2 Kings 19:32 kjv
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2 Kings 19:32 nkjv
"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.
2 Kings 19:32 niv
"Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: "?'He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it.
2 Kings 19:32 esv
"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it.
2 Kings 19:32 nlt
"And this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: "His armies will not enter Jerusalem.
They will not even shoot an arrow at it.
They will not march outside its gates with their shields
nor build banks of earth against its walls.
2 Kings 19 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 19:33 | "By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and into this city..." | Divine judgment, route of retreat. |
| 2 Kgs 19:34 | "For I will defend this city to save it, for My own sake and for My servant David's sake." | God's protection of Zion, covenant with David. |
| 2 Kgs 19:35 | "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out..." | Immediate fulfillment, divine intervention. |
| Isa 37:33 | "Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come..." | Parallel account, identical prophecy. |
| Isa 31:4-5 | "...so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion... he will pass over..." | God protecting Jerusalem like hovering birds. |
| Ps 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." | God as protector and deliverer. |
| Ps 48:8 | "As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever." | God's enduring protection of His city. |
| Ps 125:1-2 | "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved... Jerusalem is surrounded..." | Security for those who trust God, city's protection. |
| Ps 76:3 | "There He broke the flaming arrows, the shield and the sword and the battle." | God breaking enemy weapons and power. |
| Ps 76:6 | "At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep." | Divine power neutralizing military might. |
| Ps 105:14-15 | "He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes..." | God protects His chosen people and servants. |
| Isa 14:24 | "The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, 'Surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass...'" | God's unchangeable purpose and decree. |
| Isa 14:26-27 | "This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth... For the Lord of hosts has purposed..." | God's unstoppable sovereign plan. |
| Zech 2:5 | "‘For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’" | God as ultimate divine protector for Jerusalem. |
| Exod 14:14 | "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." | God's promise to fight for His people. |
| Deut 20:4 | "for the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." | God fighting on behalf of Israel. |
| Prov 21:30 | "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord." | Futility of human plans against God's will. |
| 2 Chr 32:21 | "Then the Lord sent an angel who destroyed all the mighty warriors..." | Parallel account of the Assyrian defeat. |
| Lam 2:13-14 | "Your prophets have seen for you False and foolish things... but have seen for you false oracles..." | Contrast to genuine prophecy fulfilled by God. |
| Heb 1:3 | "...upholding all things by the word of His power..." | Christ's power upholding creation, by extension fulfilling divine decree. |
| Matt 6:13 | "...deliver us from the evil one." | Prayer for deliverance and God's intervention. |
| Rev 20:9 | "...fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them." | Ultimate divine judgment on besieging armies. |
2 Kings 19 verses
2 Kings 19 32 Meaning
The verse proclaims God's decisive and protective word concerning Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, stating definitively that he will not succeed in his siege of Jerusalem. It lists a series of specific military actions—entering the city, shooting arrows, advancing with shields, or building a siege mound—that Sennacherib is explicitly forbidden by divine decree from performing. This is a direct, emphatic divine guarantee of Jerusalem's security from the immediate Assyrian threat, reflecting God's faithfulness and sovereignty.
2 Kings 19 32 Context
The verse stands as the direct divine response to King Hezekiah's desperate prayer (2 Kgs 19:14-19) regarding Sennacherib's threatening and blasphemous message to surrender Jerusalem. Having captured all other fortified cities of Judah, Sennacherib viewed Jerusalem as an easy target and ridiculed Yahweh's ability to defend it against the might of the Assyrian Empire. King Hezekiah, in a profound act of faith, took the threatening letter to the Temple and spread it before the Lord, acknowledging God's unique sovereignty over all kingdoms of the earth and appealing for His intervention to vindicate His name.
This specific prophecy delivered through the prophet Isaiah assures Hezekiah and the people that Jerusalem will not fall. Historically, the Assyrian Empire, under Sennacherib, was the dominant superpower, renowned for its military prowess and brutal siege tactics, which included using archery, shield formations, and massive earth ramps (mounds) to breach city walls. The immediate historical context places Judah in an impossible military situation, facing a virtually unstoppable force. This prophecy directly confronts Sennacherib's military strategies, declaring them ineffective, and serves as a direct polemic against the prevailing pagan belief that might makes right and that human armies, empowered by their own gods, could overcome any obstacle, including the God of Israel. It affirms that the Lord God of Israel alone possesses ultimate authority and power, rendering even the most formidable human might futile.
2 Kings 19 32 Word analysis
- Therefore: Connects this divine decree to the preceding events—Hezekiah's prayer and Isaiah's prior prophecy. It indicates a logical consequence and a direct, timely answer from God.
- thus says the Lord: Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה (koh amar YHWH). This is a foundational prophetic formula, authenticating the message as an absolute and direct word from the living God, emphasizing His authority and unchangeable purpose. It underscores divine certainty.
- concerning the king of Assyria: Specifies the object of the divine decree, highlighting the direct confrontation between God's will and the arrogance of Sennacherib, a mighty earthly ruler. It makes clear that the prophecy is about his immediate actions and fate.
- He: Refers directly to Sennacherib, the mighty king who was accustomed to success in all his campaigns.
- shall not come: A categorical, absolute prohibition. The Hebrew construction signifies a strong, definite denial, underscoring the absolute certainty of divine prevention. It defies the human expectation and military reality of the time.
- into this city: Points specifically to Jerusalem, the city where God's temple resided and where His name was to be glorified. It emphasizes God's proprietorship and special care for His holy dwelling place and His people.
- nor shoot an arrow there: The Hebrew indicates firing a missile. Arrows were a primary long-range offensive weapon used by the Assyrian army, symbolizing an initial assault or prolonged harassment. God prevents even the start of an effective offensive action.
- nor come before it with a shield: Hebrew refers to approaching under the cover of a shield, forming a protected line of advance. This describes a common siege tactic involving soldiers protected by shields moving towards city walls to initiate an attack or sap foundations. God's declaration stops this coordinated, direct assault.
- nor cast up a mound against it: Hebrew: סֹלְלָה (sŏlĕlāh). A "mound" or "siege ramp" was a crucial piece of Assyrian siege engineering. They would build large earthen ramps to reach or breach fortified walls, enabling their soldiers to charge directly into the city. God specifically disallows this defining, most effective siege tactic of the Assyrians, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of His protection.
Words-group analysis:
- "thus says the Lord... concerning the king of Assyria": This opening firmly establishes the speaker (the Lord) and the subject (Sennacherib), setting the stage for a divinely ordained reversal of fate against a seemingly invincible earthly power.
- "He shall not come... nor shoot... nor come... nor cast up...": This series of absolute negations outlines a complete and total prevention of all significant hostile military action. It is a comprehensive list, negating entry, ranged attack, direct assault, and strategic siege preparations, signifying that the Assyrians will not even be able to initiate their full range of destructive power against Jerusalem, let alone conquer it. It demonstrates God's sovereignty over every facet of military engagement.
2 Kings 19 32 Bonus section
The immediate fulfillment of this prophecy in 2 Kings 19:35, where the Angel of the Lord miraculously destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night, stands as one of the Bible's most dramatic displays of divine power. This outcome directly contrasts with the usual pattern of Assyrian conquest and underlines the direct, supernatural intervention declared in verse 32. The event would have cemented Judah's faith in Yahweh as the unique, true God, and simultaneously discredited the deities and perceived might of the Assyrian Empire. It also served as a profound vindication of King Hezekiah's trust in God, despite immense pressure to capitulate. The specificity of God's negated actions in verse 32 demonstrates His meticulous oversight and intimate knowledge of Sennacherib's plans and capabilities, allowing for a precise and targeted nullification of every military strategy.
2 Kings 19 32 Commentary
2 Kings 19:32 delivers a pivotal moment of divine intervention against overwhelming human might. Following Hezekiah's heartfelt prayer, God's word through Isaiah transforms despair into divine certainty. This verse encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises (specifically to David concerning an enduring kingdom) and His zealous protection of His chosen city and people. It comprehensively denies the enemy any success in their well-established siege tactics—from the initial approach to the direct assault and long-term siege engineering. The decree reveals God's absolute sovereignty over human kingdoms and military prowess, turning Sennacherib's mighty army into an object lesson in the futility of challenging the Living God. It teaches that God needs no human strength to accomplish His will; His very word is sufficient to nullify the most formidable threats, illustrating that deliverance comes from Him alone, not from human armies or defenses.