Isaiah 37 16

Isaiah 37:16 kjv

O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 37:16 nkjv

"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 37:16 niv

"LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 37:16 esv

"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 37:16 nlt

"O LORD of Heaven's Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 16 Meaning

Hezekiah's prayer asserts YHWH's absolute and singular sovereignty as the Creator of the universe and the specific God of Israel, uniquely enthroned above the cherubim. This declaration signifies Him as the one true God, holding supreme dominion over all earthly kingdoms and the entire cosmos. It is a direct appeal based on God's inherent power and nature, not on Israel's merit.

Isaiah 37 16 Context

Isaiah 37:16 is part of Hezekiah's fervent prayer in response to the dire threat from the Assyrian Empire. Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, had already captured many nations and sent his Rabshakeh to Jerusalem with intimidating and blasphemous taunts. These taunts mocked Judah's God, suggesting YHWH was no more capable of delivering His people than the gods of the conquered nations had been. Following the Rabshakeh's oral challenge, Sennacherib sent a letter reiterating his threats and denigration of YHWH. Hezekiah, in deep distress and humility, took this letter and spread it before the LORD in the temple. His prayer is a desperate plea for deliverance, but it begins not with a request, but with a profound declaration of who God is, refuting the Assyrian claims by affirming God's unique sovereignty, universal power, and role as Creator, positioning Him far above all earthly rulers and their gods. This moment is critical, as the survival of Judah, and symbolically, the promise of God to David, hangs in the balance.

Isaiah 37 16 Word analysis

• O LORD of hosts: יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (YHWH Sabaoth). This compound name emphasizes God's sovereign power as the supreme commander of celestial armies and forces, a warrior God who orchestrates all things. It highlights His omnipotence and universal control.
• God of Israel: אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (Elohei Yisrael). This term signifies His unique covenant relationship and commitment to Israel. It highlights His personal involvement with His chosen people, assuring them that this powerful cosmic God is specifically their God.
• enthroned above the cherubim: יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים (Yoshēv ha-Keruvim). This phrase directly evokes the imagery of the Ark of the Covenant's mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, where the cherubim guarded God's presence (Ex 25:22). It represents His ultimate, majestic, and heavenly throne, underscoring His transcendence, holiness, and supreme authority, contrasting Him sharply with localized pagan deities.
• you are the God, you alone: אַתָּה־הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים לְבַדֶּךָ (Atta-Hu ha-Elohim l'vadekha). This is a strong declaration of exclusive monotheism. It refutes all forms of polytheism and asserts YHWH as the sole, true, and unrivalled Deity, emphasizing His uniqueness and supreme claim to worship.
• of all the kingdoms of the earth: לְכָל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ (l'chol mamlekôt ha'aretz). This declares God's universal dominion. He is not just a tribal deity or God of a single nation, but holds absolute sovereignty over all human nations and their rulers, even over mighty empires like Assyria. No earthly power is outside His control.
• you have made heaven and earth: אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ (Atta asita et-hashamayim v'et ha'aretz). This foundational truth establishes God's ultimate authority based on His role as Creator. His ability to create all existence gives Him absolute power and rightful jurisdiction over everything within His creation, including all physical realms and the rulers therein.

• "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel": This pairing seamlessly integrates God's limitless universal power and His specific, personal covenant relationship. Hezekiah recognizes that the God who commands the universe is also the God who has bound Himself to His chosen people.
• "enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone": This grouping connects God's majestic, transcendental dwelling place with His unique divine nature. His supreme physical location signifies His exclusive divinity, implying no other god shares His throne or power.
• "of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth": Here, God's universal governance over humanity ("kingdoms of the earth") is grounded in His foundational act of creation ("made heaven and earth"). His ability to create everything gives Him inherent, undisputed authority over everything He created, including all rulers and nations.

Isaiah 37 16 Bonus section

This verse serves as a crucial theological polemic. Hezekiah's address directly counters the prevalent polytheism and henotheism of the ancient Near East, particularly the Assyrian claims that their gods were superior to Judah's God, who supposedly failed to protect His people. By asserting YHWH's exclusive identity as Creator and Universal Sovereign, Hezekiah denies any legitimate power or existence to other supposed deities. His prayer effectively shifts the focus from an earthly military confrontation to a cosmic battle between the one true God and the empty boasts of pagan gods, affirming that the ultimate outcome rests entirely with YHWH's will and power. It's a foundational statement on God's nature that sets the stage for a dramatic display of His faithfulness and power in the narrative that follows.

Isaiah 37 16 Commentary

Hezekiah's prayer in Isaiah 37:16 stands as a monumental declaration of God's unparalleled sovereignty and omnipotence, offered at the brink of national annihilation. Confronted by the overwhelming military might and blasphemous boasts of the Assyrians, Hezekiah grounds his petition not in Judah's strength or righteousness, but entirely in the character of YHWH. He invokes God as "LORD of hosts," acknowledging His ultimate authority over all forces, heavenly and earthly. Calling Him "God of Israel" emphasizes His covenant faithfulness, assuring that this cosmic power is directed towards His chosen people. The title "enthroned above the cherubim" reinforces His transcendental holiness and unique dwelling place, a distinct refutation of any notion of a localized or limited deity.

The core of Hezekiah’s argument lies in the twin affirmations: "you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth." This powerfully asserts monotheism against Assyrian polytheism. It unequivocally declares that YHWH is the singular, unrivaled, and universal ruler, whose dominion over all nations stems directly from His role as Creator of all existence. Because He created heaven and earth, He legitimately rules all within them, including every human kingdom. This theological foundation transforms Hezekiah's prayer from a cry of despair into an unshakeable confession of faith, paving the way for God's miraculous intervention and deliverance.