2 Kings 19 6

2 Kings 19:6 kjv

And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

2 Kings 19:6 nkjv

And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: "Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

2 Kings 19:6 niv

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard?those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

2 Kings 19:6 esv

Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me.

2 Kings 19:6 nlt

the prophet replied, "Say to your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king's messengers.

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 6 Meaning

Second Kings 19:6 conveys God's direct command through the prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah: "Do not be afraid." This divine reassurance is a direct counter to the terrifying and blasphemous threats from the Assyrian King Sennacherib. The verse emphasizes that God considers the Assyrian king's reviling words as insults against Himself, not merely against Judah. It highlights God's sovereignty and His readiness to act when His honor is assailed.

2 Kings 19 6 Context

The events of 2 Kings chapter 19 unfold during the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian king Sennacherib. In chapter 18, Sennacherib had already conquered numerous cities of Judah and sent his officials, particularly the Rabshakeh, to demoralize Jerusalem's inhabitants and King Hezekiah. The Rabshakeh used a tactic of psychological warfare, boasting of Assyria's overwhelming power, mocking Hezekiah's trust in the LORD, and directly blaspheming God by asserting that Hezekiah's God was no more capable of delivering Jerusalem than the gods of other nations were able to save their lands from Assyrian conquest. Hezekiah, deeply distressed, tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and sent envoys to the prophet Isaiah for counsel and prayer. Verse 6 is Isaiah's direct prophetic response to Hezekiah's appeal, delivered immediately after Hezekiah's messengers conveyed the Assyrian threats and Hezekiah's desperate plea for divine intervention. It shifts the focus from human fear to divine action and the Lord's defense of His own name and honor.

2 Kings 19 6 Word analysis

• And Isaiah said to them,

  • Isaiah: The prophet (Yeshayahu, meaning "Yahweh is salvation"). He is the direct channel for God's word, validating the message's divine origin.
  • said to them: Refers to Hezekiah's officials, highlighting the authoritative and public nature of the message intended for the king and his court.

• "Thus you shall say to your master,

  • Thus you shall say: This specific phrase, often "Thus says the LORD" (koh 'amar YHWH), introduces a direct divine oracle, signaling absolute authority and the imperative nature of the message. The envoys are merely repeating God's direct command.
  • to your master: Specifically designates King Hezekiah, ensuring the message reaches the highest authority, the one in dire need of this reassurance.

• 'Thus says the LORD:

  • Thus says the LORD (koh 'amar YHWH - כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה): This is the classic prophetic formula, unequivocally stating that the following words are not Isaiah's own opinion but the direct, inspired word of God (Yahweh), the covenant God of Israel. It asserts divine authority over all human words and circumstances.

• Do not be afraid (al-tira - אַל־תִּירָא):

  • This is an imperative command, central to God's communication. It directly counters the Assyrian strategy, which was designed to instill terror and cause surrender. It signifies God's complete control over the situation and His expectation of faith from His people.
  • This phrase is frequently used throughout the Bible to provide comfort and assurance in times of distress, often accompanied by the declaration of God's presence or protection.

• because of the words that you have heard,

  • the words: Specifically the defiant, arrogant, and blasphemous boasts of the Rabshakeh (Sennacherib's representative) as reported in 2 Kgs 18.
  • that you have heard: Refers to the reports from the battlefield and the direct taunts that had caused great distress and fear in Hezekiah. It acknowledges the severity of the human threat while dismissing its ultimate power.

• with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me.'

  • the servants of the king of Assyria: Not just any individuals, but official representatives (e.g., the Rabshakeh) speaking on behalf of their monarch, lending weight to their blasphemy as being sanctioned by Sennacherib himself.
  • have reviled me (giddephuni - גִּדְּפ֣וּנִי): From the Hebrew verb gādaph, meaning to reproach, blaspheme, scorn, or defame. This is a crucial word. It means the Assyrians treated Yahweh with contempt and scorn. It's not just an insult to Judah but a direct, personal affront to the character, power, and holiness of God Himself.
    • This accusation elevates the conflict from a geopolitical struggle to a divine affront. Sennacherib’s hubris in equating Yahweh with the defeated gods of other nations (as heard in 2 Kgs 18:33-35) directly challenged God's unique identity and omnipotence. This directly draws God into the conflict in defense of His own honor, establishing a theological polemic against the polytheistic views of the Assyrians.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "Thus you shall say...Thus says the LORD": This repetition powerfully emphasizes the message's direct divine origin and authority. Isaiah is merely a conduit; God is the speaker. It validates Hezekiah's earlier action of sending to a prophet, confirming God communicates through His chosen messengers.
  • "Do not be afraid because of the words...": This directly addresses and counteracts the Rabshakeh's strategy of psychological warfare. God pinpoints the source of their fear ("the words") and then dismisses its power with His own word. It underscores that spiritual reassurance comes directly from the Divine, not from human courage or strategy alone.
  • "the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me": This is the heart of the verse. It transforms a perceived national defeat (Sennacherib's conquests) into a cosmic conflict. The human adversaries' words, intended to terrorize, are identified by God as personal blasphemy against His divine being. This statement provides the basis for God's impending decisive action; He will not allow His name to be scorned with impunity, revealing His holy jealousy and zeal for His own glory.

2 Kings 19 6 Bonus section

• The message conveyed in this verse underscores the fundamental principle that true victory in spiritual warfare, or any seemingly overwhelming crisis, does not stem from human strength or strategic prowess, but from God's intervention, particularly when His honor and name are at stake.
• This verse illustrates a divine principle: when humanity seeks to exalt itself or its earthly power above God, especially through reviling His name, it inevitably draws His righteous wrath and intervention. Sennacherib’s blasphemy activated God’s protective hand over Judah.
• The immediate fulfillment of this prophecy in 2 Kings 19:35-37, where an angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and Sennacherib is later assassinated, serves as a powerful testament to the reliability and authority of "Thus says the LORD." It highlights God's swift and precise judgment against those who dare to "revile" Him.

2 Kings 19 6 Commentary

Second Kings 19:6 is a pivotal verse of assurance and divine self-vindication amidst overwhelming threat. Isaiah's prophetic declaration to King Hezekiah transforms the human despair into an occasion for divine glory. The core message is God's powerful command: "Do not be afraid." This injunction is not a mere encouragement but a direct, authoritative counter to the fear instilled by the Assyrian king's blasphemous threats. The critical theological point is God's declaration, "with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me." This demonstrates that Sennacherib's taunts against Judah were, in God's eyes, a direct affront to His own being and authority. God does not delegate His honor; when His name is scorned, He personally takes up the cause. This sets the stage for God's swift and dramatic intervention, illustrating His sovereignty, His commitment to His covenant people, and His unyielding zeal for His own reputation, often vindicated through miraculous intervention against arrogant human powers.