2 Kings 19 7

2 Kings 19:7 kjv

Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

2 Kings 19:7 nkjv

Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." ' "

2 Kings 19:7 niv

Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'?"

2 Kings 19:7 esv

Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.'"

2 Kings 19:7 nlt

Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.'"

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 7 Meaning

The verse proclaims God's decisive and immediate action against King Sennacherib of Assyria, who had blasphemed God and threatened Jerusalem. It declares that God Himself will supernaturally influence Sennacherib's mind ("put a spirit in him") so that he hears unsettling news ("a rumor"), which will compel him to retreat from Judah and return to his own land. The verse further prophesies that God will then directly orchestrate his death ("make him fall by the sword") in that very homeland, thereby guaranteeing God's deliverance of His people and demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over human kings and nations.

2 Kings 19 7 Context

This verse is God's direct response to the immense threat posed by King Sennacherib of Assyria, who had systematically conquered fortified cities in Judah and was now openly besieging Jerusalem. Sennacherib, through his Rabshakeh, had delivered blasphemous taunts against King Hezekiah and, more critically, against Yahweh, equating the God of Judah with the idols of conquered nations and boasting of Assyria's irresistible military might. In desperation, Hezekiah had turned to the prophet Isaiah, seeking God's word. Verses 6-7 are the divine oracle delivered through Isaiah, assuring Hezekiah that God has heard the blasphemy and will intervene decisively. Verse 7 specifically details the fate of Sennacherib, serving as both a prophecy and a declaration of divine retribution, setting the stage for the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem.

2 Kings 19 7 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנְנִי - hinnēnī): This is an emphatic particle, literally "Here I am," serving to draw immediate and keen attention to a divine declaration. It underscores the certainty, immediacy, and personal involvement of God in the impending action, making clear that this is a direct, authoritative word from Yahweh Himself.
• I will put (נֹתֵן - nōtēn, active participle): This verb denotes "giving," "placing," or "setting." The active participle form conveys a sense of absolute certainty, even imminence; it is something God is already purposing and is about to perform, not merely a future possibility. God is the active agent.
• a spirit (רוּחַ - rûaḥ): In this context, "spirit" refers to a supernatural influence or divine agency affecting the mind or will. It can denote a disposition, feeling, or internal force. Here, it implies God will instil a specific compulsion, perhaps one of fear, alarm, confusion, or even an overwhelming urge to retreat. This is a sovereign act of God influencing Sennacherib's inner being.
• in him: Directly targeting Sennacherib himself. This highlights God's power to manipulate and direct the will and actions even of the most formidable earthly rulers, challenging any notion of human autonomy against divine decree.
• so that he shall hear (וְשָׁמַע - wəšāmaʿ): This expresses the purpose or consequence of God putting a spirit in him. The divine influence will specifically lead Sennacherib to become attentive to a particular type of information, a "rumor." God directs not only his internal state but also his external stimuli.
• a rumor (שְׁמוּעָה - šəmûʿâ): This denotes a report, tidings, or news, possibly unsettling or critical. Its exact content is less important than its divinely orchestrated role as the trigger for Sennacherib's retreat. God uses seemingly mundane circumstances or external events as instruments for His grand purposes.
• and return (וְשָׁב - wəšāḇ): A direct consequence of hearing the rumor and the influence of the spirit. This signifies a forced retreat, contrary to Sennacherib's original conquering intent. It is an act of humiliation for the arrogant king.
• to his own land (לְאַרְצוֹ - ləʾarṣōw): Emphasizes the destination of his forced retreat – back to where he originated. This sets up the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy, showing God's complete control over his movement.
• and I will make him fall (וְהִפַּלְתִּיו - wəhippaltîw, Hiphil causative): The Hiphil stem indicates that God actively causes the falling, specifically bringing about Sennacherib's death. It’s not just a prediction of his death, but God's direct declaration that He will execute judgment upon him.
• by the sword (בַּחֶרֶב - baḥereḇ): The instrument of death. While it wasn't the sword of Israel, the later fulfillment (assassination by his own sons in his homeland) illustrates God's precise fulfillment through unexpected internal means. This signifies a violent, decreed end.
• in his own land (בְּאַרְצוֹ - bəʾarṣōw): The specified location of his death. This reinforces the humiliation and irony; Sennacherib, who terrorized foreign lands, would die in what he perceived as the safety of his own territory, at the hands of his own household. This points to God's ultimate authority and precision in executing justice.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Behold, I will put a spirit in him": This opening phrase declares divine initiative and irresistible power. It means God will actively intervene in Sennacherib's psychological state or his very being. This "spirit" is a supernatural force acting according to God's sovereign will, inducing either fear, a strong disinclination to continue the siege, or even internal disorder in his thoughts and plans. This is a direct challenge to the notion that any king or nation can act independently of Yahweh's ultimate control.
• "so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land": This clarifies the immediate purpose and consequence of the divine intervention. God orchestrates external circumstances (the "rumor," possibly about Tirhakah or domestic revolt) in conjunction with internal compulsion ("a spirit") to achieve a swift and ignominious retreat for the Assyrian king. God is shown using even ordinary information channels to direct history and protect His people. It reveals God's meticulous control over cause and effect to fulfill His decrees.
• "and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land": This part describes Sennacherib's ultimate fate, emphasizing that God will directly cause his death, specifying both the instrument (sword) and the location (his own land). This prediction highlights divine retribution for blasphemy and pride, ensuring that Sennacherib would not merely retreat but also perish, removed from power by God's decree. The irony is poignant as the king who used the sword against others is himself to fall by it, not in glorious battle but by betrayal in his supposed haven, validating God's complete sovereignty even over unexpected turns of human events.

2 Kings 19 7 Bonus section

• The promise in 2 Kings 19:7 directly refutes Sennacherib's boastful claim in 2 Kings 18:35 that no god has delivered any nation from the Assyrian king's hand. God not only delivers Judah but promises to decisively end the king's life.
• The specific details of Sennacherib's death being "by the sword in his own land" ensure that Jerusalem and Judah are spared any further military engagements from him, confirming a lasting peace for this period.
• The phrase "put a spirit in him" underscores that even the internal motivations and thoughts of powerful rulers are ultimately subject to divine oversight and intervention. It showcases a form of spiritual warfare where God acts directly upon the human spirit of His adversary.
• This incident is a foundational story demonstrating Yahweh's unique identity as the sovereign God who intervenes directly in history, distinct from the impotent pagan deities of Assyria that Sennacherib invoked.

2 Kings 19 7 Commentary

2 Kings 19:7 is a profound prophetic word from God, delivered through Isaiah, that powerfully reasserts His absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers, particularly in response to blatant blasphemy and arrogance. Sennacherib, in his hubris, had challenged Yahweh directly. God's response is swift, precise, and multifaceted. By declaring that He would "put a spirit in him," God demonstrates His power to supernaturally influence a leader's will, thoughts, and actions, turning the king's heart or mind to achieve His divine purpose. The ensuing "rumor" acts as the external trigger for the internal compulsion, showing God's use of even common events to orchestrate grand plans. Sennacherib's forced "return to his own land" underscores God's control over the Assyrian's strategic movements. Furthermore, the explicit prophecy that God would "make him fall by the sword in his own land" highlights divine judgment on pride and those who oppose Him, sealing Sennacherib's fate with chilling precision. This prophesied death by "sword" and in his "own land," later fulfilled by his own sons assassinating him in Nineveh, perfectly demonstrates that God's justice is inescapable and that He will defend His holy city and people against any who mock His name or threaten His covenant promises. This verse encapsulates God's faithfulness, omnipotence, and His just retribution against evil.