2 Kings 19:30 kjv
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
2 Kings 19:30 nkjv
And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.
2 Kings 19:30 niv
Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.
2 Kings 19:30 esv
And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.
2 Kings 19:30 nlt
And you who are left in Judah,
who have escaped the ravages of the siege,
will put roots down in your own soil
and will grow up and flourish.
2 Kings 19 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 37:31 | "And the remnant of the house of Judah... take root... and bear fruit..." | Direct parallel to 2 Ki 19:30; identical promise. |
| Ps 1:3 | "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither..." | Metaphor of a deeply rooted, fruitful person/nation blessed by God. |
| Jer 17:8 | "He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes..." | Emphasizes roots for resilience in adversity, leading to continuous fruitfulness. |
| Hos 14:5 | "I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon." | God's revitalization causes deep rooting and flourishing. |
| Hos 14:8 | "Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do with idols?'... I am like a green cypress tree; from me comes your fruit." | God is the source of Israel's spiritual fruitfulness. |
| Job 14:7-9 | "For there is hope for a tree... that it will sprout again... Its root may grow old in the earth... but at the scent of water it will bud..." | Hope for renewal and new life even from seemingly dead roots. |
| Isa 10:20-22 | "A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God... a remnant of them will be saved." | Highlights the "remnant" as a preserved portion by divine grace. |
| Isa 6:13 | "And though a tenth remain in it, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave a stump... so the holy seed is its stump." | God preserves a core 'holy seed' that will sprout again. |
| Rom 9:27 | "Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved...'" | New Testament affirmation of the remnant doctrine. |
| Rom 11:5 | "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace." | God's sovereign selection and preservation of a people. |
| Gen 45:7 | "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth..." | God's active preservation of a remnant through Joseph for future continuity. |
| Mic 4:7 | "And I will make the lame a remnant, and those who were driven away a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion..." | The remnant transformed and elevated to strength. |
| Eze 36:36 | "Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt what was overthrown, and planted what was desolate." | God's powerful restoration demonstrated to all nations. |
| Jer 24:6 | "I will build them up and not pull them down; I will plant them and not pluck them up." | Direct contrast to being uprooted, affirming divine planting. |
| Isa 27:6 | "In days to come Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit." | Future flourishing of Israel, encompassing global blessing. |
| Isa 61:3 | "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified." | Those restored are seen as God's deliberate and glorious planting. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind..." | Underscores the faithfulness and certainty of God's promises. |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's spoken word of promise is effective and will come to pass. |
| Jn 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit..." | New Testament spiritual application of fruitfulness through connection to Christ. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..." | Defines spiritual "fruit" as the character produced by God's Spirit. |
| Rom 11:17-18 | "If some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others... partook of the root and richness of the olive tree..." | Metaphor of Gentile inclusion into Israel's spiritual root/heritage. |
| Lk 8:15 | "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." | Bearing fruit as a result of hearing and obeying God's word. |
2 Kings 19 verses
2 Kings 19 30 Meaning
2 Kings 19:30 delivers a powerful prophecy from the Lord through Isaiah to King Hezekiah amidst the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. It promises a complete and enduring restoration for the surviving remnant of Judah. Despite their near annihilation, this verse declares they will be deeply established once more, gaining security and stability, and consequently, flourish and prosper, evidencing God's blessing and continued covenant faithfulness. It is a promise of life, growth, and renewed strength following extreme devastation.
2 Kings 19 30 Context
2 Kings 19:30 is part of God's direct response to King Hezekiah's desperate prayer during the existential threat posed by the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Assyria, the dominant power of the time, had already conquered most of the surrounding nations and nearly all of Judah's fortified cities, leaving only Jerusalem beleaguered and on the brink of collapse. Sennacherib sent a blasphemous message, challenging the Lord's power to save Jerusalem, comparing Him to the defeated gods of other nations. Hezekiah, in deep distress and humility, sought the Lord's intervention through the prophet Isaiah. The prophecy in verse 30, following verse 29's sign of survival, offers an assurance that the current catastrophe would not be the end for Judah but rather a moment of profound divine intervention, preserving them and establishing them deeply in the land once more.
Historically and culturally, this declaration directly opposed the Assyrian strategy of mass deportation and eradication of national identity. Assyrian power boasted of its ability to uproot and resettle peoples, breaking their connection to their land and gods. Yahweh's promise, using powerful agricultural metaphors, polemically asserted His supreme power over their 'unplanting' tactics, demonstrating that He alone truly plants and uproots nations according to His divine will.
2 Kings 19 30 Word analysis
- And the remnant (וְשֵׁאֵרִית - vəšeʾerit):
- Remnant (שְׁאֵרִית - sheʾerit): Refers to a small, surviving portion, particularly those who remain after a divine judgment or national calamity. It signifies God's preservation and continuation of His covenantal purposes despite apparent destruction. This chosen portion ensures the future of God's people.
- that is escaped (הַפְּלֵטָה - happeleṭah):
- Escaped (פְּלֵטָה - peleṭah): Implies survival through rescue, particularly from danger or death. It underscores the miraculous nature of Judah's preservation, not through their own strength, but by divine deliverance, distinguishing them from those who perished.
- of the house of Judah (בֵּית יְהוּדָה - beit Yehudah):
- House of Judah (בֵּית יְהוּדָה - beit Yehudah): Refers specifically to the southern kingdom of Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital, tracing its lineage back to the tribe of Judah and the Davidic dynasty. It emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant with this particular people group, despite their weakened state.
- shall yet again (עוֹד - ʿôḏ):
- Yet again (עוֹד - ʿôḏ): This adverb signifies repetition, return, or continuation. It powerfully suggests a restoration to a former state of blessing, perhaps even exceeding it, indicating a reversal of fortune and a prolonged period of renewal. It underscores the certainty of future growth.
- take root downward (שֹׁרֶשׁ לְמַטָּה - shōreš ləmaṭtah):
- Take root (שֹׁרֶשׁ - shōreš): Root signifies foundation, stability, security, and the source of life. A deeply rooted plant withstands storms and flourishes.
- Downward (לְמַטָּה - ləmaṭtah): Emphasizes the depth and security of the rooting. This is not a shallow or temporary growth, but a profound and firm establishment, implying internal strength and resilience against external threats. It counters the Assyrian boasts of uprooting.
- and bear fruit upward (וְעָשָׂה פְרִי לְמַעְלָה - vəʿāśāh pərî ləmaʿlāh):
- Bear fruit (עָשָׂה פְרִי - ʿāśāh pərî): "To make/do fruit." Fruit symbolizes prosperity, productivity, growth, abundance, offspring, and the tangible manifestation of life and blessing. It is the visible evidence of health and vitality.
- Upward (לְמַעְלָה - ləmaʿlāh): Points to visible manifestation, growth towards the heavens, and divine recognition or blessing. This fruitfulness will be evident and flourishing, indicating God's favor and fulfilling of His purposes. The entire phrase represents external prosperity springing from internal security.
2 Kings 19 30 Bonus section
- The structure of the phrase "take root downward, and bear fruit upward" is a beautiful poetic parallelism (chiasm) that emphasizes the completeness and natural progression of divine blessing. Stability (rooting) naturally leads to productivity (fruit-bearing).
- This promise points to a continued physical presence of God's covenant people in their land, challenging any notion that Assyrian conquest could irrevocably destroy them or their relationship with Yahweh. It assures a lineage for the future, a key aspect given the promises to Abraham and David.
- The promise also has long-term implications for the Messianic line, ensuring the continuity of the Davidic dynasty from which the Messiah would come, as Judah's "house" would "take root" and "bear fruit." This preservation was crucial for the unfolding of God's plan of salvation.
2 Kings 19 30 Commentary
2 Kings 19:30 is a prophetic gem, embodying divine promise in a time of overwhelming crisis. It directly counters the despair that threatened Hezekiah and Judah, proclaiming Yahweh's unwavering commitment to His people. The botanical imagery of 'taking root downward' and 'bearing fruit upward' provides a rich, organic metaphor for national restoration and covenant fulfillment. 'Taking root downward' signifies not just survival, but deep-seated stability, resilience, and an assured future, implying that God would re-establish Judah with enduring strength from within, unshakeable by foreign powers. This deep grounding symbolizes their security in God's faithfulness. 'Bearing fruit upward' denotes visible prosperity, productivity, growth, and flourishing that extends outwards and upwards, clearly displaying God's blessing and purpose being actualized.
This verse is a profound statement of God's sovereignty over life, nations, and destiny, a direct polemic against Assyria's claims of invincibility and their gods. While Assyria's boast was to uproot nations, Yahweh declares He will root His people firmly. It confirms that Judah's future rests not on political alliances or military strength, but on God's unwavering promise. This passage serves as a reminder that God can bring deep, sustainable life and flourishing even from seemingly desolate conditions, fulfilling His word despite all human odds. It encourages enduring faith in His power to preserve and restore, establishing His covenant purposes beyond any present threat.