2 Kings 19 15

2 Kings 19:15 kjv

And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

2 Kings 19:15 nkjv

Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: "O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

2 Kings 19:15 niv

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

2 Kings 19:15 esv

And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: "O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

2 Kings 19:15 nlt

And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 15 Meaning

2 Kings 19:15 presents Hezekiah's desperate prayer to God in the Temple. Faced with the formidable Assyrian threat and Sennacherib's blasphemous demands, Hezekiah appeals to the LORD by affirming His unparalleled identity as the unique God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, who alone is God over all earthly kingdoms because He is the Creator of heaven and earth. This prayer highlights God's sovereignty, universal dominion, and absolute power, establishing the theological foundation for trusting Him in an overwhelming crisis.

2 Kings 19 15 Context

2 Kings Chapter 19 is a pivotal account during the Assyrian invasion of Judah, specifically highlighting the siege of Jerusalem under King Sennacherib. Before verse 15, King Hezekiah had received a threatening letter from Sennacherib, filled with blasphemous boasts against the LORD and belittling the God of Israel compared to the idols of vanquished nations. In response to this existential and theological challenge, Hezekiah goes to the Temple, spreads the letter before the LORD, and offers this heartfelt prayer. The preceding chapters (2 Kings 18-19) describe Rabshakeh's taunts and propaganda designed to undermine Judah's faith and reliance on their God. Hezekiah's prayer thus marks a decisive moment where the king turns not to military strength or diplomacy, but to divine intervention, setting the stage for the miraculous deliverance that follows. This event emphasizes a spiritual battle more than a physical one, highlighting the confrontation between the absolute sovereignty of God and the pride of earthly powers.

2 Kings 19 15 Word analysis

• And Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ - Chizqiyyahu): Meaning "the LORD strengthens." This name itself carries significance as Hezekiah, facing an overwhelming enemy, relies not on his own might but on God's strength, reflecting his character as a king who trusted the LORD amidst crisis (2 Ki 18:5-7).
• prayed (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל - wayyitpallēl): Hebrew from root פָּלַל (palal), meaning to intervene, arbitrate, intercede, to judge oneself. It suggests a deeply earnest act of self-humbling and communication with God, recognizing one's dependence. This emphasizes the vital role of prayer in facing impossible situations and the King's personal, desperate appeal.
• before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - liphnē Yahweh): Signifies the presence of God, emphasizing a reverent, direct encounter with the divine. Hezekiah went to the Temple (2 Ki 19:1), where God's presence was symbolically localized. This phrase signifies more than a physical location; it denotes sincerity and humility in presenting one's case directly to the Almighty.
• and said, “O LORD (וַיֹּאמַר יְהוָה - wayyo'mar Yahweh): The sacred covenant name for God, Yahweh, emphasizes His personal, revealed character and His active presence in the history of His people. Hezekiah addresses God in His unique and covenantal relationship with Israel, invoking His divine power and faithfulness.
• God of Israel, (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - Elohei Yisrael): Declares God's specific relationship with Israel as His chosen people, reinforcing the covenant bond. This title directly confronts Sennacherib's claims that YHWH is just another regional deity like those of other nations conquered by Assyria. It is a bold affirmation of national identity rooted in God.
• who are enthroned (יֹשֵׁב - yoshev): Hebrew participle meaning "sitting, dwelling, inhabiting." It portrays God as reigning, active, and present. It signifies stable rule and ultimate authority, in contrast to the transient power of human kings.
• above the cherubim, (הַכְּרֻבִים - hak'kĕrubim): Refers to the angelic beings whose wings formed the throne of God's presence, specifically above the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place (Exod 25:22; 1 Sam 4:4). This signifies God's transcendence, holiness, and supreme sovereignty over all created beings and powers, including those threatening Judah. It's a polemic against any notion that God is limited to earthly temples or geography. It also reflects imagery from later prophetic visions (Ezek 1, 10).
• You are the God, (אַתָּה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים - attah hu ha'elohim): Literally, "You, He the God." A strong declaration emphasizing God's unique and exclusive deity. This is an emphatic affirmation, separating the LORD from all other purported gods.
• You alone, (לְבַדֶּךָ - levaddeka): Underlines God's singularity and unrivaled status as the only true divine being. This is a direct, sharp theological rebuke to the Assyrian worldview of polytheism and imperial pride that claimed their gods had defeated the gods of other nations. Hezekiah states there are no other gods, only Yahweh.
• of all the kingdoms of the earth; (כָּל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ - kol mamlekoth ha'arets): Declares God's universal dominion. He is not merely the God of Israel but reigns over all nations and their rulers, even over mighty Assyria and its boastful king. This affirms God's macro-historical control over empires, challenging Sennacherib's claims of supreme earthly power.
• You have made heaven and earth. (עָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ - asitha et hashshamayim ve'et ha'arets): A foundational theological statement, linking God's sovereignty to His role as Creator. Because God created everything, He possesses ultimate power and authority over all creation, including the natural order, human events, and the rise and fall of nations. This grounds His omnipotence and serves as the ultimate basis for hope and intervention. It directly refutes the pagan gods tied to specific regions or elements.

2 Kings 19 15 Bonus section

The positioning of God "above the cherubim" has rich theological significance. While historically referring to the Ark of the Covenant in the Jerusalem Temple's Most Holy Place (implying the LORD's immanent presence among His people), it also conveys transcendence. God is enthroned on high, beyond human limitations and even beyond the most sacred objects or places, asserting His sovereign rule over creation itself. This cosmic kingship is vital to Hezekiah's plea because it reminds him, and subsequently the reader, that the true God is not like the limited, territorial gods of Assyria and other nations, whom Sennacherib boasted of conquering. It implies that if God is the Creator of all and reigns over even heavenly beings, then no earthly army, no matter how mighty, can challenge His ultimate authority. This aspect elevates Hezekiah's prayer from a mere lament to a confession of absolute monotheism in the face of polytheistic and imperial challenges, reflecting Israel's unique understanding of YHWH.

2 Kings 19 15 Commentary

Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 19:15 is a profound theological statement wrapped in a desperate plea. It serves as a model of how to approach God in the face of overwhelming odds: not by enumerating the problems first, but by establishing God's character and attributes as the basis for the petition. Hezekiah begins by identifying God not merely as "the God of Israel," but emphatically as the only God, whose throne above the cherubim signifies absolute transcendence and control over all realms. He extends this acknowledgment to God's universal dominion over "all the kingdoms of the earth," directly challenging Sennacherib's claim of unassailable power. The ultimate declaration, "You have made heaven and earth," encapsulates God's omnipotence and authority over creation itself, making any earthly power minuscule in comparison. This prayer is thus not just about national deliverance but a fierce defense of God's honor and unique deity against a world filled with idolatry and human arrogance, demonstrating that true security lies solely in recognizing and relying on God's limitless power and singular sovereignty.