2 Kings 18:7 kjv
And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
2 Kings 18:7 nkjv
The LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
2 Kings 18:7 niv
And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
2 Kings 18:7 esv
And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.
2 Kings 18:7 nlt
So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.
2 Kings 18 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 39:2-3 | The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a prosperous man... the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. | God's presence brings prosperity to Joseph. |
| Deut 28:1-2, 6 | If you obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these blessings shall come upon you... Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed when you go out. | Obedience to God leads to prosperity. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law... for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success. | Diligent obedience to God's law ensures success. |
| Judg 6:12 | And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor." | God's presence empowers one for difficult tasks. |
| 1 Sam 18:12, 14 | Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him... David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. | God's presence leads to David's success and causes fear in his enemies. |
| 2 Sam 5:10 | And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him. | God's presence leads to David's growing strength. |
| 1 Chr 17:8 | I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you... | God's constant presence and help in battles. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Trusting God over human might. |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way. | God guides and establishes the path of the righteous. |
| Ps 44:6-7 | For not by my bow do I save, nor does my sword give me victory; but you save us from our foes... | Deliverance comes from God, not human weapons. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. The war horse is provided for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. | God's sovereignty over human plans and military strength. |
| Isa 30:15 | For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." | Trusting God's provision for salvation and strength. |
| Isa 31:1-3 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses... But he also is wise and brings disaster... The Egyptian is man, and not God... | Warning against relying on human alliances over God. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | God's work is done by His Spirit, not human strength. |
| Mt 28:20 | I am with you always, to the end of the age. | Christ's promise of continuous presence to believers. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's divine backing makes enemies powerless. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises... gained strength in weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. | Examples of faith leading to victories over adversaries. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | Believers are God's unique people, empowered by Him. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Submission to God precedes effective resistance. |
| 1 Jn 4:4 | Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. | The indwelling Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome worldly opposition. |
2 Kings 18 verses
2 Kings 18 7 Meaning
This verse declares that the LORD God was intimately present with King Hezekiah of Judah, leading to his consistent success in all his undertakings. Furthermore, this divine support emboldened Hezekiah to break free from the suzerainty of the king of Assyria, refusing to pay tribute and serve him, a direct challenge to the dominant world power of his time. It signifies Hezekiah's trust in God, demonstrated through obedience and courageous action, rather than relying on human alliances or strength.
2 Kings 18 7 Context
Chapter 18 of 2 Kings introduces Hezekiah's reign, marking a significant departure from the wickedness of his father, Ahaz. Verse 3 immediately establishes Hezekiah as a righteous king who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done." This sets the stage for his remarkable actions described in the preceding verses, specifically his reforms against idolatry, including breaking the bronze serpent (Nehushtan) that Moses had made, which had become an object of worship (vv. 4-6). Verse 5 emphasizes Hezekiah's unparalleled trust in the LORD among all the kings of Judah. It is within this immediate context of Hezekiah's fervent faith and radical religious purity that verse 7 then articulates the divine blessing of God's presence and consequent success. Historically, Judah was a vassal state to the powerful Assyrian Empire, having been forced into submission by King Tiglath-Pileser III. To rebel against Assyria was an act of extreme courage, an act almost unthinkable without profound divine assurance and intervention. This defiance marked a theological polemic against the regional deities and the presumed invincibility of Assyrian might, affirming the supremacy and active power of the LORD God.
2 Kings 18 7 Word analysis
And the LORD: (
וַיהְוָה-vayh-wh).וְ(Vav) means "and."יְהוָה(YHWH - "Yahweh") is the proper name of the covenant God of Israel. Its use here signifies God's personal, active involvement and faithfulness to His covenant people. It is the same God Hezekiah put his trust in.was with him: (
הָיָה עִמּוֹ-haya immo).הָיָה(haya) means "was, became."עִמּוֹ(immo) means "with him." This phrase denotes God's active, supportive presence, guidance, and favor. It is not a passive proximity but an enabling, empowering partnership. It points to divine blessing and enablement.and he prospered: (
וַיַּצְלַח-vayyatslach).וַיַּצְלַחcomes from the rootצָלַח(tsalach), meaning "to succeed, prosper, advance, be fortunate." It suggests that success was a direct result of God's presence, implying divinely-orchestrated outcomes rather than mere human skill or fortune. This prosperity extends to all aspects of Hezekiah's life and reign.wherever he went: (
לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא-l'khol asher yetze).לְכֹל(l'khol) means "in everything" or "wherever."אֲשֶׁר(asher) means "that" or "which."יֵצֵא(yetze) means "he went out." This highlights the comprehensiveness of Hezekiah's success, implying God's guidance and blessing permeated every endeavor, internal or external, military or administrative.And he rebelled: (
וַיִּמְרֹד-vayyimrod).וַיִּמְרֹדcomes from the rootמָרַד(marad), meaning "to rebel, revolt." In this context, it signifies the act of breaking a vassal treaty or allegiance, refusing to pay tribute or serve. It was a defiant, risky political act. For Hezekiah, it was an act of faith, showing reliance on God rather than human pacts.against the king of Assyria: (
בְּמֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר-b'melekh Ashur).בְּ(b') "against" (here used in opposition).מֶלֶךְ(melekh) "king."אַשּׁוּר(Ashur) "Assyria," the dominant Mesopotamian empire of the era, known for its brutal military might and oppressive conquests. This phrase emphasizes the formidable nature of the enemy against whom Hezekiah dared to rebel, underlining the extraordinary nature of his act.and would not serve him: (
וְלֹא עֲבָדוֹ-v'lo avado).וְלֹא(v'lo) "and not."עֲבָדוֹ(avado) fromעָבַד(avad) "to serve, to work, to be enslaved." This is a clear refusal of servitude, tribute payment, and vassalage. It marks a decisive break from foreign political domination and reaffirms the sole sovereignty of the LORD over Judah.
2 Kings 18 7 Bonus section
This verse contains an implicit polemic against the reliance on political alliances or the supposed invincibility of human empires, themes seen often in the prophetic books concerning Judah and Israel (e.g., Isa 30-31). Hezekiah's rebellion, enabled by God's presence, counters the narrative that small nations must passively submit to overwhelming imperial power. His act was a declaration of theological sovereignty, asserting that the God of Israel was supreme, even over the great King of Assyria, and able to deliver His faithful people from the strongest human oppression. This demonstrates the spiritual principle that trust in the LORD frees one from human fear and servitude.
2 Kings 18 7 Commentary
2 Kings 18:7 succinctly attributes Hezekiah's universal prosperity and audacious rebellion against Assyria directly to the active presence of the LORD. His spiritual reforms (cleansing the temple, destroying idols) and his unique trust in God, highlighted in the preceding verses, laid the foundation for this divine favor. The phrase "the LORD was with him" encapsulates the source of all success, echoing biblical themes where God's active presence is the true determinant of a person's fortune and strength, not human prowess or alliances. This presence transformed a typically vulnerable king of a small state into an agent of defiance against the mightiest empire of the time. The rebellion against Assyria, an act that would normally invite swift and devastating retribution, here becomes a testament to Hezekiah's radical faith that God would vindicate his trust. It sets a theological example: true national security and individual well-being stem from unwavering devotion and dependence on God alone, rather than diplomatic maneuvering or military might, ultimately providing a direct contrast to his father Ahaz's reliance on Assyria (2 Kings 16).