2 Kings 19 31

2 Kings 19:31 kjv

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

2 Kings 19:31 nkjv

For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.'

2 Kings 19:31 niv

For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. "The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

2 Kings 19:31 esv

For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD will do this.

2 Kings 19:31 nlt

For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem,
a group of survivors from Mount Zion.
The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven's Armies
will make this happen!

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 31 Meaning

This verse declares a divine promise to King Hezekiah concerning the preservation of Judah amidst the Assyrian threat. It signifies that from Jerusalem, a faithful remnant and those who have escaped persecution will emerge. This remarkable preservation and future flourishing are attributed solely to the passionate and unyielding zeal of the LORD of hosts, emphasizing God's powerful and certain intervention on behalf of His chosen people and city.

2 Kings 19 31 Context

This verse is part of Isaiah's prophetic response to King Hezekiah's desperate prayer during the severe crisis posed by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. Sennacherib had successfully invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities and threatening Jerusalem itself, mocking YHWH and challenging Hezekiah's trust in his God. Hezekiah, in humility, spread Sennacherib's threatening letter before the LORD in the temple and prayed for divine intervention, appealing to God's honor and unique deity. In response, God, through Isaiah, provides an immediate and certain assurance of deliverance, promising the Assyrian retreat and the preservation of Jerusalem. Verse 31 elaborates on why this deliverance will occur, asserting that a people, though reduced to a remnant, will emerge from Jerusalem, empowered by God's own unwavering commitment. The historical setting is circa 701 BCE, during the peak of Assyrian power, which often employed cruel tactics, making divine rescue seem highly improbable. This context highlights the stark contrast between human despair and God's sovereign power and faithfulness.

2 Kings 19 31 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֣י - ki): This conjunction serves as a causal or explanatory particle, indicating that what follows is the reason or explanation for the previous statement—the promise of God's protection for Jerusalem (vv. 29-30) and the cutting short of Sennacherib's reign of terror. It ties the immediate salvation to a deeper divine principle.
• out of Jerusalem (מִירוּשָׁלַ֧יִם - miYerushalayim): "From Jerusalem." The prefix `מִן` (min) means "from," indicating origin or source. Jerusalem is identified as the divinely chosen place of the LORD's dwelling (Ps 132:13), and therefore the center from which divine blessings and salvation originate, even in times of severe threat.
• shall go forth (תֵּצֵ֨א - tetze): Hebrew `יָצָא` (yatza), Qal Imperfect. Signifies a definite future action, a coming forth or emergence. This active verb emphasizes the dynamic process of God bringing forth His preserved people.
• a remnant (שְׁאֵרִ֛ית - she'erit): A noun referring to those who survive or are left over. In prophetic literature, especially in Isaiah, this term carries profound theological weight. It denotes not just survivors, but those preserved by divine grace for a future purpose (e.g., Isa 6:13, Isa 10:20-22). It indicates a continuity of God's covenant people despite judgment.
• and out of Mount Zion (וּפְלֵיטָה֙ מֵהַר־צִיּ֔וֹן - u'peleitah mehar Tzion): "And a refugee/escapee from Mount Zion." `וּפְלֵיטָה` (u'peleitah) is from `פָּלַט` (palat), "to escape," signifying escape, deliverance, or a survivor. It parallels "remnant" (`שְׁאֵרִית`), reinforcing the idea of a miraculous preservation from total destruction. Mount Zion, often synonymous with Jerusalem, specifically refers to the citadel and temple mount, underscoring its spiritual significance as God's holy habitation and the focal point of His covenant.
• escaping (implied in peleita): While the King James Version renders "escaping" explicitly, the Hebrew noun peleita (פְּלֵיטָה) itself refers to the "escaped one" or "survivor," not the act of escaping. This nuance reinforces the outcome of deliverance as God's doing.
• The zeal (קִנְאַ֥ת - qin'at): Construct form of `קִנְאָה` (qin'ah), meaning "zeal," "jealousy," or "ardor." When applied to God, it refers to His intense, unyielding, and protective devotion to His covenant, His people, and His own glory (e.g., Ex 20:5, Isa 42:13). It is not a human flaw but a divine attribute that propels Him to act decisively against anything that threatens His holiness or His relationship with His people.
• of the LORD (יְהוָ֣ה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging nature. His zeal is tied to His identity as the God who makes and keeps promises.
• of hosts (צְבָא֔וֹת - Tzeva'ot): Refers to armies, indicating God's supreme authority over all heavenly and earthly forces (angels, stars, armies, natural elements). This title emphasizes His omnipotence and capacity to execute His will irresistibly.
• shall do this (תַּעֲשֶׂה־זֹּֽאת׃ - ta'aseh zot): `תַּעֲשֶׂה` (ta'aseh), "will do/accomplish," Qal Imperfect from `עָשָׂה` (asah), strongly asserting God's decisive and effective action. `זֹּאת` (zot), "this," points back to the entire promise of preserving the remnant and city. It reiterates that the promised deliverance is not due to human strength or strategic planning, but entirely a divine accomplishment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion escaping: This phrase clearly delineates the specific geographical and theological source of salvation. Jerusalem/Zion, threatened with obliteration, is instead prophesied to be the source of renewed life and the emergence of a divinely preserved people. The parallel terms "remnant" (`שְׁאֵרִית`) and "escaping/survivor" (`וּפְלֵיטָה`) underscore the dire circumstances from which they are delivered, and God's intentional selection of a small group for His purposes, preventing complete destruction.
• The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this: This declaration identifies the sole agent and motivating force behind the seemingly impossible act of preservation. God's "zeal" is His intense, protective, and jealous love for His covenant people and His own honor, motivating Him to decisively act. The title "LORD of hosts" asserts His boundless power and authority over all creation, assuring that He is fully capable of accomplishing what He sets out to do, even against a formidable empire like Assyria. This phrase transforms a desperate human plea into a glorious divine assurance of unstoppable will and power.

2 Kings 19 31 Bonus section

This verse directly contradicts the claims of powerful empires and their deities by asserting the unique and effective sovereignty of YHWH. Sennacherib’s Rabshakeh had boasted that no god could deliver his people from the Assyrian hand (2 Kgs 18:33-35). This prophecy of deliverance, sealed by God's own "zeal," functions as a potent polemic against Assyrian claims of divine superiority and military invincibility. It highlights the principle that God often uses the "remnant" as a channel through which His future plans will unfold, not as an afterthought but as a deliberate part of His covenantal strategy, demonstrating His power through weakness (cf. Zech 4:6). The fulfillment of this promise in 2 Kings 19:35-37 serves as a powerful testament to God's spoken word and His ultimate authority over human kingdoms and armies, directly showing the "zeal of the LORD of hosts" in action.

2 Kings 19 31 Commentary

This verse stands as a powerful declaration of God's sovereign initiative and passionate commitment to His people, specifically at a moment of extreme national peril. It transitions from Hezekiah's desperate prayer to God's firm assurance of deliverance. The emergence of a "remnant" and "escaping ones" from Jerusalem underscores both the severity of the threat (only a fraction survives) and the miraculous nature of their preservation. This is not a human achievement but entirely God's work. The emphatic statement "The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this" is the theological core. God's zeal is not a capricious emotion but an unyielding, resolute determination born of His holy nature and covenant faithfulness to defend His glory and protect His own. It means God passionately cares about His people's plight and will act decisively against any force that opposes His plan or defies His authority, as Sennacherib did. The use of the divine title "LORD of hosts" reinforces God's omnipotence, assuring that His zealous intent will indeed translate into decisive, unchallengeable action, ensuring the promised outcome against all odds.