2 Kings 19:4 kjv
It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.
2 Kings 19:4 nkjv
It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.' "
2 Kings 19:4 niv
It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the LORD your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives."
2 Kings 19:4 esv
It may be that the LORD your God heard all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left."
2 Kings 19:4 nlt
But perhaps the LORD your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!"
2 Kings 19 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer & Intercession | ||
| Isa 37:4 | "It may be that the LORD your God will hear..." | Hezekiah's direct quote, prompting Isaiah's intercession. |
| 1 Sam 7:5 | "And Samuel said, ‘Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to the LORD.’” | A prophet interceding for Israel in crisis. |
| Jer 29:7 | "But seek the welfare of the city... and pray to the LORD on its behalf..." | Calling for prayer for communal well-being. |
| Rom 8:26 | "the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." | The Spirit's role in our prayers. |
| 1 Tim 2:1-2 | "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people" | Exhortation to pray for others, especially authorities. |
| Jas 5:16 | "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." | Power of righteous prayer. |
| God Hearing Prayer & Responding | ||
| Ps 6:9 | "The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer." | God is attentive and responsive to petitions. |
| Ps 17:6 | "I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;" | Assurance that God answers prayer. |
| Ps 116:1-2 | "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me," | Thanksgiving for God's attentiveness. |
| Jer 33:3 | "Call to me and I will answer you..." | God invites His people to call on Him for answers. |
| God's Rebuke & Judgment | ||
| Ps 9:5 | "You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;" | God's righteous judgment against evil. |
| Ps 80:16 | "They are burned with fire; they are cut down by your rebuke;" | Metaphor for God's destructive judgment. |
| Isa 30:30-31 | "And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard... for Assyria will be dismayed at the voice of the LORD..." | God's voice as an instrument of judgment against Assyria. |
| Isa 37:29 | "Because you have raged against me... I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth..." | God's direct rebuke and control over Sennacherib. |
| Nah 1:6 | "Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire..." | Emphasizes God's fierce wrath and rebuke. |
| Blasphemy Against God | ||
| 2 Ki 18:35 | "Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem?" | Rabshakeh's direct taunt of YHWH. |
| Isa 37:23 | "Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One of Israel!" | Highlights the ultimate target of Rabshakeh's blasphemy. |
| Rev 13:5-6 | "And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words... It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God..." | Blasphemy against God's name, parallel to the Rabshakeh. |
| The Remnant | ||
| Isa 10:20-22 | "And in that day a remnant of Israel... will lean on the LORD... A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God." | Prophecy of a returning, believing remnant. |
| Mic 2:12 | "I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel;" | God's promise to gather the scattered remnant. |
| Rom 9:27-29 | "Isaiah also 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 application of the remnant doctrine. |
| Zech 8:12 | "For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall yield its fruit... and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these." | Blessings promised to the future remnant. |
| "Living God" | ||
| Deut 5:26 | "For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire... and has lived?" | Emphasizes God's unique power and presence. |
| Jer 10:10 | "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King." | Directly contrasts YHWH with lifeless idols. |
| Acts 14:15 | "turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them." | Gentile conversion from idols to the Creator God. |
| Heb 3:12 | "See to it, brothers, that there be not in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God." | Warns against turning away from the true, active God. |
2 Kings 19 verses
2 Kings 19 4 Meaning
King Hezekiah, through his officials, expresses a humble hope that the Lord, Israel's God, will acknowledge and respond to the blasphemous insults uttered by the Assyrian official, the Rabshakeh, against the one true living God. Recognizing this grievous offense and their dire situation, they implore the prophet Isaiah to earnestly intercede in prayer for the survival of the remaining people of Judah.
2 Kings 19 4 Context
Chapter 19 begins amidst a severe national crisis for Judah. The powerful Assyrian army under King Sennacherib has besieged Jerusalem and has already devastated many fortified cities of Judah (2 Ki 18:13). The Rabshakeh, Sennacherib's chief representative, delivered a message full of psychological warfare and blasphemy (2 Ki 18:17-35), publicly asserting that Judah's God, YHWH, is no more capable of delivering Jerusalem than the gods of other conquered nations were of delivering their cities from Assyrian might. King Hezekiah's initial response was an act of profound humility and despair—he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD (2 Ki 19:1). This verse marks his subsequent step: sending a delegation of officials, similarly attired, to the prophet Isaiah. It represents a pivot from outward mourning to seeking divine counsel and intercession. The urgency is amplified by the implied understanding that Jerusalem is the last stronghold, and if it falls, the remnant of Judah will be extinguished. Historically, this event dates to 701 BC.
Word Analysis
- It may be: (אוּלַי, ulay) – This Hebrew particle signifies a humble possibility or hopeful desire, rather than certainty. It reflects the people's complete reliance on God's sovereign choice and grace, not on their own merit or assumption. It indicates a sincere, dependent prayer.
- that the LORD your God: (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, YHWH Eloheykha) – "YHWH" is God's covenant name, emphasizing His unique, personal relationship with Israel. "Your God" reinforces this covenantal bond, distinguishing Him from the false deities the Assyrians claimed to be greater than. It implies an appeal to His faithfulness to His own people.
- will hear: (יִשְׁמַע, yish-ma') – Beyond mere auditory perception, "hear" in biblical context often implies attentive listening that leads to action, understanding, and responsive intervention. It suggests God taking notice and judging the situation.
- all the words: (אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים, et-kol-had-devarim) – Highlights the totality of the Rabshakeh's speech, including the threats, insults, and especially the blasphemies. It refers to the deliberate and comprehensive nature of his taunts.
- of the Rabshakeh: (רַב־שָׁקֵה, rav-shaqeh) – This is an Assyrian military title, likely meaning "chief cupbearer" or "chief officer," who was responsible for diplomatic negotiations and propaganda. His words carry the full weight of the Assyrian empire.
- whom his master the king of Assyria has sent: This phrase clearly identifies the source of the blasphemy and the Assyrian monarchy's official sanction of the words. The Rabshakeh is a mouthpiece for Sennacherib's hubris.
- to taunt: (לְחָרֵף, lecharêf) – This verb means to reproach, revile, defy, or blaspheme. It denotes a deliberate act of insulting and demeaning, particularly serious when directed at the divine. It is an act of extreme disrespect and challenge.
- the living God: (אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים, Elohim Chayyim) – A profound theological declaration. This title starkly contrasts YHWH with the lifeless, impotent idols of other nations which "do not see or hear or eat or smell" (Ps 115:5-7). It emphasizes His active presence, power, and ability to intervene in human affairs—He is not a distant or dead deity but actively engaged and aware. This phrase serves as a direct polemic against the pagan polytheism of the Assyrians.
- and will rebuke: (וְהוֹכִיחַ, v'hokhiyakh) – To show disapproval, correct, or admonish. In this context, it implies a divine censure that will manifest in judgment or decisive action against the offender. It means God will not just hear but also actively deal with the taunt.
- the words which the LORD your God has heard: A re-emphasis, reinforcing the certainty that God has not missed any part of the blasphemous speech and highlighting God's direct involvement as the aggrieved party. It underlines the expectation of divine retaliation.
- Therefore lift up your prayer: (וּנְשָׂאתָ תְפִלָּה, un-sa’ta tephillah) – An imperative urging Isaiah to perform the specific act of prayer, implying a solemn and earnest appeal to God. To "lift up" indicates intensity and an upward direction of spiritual communication.
- for the remnant that is left: (בַעַד הַשְּׁאֵרִית הַנִּמְצָאָה, ba'ad ha-sh’eyrith han-nimtsa'ah) – Refers to the few survivors of the Assyrian invasion, representing the small portion of Judah that remains uncaptured. Theologically, "remnant" often signifies those chosen by God, through whom His covenant promises will endure and be fulfilled, regardless of the vast number lost.
2 Kings 19 4 Bonus section
The scene of King Hezekiah sending a delegation to the prophet Isaiah (a parallel found in Isaiah chapter 37) highlights the crucial role of prophetic intercession and divine counsel during national crises in ancient Israel. This demonstrates that for Judah's faithful, even when military solutions seemed exhausted, the ultimate recourse was always spiritual—appealing to YHWH through His designated messenger. This response by Hezekiah serves as a paradigm of righteous leadership in the face of overwhelming odds: humility before God, recognizing the spiritual dimension of conflict, and seeking fervent prayer for divine deliverance rather than relying solely on human strategies or despair. The narrative implicitly teaches about the supremacy of the Creator God over all earthly powers and false deities, a theme echoed throughout the Old Testament prophets in their challenge to idolatry.
2 Kings 19 4 Commentary
This verse encapsulates King Hezekiah's deep distress, unwavering faith, and understanding of God's character. Facing seemingly insurmountable military power and blatant blasphemy against YHWH, Hezekiah's primary response is to seek divine intervention through the prophet Isaiah. The humility inherent in "It may be that the LORD your God will hear" reflects profound dependence, acknowledging that God's actions are solely His prerogative and not a human demand.
The focus on "the Rabshakeh's words" is crucial; it's not merely an Assyrian military threat but a direct challenge to the supremacy of the "living God." This theological distinction is central to the narrative, positioning the conflict as ultimately a spiritual battle for God's honor and reputation among the nations. The plea for God to "rebuke" signifies a call for God to vindicate His own name and demonstrate His power over the false gods and arrogant claims of Assyria. The explicit instruction to "lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left" reveals Hezekiah's recognition that Judah's survival is not due to military strength but God's gracious preservation. This concept of the remnant underscores God's faithfulness in upholding His covenant despite human sin and devastating judgment, ensuring the continuation of His redemptive plan.