Isaiah 37 15

Isaiah 37:15 kjv

And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

Isaiah 37:15 nkjv

Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying:

Isaiah 37:15 niv

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

Isaiah 37:15 esv

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

Isaiah 37:15 nlt

And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the LORD:

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 15 Meaning

In Isaiah 37:15, King Hezekiah, facing an overwhelming Assyrian invasion and the blasphemous threats of Sennacherib against YHWH, makes a pivotal and direct appeal to God. This verse marks his solemn act of turning to the Almighty in earnest, humble prayer, signifying a profound dependence on divine intervention rather than military strategy or human alliances. It encapsulates a moment of deep spiritual leadership where the earthly king seeks the heavenly King's strength and deliverance.

Isaiah 37 15 Context

Isaiah 37:15 is situated within a critical historical period: the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem around 701 BC during the reign of King Hezekiah. After conquering many fortified cities of Judah, Sennacherib's army directly threatened Jerusalem. The verse immediately follows Sennacherib's second, more defiant, and blasphemous letter delivered to Hezekiah (Isa 37:9-13), in which the Assyrian king explicitly taunted YHWH, challenging His power to deliver Jerusalem, just as other gods had failed to save their nations from Assyria.

Hezekiah's first response to the initial threat was a display of national mourning and humble supplication by tearing his clothes, covering himself with sackcloth, and going to the temple (Isa 37:1). He then sent messengers to the prophet Isaiah seeking a word from YHWH, which brought a promise of deliverance (Isa 37:5-7). However, upon receiving the second, more egregious letter filled with direct insults against the God of Israel, Hezekiah’s response escalates from symbolic acts of humility and indirect petition to a direct, personal, and fervent prayer addressed specifically to YHWH, demonstrating profound trust in the face of humanly insurmountable odds and an urgent appeal for God to defend His own honor and His people.

Isaiah 37 15 Word analysis

• And/Then (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל - va + yitpallēl): The initial Hebrew connective particle, "וְ" (vav), often translated as "And" or "Then," indicates a sequential and direct response. It signifies that Hezekiah's prayer is an immediate and deliberate action taken after reading Sennacherib's provocative letter.
• Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ - Ḥizqiyyahu): The name means "YHWH strengthens" or "YHWH is my strength." He was the pious King of Judah who reigned from 715–686 BC, known for his religious reforms (2 Kgs 18-20, 2 Chr 29-32). His act of prayer here profoundly reflects his character as a leader who ultimately relied on God, underscoring the spiritual nature of his reign amidst political turmoil.
• prayed (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל - vayyitpallēl): This is a Hithpael imperfect conjugation of the Hebrew verb פָּלַל (palal). The Hithpael stem often denotes a reflexive or intensive action, meaning "to intercede on behalf of oneself/others," "to humble oneself," or "to judge oneself." It implies an earnest, self-scrutinizing, and deeply personal act of entreaty or supplication before God, not a casual request. It suggests an intense communion and a fervent, perhaps desperate, petition for divine intervention.
• to the LORD (אֶל-יְהוָה - ʾel YHWH): The preposition אֶל (ʾel) denotes direction, signifying a direct address or movement towards a person or deity. יְהוָה (YHWH), the Tetragrammaton, is the ineffable personal covenant name of God revealed to Israel. This direct address to YHWH emphasizes His unique, personal relationship with His people and His ultimate sovereignty over all other so-called gods of the nations, a central theme in the confrontation with Assyria.
• saying (לֵאמֹר - lēʾmōr): A standard Hebrew infinitive construct used idiomatically to introduce direct speech. It indicates that the subsequent verses contain the exact words Hezekiah uttered in his prayer, making it an inspired record of his heartfelt appeal to God.

Word Group Analysis:

• "And Hezekiah prayed": This phrase immediately establishes the protagonist's response and the nature of that response. In a situation demanding military or political cunning, the king’s primary action is spiritual, highlighting his theological understanding that deliverance ultimately rests with YHWH.
• "prayed to the LORD": This emphasizes the exclusive direction of Hezekiah's plea. It is not to his army, or foreign allies, or even to a generic deity, but specifically to YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. This choice demonstrates His absolute trust in God's power and faithfulness, aligning with the prophetic messages of Isaiah that counsel against reliance on human strength or other nations.
• "to the LORD, saying": This precise wording underlines the formality and directness of Hezekiah's appeal. He is not merely thinking or murmuring; he is articulately laying out his case and concerns before the supreme Judge and Deliverer, indicating a profound and deliberate engagement with the divine presence.

Isaiah 37 15 Bonus section

This verse subtly contrasts Hezekiah's faithful leadership with that of his father, Ahaz, who in a similar time of crisis rejected Isaiah's call to trust YHWH and instead sought help from Assyria (Isa 7:1-12). Hezekiah’s immediate and direct appeal to God here demonstrates a stark spiritual renewal in Judah's leadership. Moreover, the act of prayer itself in this context embodies a theological battle. Sennacherib's threats were not merely military; they were a theological challenge, declaring the gods of the nations powerless. Hezekiah's prayer implicitly reasserts YHWH's absolute supremacy, shifting the focus from national military power to divine sovereignty and justice, thus transforming a military crisis into a testament of faith and God's glory.

Isaiah 37 15 Commentary

Isaiah 37:15 serves as a profound hinge in the narrative, shifting from the overwhelming human threat to the anticipated divine response. It is Hezekiah's moment of profound spiritual resolve, choosing utter dependence on YHWH when all earthly hope seemed lost. His act of praying, articulated with intensity, directly confronts the Assyrian blasphemy and places the fate of Jerusalem and the honor of God's name solely in the Almighty's hands. This verse beautifully illustrates a king's humble and urgent appeal to the One who "sits above the cherubim," inviting divine intervention that goes beyond human capability. It showcases the power and privilege of turning to God in crisis, not as a last resort, but as the only true source of deliverance, setting the stage for one of the most miraculous interventions in biblical history.