Isaiah 36 5

Isaiah 36:5 kjv

I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Isaiah 36:5 nkjv

I say you speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

Isaiah 36:5 niv

You say you have counsel and might for war?but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

Isaiah 36:5 esv

Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?

Isaiah 36:5 nlt

Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?

Isaiah 36 verses

Isaiah 36 5 Meaning

Isaiah 36:5 records the taunt of Rabshakeh, the Assyrian commander, to King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He scoffs at Judah's perceived strength, saying, "You say, 'I have counsel and might for war'—but they are mere words." This asserts that Judah's strategic planning and military capacity are nothing but empty boasts, lacking any real substance or ability to be put into effect. The second part of the verse then challenges Judah's true source of confidence: "On whom, then, do you rely, that you rebel against me?" Rabshakeh assumes Judah must be trusting in some unseen human or political ally if their own "counsel and might" are deficient, implying their defiance against the mighty Assyria is foolish and unsupported.

Isaiah 36 5 Context

Isaiah chapter 36 initiates a historical narrative depicting Sennacherib, king of Assyria, laying siege to the fortified cities of Judah around 701 BC. Following the fall of many cities, Jerusalem itself is threatened. King Hezekiah sends a delegation to negotiate with Sennacherib. However, instead of negotiations, the Assyrian king dispatches his chief commander, the Rabshakeh, to Jerusalem with a large army. Rabshakeh's mission is not military but psychological: to demoralize the Jewish people and convince them to surrender without a fight. Chapter 36 records the Rabshakeh's speech, delivered in Hebrew so that the people on the city walls could understand. He systematically attempts to undermine Judah's confidence in Egypt (a potential ally), in Hezekiah's leadership, and most critically, in their God, Yahweh. Verse 5 is an initial point in this address, challenging Judah's internal capacity and true source of reliance, setting the stage for more explicit blasphemy against God in later verses. The Rabshakeh speaks from a position of overwhelming military might and pagan arrogance, completely disregarding the power of Judah's God.

Isaiah 36 5 Word analysis

• "You say, 'I have counsel and might for war'":

  • "You say" (אָמַר, ’āmar): In context, the Rabshakeh is attributing these words, or at least this attitude, to King Hezekiah and the leaders of Judah. It's a sarcastic accusation.
  • "counsel" (עֵצָה, ʿētsah): Refers to strategic planning, advice, political maneuvering, or a well-thought-out purpose. It's the intellectual aspect of war.
  • "might" (גְּבוּרָה, gĕbûrâh): Denotes strength, military prowess, valor, physical power, or the capability to execute. It's the practical, martial aspect.
  • "for war" (מִלְחָמָה, milḥāmāh): The entire phrase points to their alleged capacity to engage and succeed in military conflict. The Rabshakeh frames Judah as claiming internal resources (intellectual and physical) to confront Assyria.

• "but they are mere words":

  • "mere words" (דְּבַר־שְׂפָתַיִם, dəvar-śəpātayim): Literally "word of lips." This is an idiom expressing superficiality, emptiness, or a lack of substance and follow-through. It signifies that whatever strategies Judah might devise or whatever strength they claim, it is all talk, without the ability to be effectively executed against the formidable Assyrian army. It conveys contempt for Judah's self-perception.

• "On whom, then, do you rely,":

  • "On whom": This interrogative probes for Judah's true, unspoken support system. The Rabshakeh assumes if their internal resources are empty, they must be depending on an external force, likely another nation like Egypt.
  • "rely" (בָּטַח, bāṭaḥ): This crucial verb signifies trust, confidence, dependence, or a sense of security. It contrasts human reliance with divine trust. The Rabshakeh cannot fathom Judah defying Assyria without someone to lean on.

• "that you rebelled against me?":

  • "rebelled" (מָרַד, mārad): This strong verb indicates defiance, revolt, or an act of open insubordination against an established authority. From the Assyrian perspective, Judah, as a former vassal state, was directly rebelling against their overlord, King Sennacherib. Rabshakeh implies their rebellion is irrational if they have no real backing.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I have counsel and might for war": This group represents human self-reliance, the conviction in one's own plans and strength, especially in the face of conflict. It reflects a common worldly perspective of self-sufficiency.
  • "but they are mere words": This phrase functions as a dismissive counter-argument, highlighting the inadequacy of human plans and strength when confronted by overwhelming force or without divine endorsement. It challenges the very foundation of self-confidence without substance.
  • "On whom, then, do you rely, that you rebelled against me?": This collective challenge targets Judah's source of hope and courage. It forces Judah to confront who or what they truly trust, and why they would dare to defy an empire that claims to be superior. The question is posed to sow doubt, pushing them away from any source of faith or external aid.

Isaiah 36 5 Bonus section

Rabshakeh's challenge, though uttered from an arrogant and ungodly perspective, contains an unwitting element of truth: human "counsel and might" are mere words when confronted with a divinely orchestrated threat, or when divorced from dependence on the Almighty. Hezekiah and Judah's actual strength did not lie in their own war council or army but in their covenant relationship with God. Rabshakeh’s question, "On whom, then, do you rely?", although intended to demoralize, serves to sharpen Judah's understanding of their ultimate trust. It forces a decision between relying on earthly means or the living God. The irony is that the "rebellion" against Assyria was not truly backed by human alliances but by a re-awakened faith in Yahweh, a faith that the Rabshakeh could neither perceive nor comprehend. This scene underscores the biblical principle that genuine strength and victory come not from human wisdom or military might, but from complete reliance upon God's power and faithfulness, making even "empty words" a prelude to divine action.

Isaiah 36 5 Commentary

Rabshakeh’s words are a masterful piece of psychological warfare, meticulously crafted to expose and exploit any perceived weakness in Judah’s resolve. He begins by diminishing Hezekiah’s leadership, casting his "counsel and might for war" as hollow words devoid of practical weight against the might of Assyria. This taunt simultaneously mocks human boasts and sets the stage for a critical theological challenge: on whom is Judah truly relying if their own strength is insignificant? The Assyrian worldview, focused on visible power and strategic alliances, cannot comprehend defiance without a substantial earthly backing. Hezekiah and Judah are forced into a corner, confronted with the perceived futility of human endeavor and implicitly challenged to declare their reliance. This sets up the critical moment of faith, where human plans and strength would indeed prove insufficient, thus paving the way for God alone to demonstrate His unrivaled power and faithfulness to His people against a blasphemous foe.