Isaiah 37 13

Isaiah 37:13 kjv

Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?

Isaiah 37:13 nkjv

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?' "

Isaiah 37:13 niv

Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?"

Isaiah 37:13 esv

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?'"

Isaiah 37:13 nlt

What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"

Isaiah 37 13 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isa 37:14And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it;Narrative progression
Isa 37:15and Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying:Immediate context
2 Kin 19:14So Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz prayed about this and cried to heaven.Parallel account
Ps 33:10The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; he makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.God's sovereignty over nations
Ps 47:8God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.God's universal kingship
Ps 135:6Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all depths.God's absolute power and will
Ps 2:4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.God's scorn of earthly rulers
Ps 115:3Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.God's omnipotence and independence
Jer 10:7Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For that is your due.God's rightful fear and authority
Dan 4:34-35...and blesses him who is eternal. For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"God's everlasting dominion
Acts 4:24When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them..."Early church acknowledging God's creation and sovereignty
Rev 15:3And they sing the song of the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!"Worship attributing works to God Almighty
Psa 86:10For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.Unique deity, marvelous works
Psa 145:3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.Incomprehensible greatness
Psa 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain.God's use of human wrath
Deut 4:39Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.Exclusive claim of God's divinity
1 Sam 17:46...so that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."God's power in battle
Isa 10:5-15God's judgment on Assyria as his toolGod's use of nations for judgment
Isa 45:5-7God appoints Cyrus as his instrumentGod's sovereign appointment
Jer 14:22Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can give rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God?Distinguishing God from false gods
Jonah 1:9Then he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."Gentile sailors acknowledging God's creation

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 13 Meaning

This verse is part of a prayer by Hezekiah in response to Sennacherib's threatening message. It signifies Hezekiah's appeal to God as the ultimate Sovereign and Creator of all nations, placing the Assyrian king's boasts and threats within God's divine oversight and judgment. Hezekiah seeks God's intervention not just for Israel, but for all the world, acknowledging God's supreme authority.

Isaiah 37 13 Context

This verse occurs during the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, in the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah. Sennacherib had conquered many cities in Judah and sent his commander with a strong army to Jerusalem, demanding surrender. Hezekiah, instead of yielding, first sought advice from the prophet Isaiah and then led his people in prayer, highlighting their faith in God despite overwhelming circumstances. This verse specifically captures Hezekiah's prayer, a pivotal moment where he places the prideful and blasphemous words of the Assyrian commander before the LORD, the God who made everything.

Isaiah 37 13 Word Analysis

  • And Hezekiah (וַיִּשְׁמַע חִזְקִיָּ֫הוּ, va-yishma chizqiyyahu): Conjunction "and," followed by "Hezekiah." Hezekiah's action is directly linked to the reception of the message.
  • received (שָׁמַע, shama'): Root meaning "to hear" or "to listen." Here, it implies not just physical hearing but also understanding and taking in the message, a key step before his prayer.
  • the letter (אֶת־הַמִּכְתָּב, et-hamikhtav): "the" (et) indicates definiteness, and mikhtav means "writing" or "letter," signifying the written communication from the Assyrian king.
  • from the hand (מִיַּד, mi-yad): Preposition "from" (mi) and "hand" (yad). This idiomatically refers to the source or the bearer of the letter, highlighting that the message came through messengers.
  • of the messengers (הַמְּלָאכֶת, hammlakhah): "the" (ham) and mlakhah, meaning "messengers" or "envoy." This identifies the agents delivering the threat.
  • and read it (וַיִּקְרָאֵֽהוּ, vayiqra'ehu): Conjunction "and" (va) and "read" (qara). Hezekiah personally engaged with the content of the threat. The pronoun hu refers back to the letter.
  • and Hezekiah went up (וַיַּעַל חִזְקִיָּ֫הוּ, va-ya'al chizqiyyahu): "And" (va) and "went up" (ya'al). This suggests moving to a higher place, often associated with seeking God, like the temple mount or the house of God.
  • into the house (בֵּית־, beit-): "House" or "temple."
  • of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The personal name of God.
  • and spread it before (וַיִּפְרָשׂ אֹת֔וֹ לִפְנֵ֣י, vafirash oto lifney): "And spread" (parash) implies laying something out openly. Oto means "it" (the letter), and lifney means "before." This action symbolizes presenting the problem and the enemy's words directly to God for His attention and action.

Isaiah 37 13 Bonus Section

This event underscores the importance of prayer in the face of insurmountable odds. Hezekiah's action of taking the physical letter, a symbol of earthly power and threat, and presenting it before God highlights the principle of bringing one's circumstances, even the words of one's enemies, directly to the Lord in supplication. It emphasizes God's unique status not just as the God of Israel, but as the God of heaven and earth, before whom all earthly rulers and nations are subject. This narrative serves as a powerful testament to trusting in God's power and divine justice above human might.

Isaiah 37 13 Commentary

Hezekiah's response demonstrates profound faith. Instead of despair, he takes the offensive, not with military action, but through prayer and intercession. By "spreading the letter before the LORD," he essentially presents the enemy's claims and blasphemies directly to God. This act signifies that he recognizes God's ultimate sovereignty over human power and boastful words. He is not only asking for deliverance for Judah but is appealing to God's honor as the supreme King of all nations. This mirrors how later biblical figures and communities appeal to God when facing overwhelming opposition, understanding that all earthly powers operate within God's greater plan.