2 Kings 19:19 kjv
Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.
2 Kings 19:19 nkjv
Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone."
2 Kings 19:19 niv
Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God."
2 Kings 19:19 esv
So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone."
2 Kings 19:19 nlt
Now, O LORD our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O LORD, are God."
2 Kings 19 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:35 | To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him. | God's uniqueness revealed for knowledge. |
| Deut 6:4 | Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! | Affirmation of God's oneness. |
| 1 Sam 2:2 | There is none holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. | God's peerless nature. |
| Ps 83:18 | That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth. | Nations to know God's unique sovereignty. |
| Isa 44:6 | "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel... I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God." | God's absolute exclusivity. |
| Isa 45:5 | "I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me." | Further declaration of sole deity. |
| Isa 45:6 | That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me... | God's self-revelation to the whole world. |
| Isa 52:10 | The Lord has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth Shall see the salvation of our God. | All nations witness God's salvation. |
| Jer 10:10 | But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. | Contrast to false idols. |
| Joel 2:27 | Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. | Israel's experiential knowledge of God's uniqueness. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be "The Lord is one," And His name one. | Future universal acknowledgment of God's oneness. |
| Hab 2:14 | For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea. | Global knowledge of God's glory. |
| Jn 17:3 | And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. | Knowledge of the one true God is eternal life. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | There is no other God but one. | Paul's reaffirmation of monotheism. |
| Ex 9:16 | But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. | God reveals His power to make His name known universally. |
| Ex 14:4 | Then I will gain honor over Pharaoh... and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. | God's self-revelation through judgment/deliverance. |
| Josh 4:24 | That all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty... | God's power made known through mighty acts. |
| Ps 9:16 | The Lord is known by the judgment He executes... | God is revealed through His justice. |
| Ezek 36:23 | Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord. | Nations know God through Israel's restoration. |
| Ezek 38:23 | Thus I will magnify Myself... and all nations shall know that I am the Lord. | God's glory displayed for all nations. |
| Acts 4:12 | Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven... by which we must be saved. | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ, mirroring God's uniqueness. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God also has highly exalted Him... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess... to the glory of God the Father. | Ultimate universal recognition of Christ's sovereignty, glorifying God. |
2 Kings 19 verses
2 Kings 19 19 Meaning
King Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 19:19 is a humble and desperate plea to the Lord God for deliverance from the mighty Assyrian army, specifically from King Sennacherib's threat. The prayer's primary motivation transcends mere personal or national safety; it seeks divine intervention for the explicit purpose that all the nations of the earth would come to know and acknowledge that the Lord God of Israel is the one and only true God. It is a bold declaration of God's singular sovereignty and a request for His self-revelation through powerful action.
2 Kings 19 19 Context
This verse is at the height of Assyrian King Sennacherib's campaign against Judah (circa 701 BCE). Hezekiah, King of Judah, has been subjected to immense pressure, psychological warfare through blasphemous taunts from Sennacherib's field commander (the Rabshakeh), and letters mocking Yahweh and boasting of the Assyrian gods' superior power over all other nations' deities. Hezekiah's kingdom is on the brink of destruction. Faced with an impossible military situation, Hezekiah brings Sennacherib's letter into the temple and spreads it before the Lord, turning to fervent prayer. His prayer immediately precedes God's miraculous intervention, where the angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (2 Kgs 19:35). The historical context underscores the stark contrast between human military might and divine sovereignty, and Israel's unique monotheistic belief system against the polytheistic and imperialistic claims of Assyria.
2 Kings 19 19 Word analysis
- Now therefore,: Ve'atta ken (וְעַתָּה כֵּן֙). This phrase serves as a transition from the immediate crisis (the threat) and Hezekiah's deep distress, setting the stage for a plea. It signals the logical culmination of his preceding actions (spreading the letter before God).
- O Lord: YHWH (יְהוָ֣ה). This is the personal, covenantal name of God, indicating His self-existent, eternal, and faithful nature. Hezekiah addresses God by His most intimate and powerful name, acknowledging His personal relationship with Israel.
- our God: Eloheinu (אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ). Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a generic term for God, but with the suffix '-einu' (our), it emphasizes the specific relationship between the covenant God and His people, Judah. This signifies their rightful appeal to Him as their Protector and Redeemer.
- I pray: Implied in the earnest tone and the following request. Hezekiah presents his petition not as a demand, but as a supplication to the Almighty.
- save us: Hoshea'nu (הוֹשִׁיעֵ֙נוּ֙). A strong imperative for deliverance. It's a plea for rescue, implying they cannot save themselves and only God has the power. The urgency reflects the dire situation.
- from his hand: Mikkappo (מִכַּפֹּ֔ו). "Hand" (Hebrew: yad or kaph for "palm of hand") is a common biblical idiom representing power, authority, control, or agency. Here, "his hand" refers to Sennacherib's devastating power and intent to destroy Judah.
- that all the kingdoms of the earth: Umlakhoth ha'aretz (וּמַמְלְכ֥וֹת הָאָ֖רֶץ). This phrase broadens the scope of Hezekiah's prayer beyond Judah's immediate survival. It indicates a cosmic ambition for God's glory to be seen universally. This implies the polytheistic nations, particularly Assyria, and their kings who scoffed at Yahweh.
- may know: Yed'u (יֵֽדְע֑וּ). This is not mere intellectual acknowledgment but experiential, living knowledge and recognition, often leading to worship or fear. The ultimate goal of God's action is for His universal recognition.
- that you, O Lord, are God alone: Ki attah YHWH El levadekhah (כִּי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃). This is the theological climax of the prayer and the entire chapter. It is a polemic statement directly challenging the polytheistic claims of Assyria.
- that you, O Lord: Reinforces the specific identity of the God being addressed – Yahweh, the covenant God.
- are God: Ha'Elohim (הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים) with the definite article, asserting God as THE God, unique and incomparable.
- alone: Levadekhah (לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃). This crucial term emphasizes God's singularity, sole deity, and exclusive claim to divinity. It contrasts sharply with the polytheistic pantheons of the ancient world and forms the core of biblical monotheism.
2 Kings 19 19 Bonus section
This prayer reflects a prophetic understanding that God's plan extends beyond Israel to encompass all nations. Hezekiah's plea for global recognition of Yahweh's unique deity aligns with broader biblical themes of God revealing Himself to the ends of the earth. It is not an egoistic demand for attention but a revelation of God's character through a public demonstration of power, which served to establish a lasting testimony to His absolute sovereignty. This verse highlights the tension between the geopolitical realities of human empires and the eternal truth of God's supreme authority, where divine intervention often serves as the undeniable proof. The event that follows provides a vivid example of God protecting His covenant people and His own Name, just as Hezekiah requested.
2 Kings 19 19 Commentary
Hezekiah's prayer is a masterclass in theological conviction and proper petition. It moves beyond self-preservation to seek God's vindication and universal glory. Faced with Sennacherib's taunts which directly blasphemed Yahweh by comparing Him to the impotent gods of other conquered nations, Hezekiah's response is not a military strategy but a deep spiritual one. His prayer hinges on the core belief that Yahweh is utterly unique and alone truly God, an implicit and explicit polemic against the polytheism of the Assyrians. The king understands that Israel's fate is intrinsically linked to God's reputation in the eyes of the nations. God's miraculous deliverance (v. 35-37) is therefore not just for Judah's salvation, but for His name's sake, proving to "all the kingdoms of the earth" that there is no God like Him. It provides a model for prayer that prioritizes God's glory over personal comfort, and that, even in desperate situations, finds its basis in His unchanging character as the One True God.