Isaiah 36:21 kjv
But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Isaiah 36:21 nkjv
But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, "Do not answer him."
Isaiah 36:21 niv
But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."
Isaiah 36:21 esv
But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, "Do not answer him."
Isaiah 36:21 nlt
But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, "Do not answer him."
Isaiah 36 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 37:4 | "It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt the living God..." | Hearing the enemy's blasphemy. |
| 2 Kgs 18:36 | "But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, "Do not answer him."" | Parallel account, emphasizing obedience. |
| 2 Kgs 19:3 | They said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace...’" | Hezekiah acknowledges the situation. |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." | Trusting God over human might. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | "The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength... a horse is a false hope for salvation..." | Divine deliverance over earthly power. |
| Prov 17:28 | "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is thought to be discerning." | Wisdom in silence, even from a worldly view. |
| Prov 26:4 | "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself." | Strategic avoidance of verbal traps. |
| Isa 30:15 | "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength..." | Salvation found in quiet trust. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." | God's power acts independently of human effort. |
| Exod 14:14 | "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." | God fighting while people remain quiet. |
| Rom 12:17-19 | "Repay no one evil for evil... never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | Non-retaliation, leaving judgment to God. |
| Jas 1:19 | "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." | Prudence in speech and hearing. |
| Matt 7:6 | "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." | Not casting precious truth before scorners. |
| Matt 5:39 | "But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." | Non-resistance to evil. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." | Christ's example of silent endurance. |
| Ps 37:7 | "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." | Patient waiting for God's action. |
| 2 Chron 20:17 | "You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf..." | God fighting for His people without their combat. |
| Luke 23:9 | "But he answered him nothing." (Jesus before Herod) | Christ's silence before hostile authority. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." | Trust in prayer, not arguments. |
| 1 Thess 5:15 | "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." | Refusal to retaliate. |
| Ps 46:10 | "Be still, and know that I am God." | Finding peace and recognition of God's power. |
| Isa 7:4 | "Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint..." | Hezekiah's forebear was advised similar quietness. |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | Ultimate confidence in divine protection. |
Isaiah 36 verses
Isaiah 36 21 Meaning
Isaiah 36:21 describes the resolute silence of the people of Judah in the face of the Assyrian Rabshakeh's taunts. This silence was not born of fear or agreement, but of explicit obedience to King Hezekiah's wise command to refrain from engaging in a verbal battle with the enemy. It signifies a profound trust in divine intervention rather than human rhetoric to address the crisis.
Isaiah 36 21 Context
Isaiah chapter 36 details Sennacherib, King of Assyria's invasion of Judah during Hezekiah's reign (701 BC). Specifically, verses 13-20 recount the Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian officer and a master propagandist, loudly addressing the people of Jerusalem in Hebrew from outside the city walls. He used psychological warfare, attempting to demoralize the people and undermine their faith in King Hezekiah and, more critically, in the Lord their God. He boasted of Assyria's military might, scoffed at Hezekiah's alliance with Egypt, and directly blasphemed the God of Judah, claiming He was no more capable of saving Jerusalem than the gods of other conquered nations. He challenged Jerusalem to surrender, promising a comfortable exile. Against this barrage of taunts, insults, and threats designed to sow division and despair, Isaiah 36:21 marks the pivotal response—or rather, the non-response—commanded by Hezekiah, signifying a shift from human argument to divine reliance.
Isaiah 36 21 Word analysis
- But: (Hebrew: וַיַּחֲרִשׁוּ - wa·ya·cha·rishu, often translated 'and they held their peace' but the initial 'waw' conjunction links it to the preceding discourse). This conjunction signifies a direct continuation, but also introduces a contrasting action to the Rabshakeh's verbose assault.
- they held their peace / were silent: (Hebrew: יַּחֲרִשׁוּ - ya·cha·rishu, from the root חָרַשׁ - charash, to be silent, deaf, or dumb; to plow in another context). This verb indicates a deliberate and active decision to maintain silence, not a passive inability to speak. It highlights restraint and self-control. It suggests a commanded discipline, not natural reticence.
- and answered him not a word: (Hebrew: וְלֹא עָנוּ אֹתוֹ דָּבָר - wə·lo o·nu o·to da·var, literally "and not answered him a word"). This phrase reinforces the absolute and complete nature of their silence. "Not a word" emphasizes the totality of their non-response, leaving no room for misunderstanding their obedience. It starkly contrasts with the Rabshakeh's many words.
- for the king's commandment was: (Hebrew: כִּֽי־מִצְוַת־הַמֶּלֶךְ הִיא - ki miṣ·waṯ ha·me·leḵ hi, literally "for commandment of the king it [is]"). "For" (ki) introduces the reason and authority behind their silence. "Commandment" (miṣwah) denotes an authoritative order, a specific instruction that carries the weight of royal decree.
- Do not answer him: (Hebrew: לֵאמֹר לֹֽא־תַעֲנֻ֖הוּ - le·mor lo-ta·anuhû, literally "saying not answer him"). This is the direct and unambiguous instruction from King Hezekiah. It reflects a strategic spiritual wisdom, recognizing that engaging in a war of words with a blasphemer is fruitless and could even compromise their position.
Words-group analysis:
- "But they held their peace and answered him not a word": This highlights a powerful, united, and disciplined silence. It is an act of deliberate obedience and communal solidarity. In a rhetorical battle, silence can be a strong statement, especially when commanded. This was not a natural reaction of a crowd, but a directed one, underscoring the spiritual nature of the conflict and Hezekiah's leadership rooted in faith.
- "for the king’s commandment was, 'Do not answer him'": This phrase identifies the immediate, human authority for the people's action, while implicitly pointing to the divine wisdom informing that command. Hezekiah understood that blasphemy is not countered by human argument but by divine intervention. His command directed the people's faith away from engaging the enemy's words and towards waiting on God's response. This trust-based approach is a cornerstone of Hezekiah's faith demonstrated throughout this narrative.
Isaiah 36 21 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "silence" (חָרַשׁ - charash) can also mean "to plow," symbolizing preparation or sowing for a future harvest. While contextually the primary meaning is silence, a theological parallel can be drawn where this silence of obedience to God's chosen leader was "plowing" the ground for God's powerful action. It was a preparation, clearing the field of human contention, for divine sowing and judgment. This intentional restraint against provocation is also mirrored in the silence of Jesus before His accusers (Isa 53:7, Matt 27:12, Luke 23:9), signifying both innocence and trust in a higher, divine judgment. This prefigures the ultimate trust in God's plan over human response, establishing a pattern for believers to face slander and opposition with quiet confidence in the Lord.
Isaiah 36 21 Commentary
Isaiah 36:21 is a profound statement of spiritual strategy and faith. Confronted by an enemy who used ridicule, lies, and blasphemy to demoralize and undermine, King Hezekiah understood that victory would not come through human eloquence or argument. The Rabshakeh's speech was designed to trap, to incite, and to sever the people's trust in their king and their God. Engaging in a debate with such an adversary would elevate his blasphemous claims and potentially lead to despair.
Hezekiah's command, therefore, was a demonstration of immense wisdom, mirroring Proverbs 26:4: "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself." By instructing the people to remain completely silent, Hezekiah shifted the battlefield from human rhetoric to divine action. This commanded silence was not passivity, but an active posture of faith, indicating that the Lord alone would respond to the insults hurled against His name. It put the burden of response squarely on God, positioning the people as recipients of divine deliverance rather than participants in a futile verbal duel. The people's disciplined obedience became an act of collective trust in God's sovereignty and His promise to fight for His people. This strategic silence preceded God's dramatic and supernatural intervention.