is a brazen usurpation of prophetic authority.
"‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’"
- "Go up against this land": עֲלֵה עַל-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת (ʿălēh ʿal-haʾāreṣ hazzot), "Ascend against this land." The imperative verb "Go up" strengthens the claim of a divine command. "This land" (Judah) again emphasizes the target.
- "and destroy it": וְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ (vehashḥiṯāh). Reiterates the destruction, framing it as the direct fulfillment of a divine decree. This sounds eerily similar to commands Yahweh gives to Israel for divine judgment against wicked nations. The psychological impact would be immense, as it plays on their knowledge of divine judgment and previous acts of God in history.
2 Kings 18 25 Bonus section
Rabshakeh's strategy, rooted in ancient near eastern thought, often involved declaring one's deity superior to the opponent's. By specifically naming "Yahweh," Rabshakeh subtly twists this convention, not just proclaiming Assyrian gods superior, but falsely declaring Yahweh to be on their side. This suggests the Assyrians had intelligence about Israelite religious practices, particularly the exclusive devotion to Yahweh Hezekiah had restored (2 Kgs 18:4). This particular verse, along with the surrounding speech, sets up a direct confrontation between the false word of man (Rabshakeh) and the true word of God (spoken through Isaiah), which unfolds in the next chapter and ultimately leads to God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem. This narrative strongly reinforces the theological point that the true God reveals His will and upholds His covenant, despite the most convincing lies propagated by His adversaries.
2 Kings 18 25 Commentary
2 Kings 18:25 records a masterstroke of psychological warfare by the Assyrian Rabshakeh. His assertion of divine authorization by Yahweh himself, the God of Israel, was not merely blasphemy but a shrewd tactic designed to sow fear and despair. By claiming Yahweh had personally commissioned the Assyrians, Rabshakeh intended to undermine the morale of the people, isolate King Hezekiah from his God, and erode any hope of divine intervention. The core of this lie lies in the twisted appropriation of prophetic language. Yahweh did indeed use Assyria as an instrument of judgment against Israel and Judah (e.g., Isa 10:5-7), but never by directly commanding their arrogant and self-serving commander. Assyria acted out of its own imperial ambition, ignorant of being an unconscious tool in God's sovereign plan. Rabshakeh's claim implies either Yahweh is not truly sovereign (thus impotent to protect His people) or He is a God who would abandon and command the destruction of His own chosen nation, contradicting His covenant promises. Hezekiah's response and Isaiah's true prophecy later refute this lie, confirming that God's plan is not aligned with Assyria's self-glorifying ambition but with His own faithful covenant.