Isaiah 36 4

Isaiah 36:4 kjv

And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

Isaiah 36:4 nkjv

Then the Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: "What confidence is this in which you trust?

Isaiah 36:4 niv

The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah: "?'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?

Isaiah 36:4 esv

And the Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?

Isaiah 36:4 nlt

Then the Assyrian king's chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: "This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

Isaiah 36 verses

Isaiah 36 4 Meaning

This verse records Sennacherib's chief envoy demanding surrender, highlighting the Assyrian king's overwhelming power and his assertion that his king has divine authorization.

Isaiah 36 4 Context

This chapter shifts to historical narrative within Isaiah's prophecy, recounting Sennacherib's invasion of Judah and his demand for Jerusalem's surrender. The Assyrian envoy, Rabshakeh, delivers a formidable speech directly to the people on the city walls. Hezekiah, the king, had made appeals and preparations, but Sennacherib's army was overwhelming. Rabshakeh's words are designed to sow terror, undermine faith in Hezekiah, and ultimately encourage capitulation by appealing to the futility of resistance against Assyria's mighty empire, which he portrays as divinely empowered.

Isaiah 36 4 Word Analysis

• "Ask": Hebrew, shu'al (שׁאל), meaning to ask, inquire, request. Here it's used in an imperative sense, a demand rather than a request.
• "now": Hebrew, at (עת). Emphasizes the urgency and the current critical moment.
• "yet": Hebrew, lamah (למה), used rhetorically, signifying "why" or "wherefore," introducing a question of strong disbelief or disapproval.
• "hezekiah": Proper name, meaning "Yahweh strengthens." Ironically, Rabshakeh seeks to undermine the strength provided by this name.
• "king": Hebrew, melek (מֶלֶךְ). Refers to Hezekiah.
• "your king": Hebrew, melekchem (מַלְכְּכֶם), direct address, personalizing the taunt.
• "trusteth": Hebrew, batach (בָּטַח), meaning to trust, lean upon, take refuge in. It highlights the reliance Hezekiah placed on God.
• "in the lord": Hebrew, bîYahweh (בִּיהוָה). Explicit reference to the God of Israel. Rabshakeh’s statement implies this trust is foolish.
• "saying": Hebrew, lemor (לֵאמֹר). Introduces the specific words of discouragement.
• "is there": Hebrew, him tzarim (הִם צָרִים), a question of non-existence.
• "no": Hebrew, lo (לֹא), emphatic negative.
• "king nor ruler": Hebrew, melek vesharet (מֶלֶךְ וְשָׂר), encompassing both supreme ruler and subordinate officials or leaders, signifying the complete absence of leadership.
• "this people": Hebrew, ha'am hazeh (הָעָם הַזֶּה), referring to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
• "who shall deliver": Hebrew, miy yashîa' (מִי יַצִּיל), challenging any possibility of rescue.
• "his kingdom": Hebrew, mamlakehto (מַמְלַכְתּוֹ), referring to the kingdom of Judah.

Words Group Analysis:

• "yet Hezekiah your king... sayeth unto you, Thus saith the Lord": This entire phrase highlights Rabshakeh's tactic of twisting and dismissing prophetic messages. He aims to discredit both Hezekiah's leadership and God's spoken word.
• "Is there no king nor ruler of this people?": This rhetorical question is designed to humiliate and instill a sense of powerlessness, suggesting that Judah has no effective leadership capable of defending them.
• "who shall deliver you in your kingdom": This challenges any divine intervention on their behalf, implying that the Assyrian king's power is absolute and irresistible, overshadowing any national deity.

Isaiah 36 4 Bonus Section

Rabshakeh's words are not merely an expression of political intimidation but also a theological challenge. He represents a pagan worldview where a king’s power is linked to his pantheon of gods. By stating that no other god has delivered their land from the Assyrian king, he is suggesting that Yahweh is likewise powerless. This contrasts sharply with the biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty, as seen in 2 Kings 18:36, where the people chose not to respond to Rabshakeh, respecting Hezekiah's command to remain silent until God acted. The reference to "hook in his nose and bridle in his mouth" (Isaiah 37:29) later by God against Sennacherib underscores the eventual divine response and subversion of such imperial arrogance. The narrative structure itself builds suspense towards God's dramatic intervention through Isaiah's prophecy and an angel’s action.

Isaiah 36 4 Commentary

Rabshakeh’s statement is a calculated psychological assault. He seeks to dismantle Jerusalem's morale by attacking their perceived leadership (Hezekiah) and, more critically, their faith in God (the Lord). The Assyrian army represented a seemingly unstoppable force, and Rabshakeh uses this perceived reality to declare that God Himself cannot or will not intervene. This is a direct polemic against Israel's monotheism, implying their God is no different from other gods that Assyria has conquered—limited and ultimately defeatable. The language aims to foster despair and compel surrender by painting a picture of utter hopelessness and abandonment. It echoes the ancient boast of empire over deity.