2 Kings 19 26

2 Kings 19:26 kjv

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

2 Kings 19:26 nkjv

Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown.

2 Kings 19:26 niv

Their people, drained of power, are dismayed and put to shame. They are like plants in the field, like tender green shoots, like grass sprouting on the roof, scorched before it grows up.

2 Kings 19:26 esv

while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.

2 Kings 19:26 nlt

That is why their people have so little power
and are so frightened and confused.
They are as weak as grass,
as easily trampled as tender green shoots.
They are like grass sprouting on a housetop,
scorched before it can grow lush and tall.

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 26 Meaning

Second Kings 19:26 pronounces the complete impotence and inevitable destruction of Sennacherib's formidable Assyrian army. Through the prophet Isaiah, God declares that the strength and prowess of those who challenged Him were ultimately negligible, akin to fading vegetation. Their boastful might was to be swiftly diminished, causing them confusion and humiliation. The verse emphasizes the absolute certainty and effortless nature of God's judgment, reducing the greatest human military power to something inherently fragile, temporary, and utterly unproductive.

2 Kings 19 26 Context

Second Kings 19 recounts the Assyrian invasion of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, had conquered many nations and now surrounded Jerusalem, sending blasphemous messages to Hezekiah, ridiculing the God of Israel and urging surrender. Overwhelmed, Hezekiah presented Sennacherib's letter before the LORD in the Temple, praying for deliverance and for God's name to be vindicated against the arrogant Assyrians who challenged Him as if He were merely another idol.

Verse 26 is part of God's direct, prophetic response to Hezekiah through Isaiah. It immediately follows God's stern rebuke of Sennacherib's insolent pride and blasphemy (vv. 21-25), asserting that Sennacherib's perceived might and past conquests were merely instruments in God's hands. The verse predicts the precise state of Sennacherib's forces: rendered weak, demoralized, and ultimately annihilated, setting the stage for the miraculous intervention that results in the destruction of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (v. 35) and Sennacherib's retreat and later assassination. The cultural context highlights the immense fear and prestige associated with the Assyrian war machine, against which God's word is an audacious and powerful counter-declaration. It's a direct polemic against the notion that any human power, no matter how great, can stand against the Almighty God of Israel.

2 Kings 19 26 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵ֚ן, lakhen): Signals a logical consequence or a declaration following what has been stated. Here, it introduces the outcome of Sennacherib's blasphemous arrogance and the inherent pride of his kingdom. It means "for this reason" or "so it is that."
• their inhabitants (יֹשְׁבֵיהֶ֔ן, yosheveihen): Literally "their dwellers" or "their inhabitants." In this context, it refers to the people associated with Sennacherib's power, specifically his army, who were pressing against Judah and had challenged the LORD. It encompasses the soldiers, their might, and the strength of their empire.
• were of small power (קְלַ֣ל יָ֔ד, qelal yad): A literal translation from Hebrew means "light of hand" or "short of hand." This idiomatic expression signifies weakness, helplessness, inadequacy, or inability to perform a task or achieve victory. It indicates their effective power had become negligible.
• they were dismayed (חַ֣תּוּ, chattu): Derived from a root meaning "to be terrified," "broken," or "dismayed." It speaks of a sudden loss of courage, an experience of terror that paralyzes and strips away their fighting spirit, replacing confidence with fear.
• and confounded (וּבוֹשׁ֔וּ, uvoshu): Means "ashamed," "put to shame," "disgraced," or "confused." This signifies not just psychological disarray but also public humiliation and the utter failure of their boasts and schemes, bringing about deep internal embarrassment.
• they were as the grass of the field (חֲצִ֣יר שָׂדֶ֗ה, hatsir sadeh): This simile highlights extreme fragility, transience, and commonness. Grass withers quickly, especially in the harsh dry conditions of the ancient Near East. It's easily destroyed and represents something that offers no real obstacle or enduring power.
• and as the green herb (יֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֗שֶׁא, yereq deshe): Further emphasizes the vulnerability. "Green herb" or "tender grass" quickly sprouts and seems vibrant but lacks depth and permanence, soon fading away under stress. This underlines the quick rise and quicker fall of their strength.
• as the grass on the housetops (חֲצִ֖יר גַּגּ֥וֹת, hatsir gaggot): This imagery denotes an even greater degree of uselessness and rapid perishing. Grass on flat clay rooftops (common in that region) sprouts quickly from thin soil or dust but withers almost immediately due to lack of roots, moisture, and substance. It's short-lived, without foundation, and of no productive value, illustrating a power destined for rapid and absolute desiccation.
• and as corn blasted before it be grown up (וּשְׁדֵפָ֥ה לִפְנֵי קָמָֽה, ushedefa lifnei qama): Refers to grain that has been scorched or blighted by the sun or east wind (a metaphor for divine judgment) before it has ripened or reached its full height for harvest. This signifies a complete loss of potential, utterly worthless. Their power isn't just weakened, it's rendered completely sterile and unfruitful before it can even come to full fruition in their boastful conquest, preempting any possibility of success.

Words-group analysis:

• "their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded": This grouping depicts the internal state and military effectiveness of the Assyrian army. It moves from outward incapacitation ("small power") to inner turmoil ("dismayed") and finally public disgrace ("confounded"), encapsulating their predicted mental and strategic collapse.
• "they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up": This powerful succession of agricultural similes represents a progression of increasing vulnerability, transience, and futility.
  • Grass of the field/green herb: General perishability of life and human power.
  • Grass on the housetops: Highlights a power that springs up easily but has no depth, root, or enduring sustenance, thus withering swiftly and entirely.
  • Corn blasted before it be grown up: This is the climactic simile, signifying the most profound defeat – not merely perishing, but being utterly destroyed before reaching any intended purpose or maturity, implying God's pre-emptive judgment rendering their entire venture abortive. This speaks to the total prevention of their designs against Jerusalem.

2 Kings 19 26 Bonus section

The Hebrew word shādēphāh (שְׁדֵפָה), translated as "blasted" or "scorched," is particularly poignant. It's often associated with the hot, dry east wind (e.g., qadîm) which in biblical imagery can represent divine judgment that withers crops and brings desolation. This connection suggests that the destruction of the Assyrian army was not merely an event, but a direct act of God's 'blasting' power, fulfilling His prophetic word precisely and suddenly. This imagery strongly reinforces the idea that the Assyrian might, no matter how cultivated and extensive, would shrivel away due to a divinely orchestrated 'blight', having no internal strength to resist the ultimate Husbandman's will. The prophetic words of God here lay the groundwork for the immediate and miraculous intervention detailed just a few verses later, showcasing a profound example of word-for-word fulfillment of prophecy.

2 Kings 19 26 Commentary

Second Kings 19:26 provides a powerful prophetic declaration, not merely of defeat, but of absolute invalidation and humiliation for the mighty Assyrian army. The passage reveals God's utter contempt for human pride that sets itself against His divine sovereignty. Sennacherib's military might, which had terrorized nations, is reduced in God's sight to something inherently worthless and transient.

The multi-layered imagery, moving from field grass to rooftop grass and then to blighted grain, serves to underscore a escalating sense of utter uselessness and aborted potential. It’s not just about eventual failure, but a profound judgment that renders their power fundamentally flimsy, prone to instant collapse without ever achieving its grand intentions. The progression shows a power that is:

1. Fleeting (grass of the field/green herb): easily withers.
2. Without foundation (grass on the housetops): springs up but has no root, quickly perishes.
3. Aborted before maturity (blasted corn): utterly destroyed before fulfilling its purpose, meaning their plans against Jerusalem were thwarted even before they could reach a meaningful conclusion.

This verse therefore prophesies not just a military setback but a divine pre-emptive strike that demonstrates God's effortless power to neutralize the most formidable human boasts and efforts, rendering them futile and ashamed. It confirms that the Lord alone holds true power and will defend His name and His people against any challenge. This truth offers comfort and assurance to believers today: no force or opposition is strong enough to prevail when God stands for His own.