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 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 37:16 | O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubim, you are he who is God, alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth... | Isa 40:26, Jer 10:6-7, Psa 97:5 |
| Psa 97:5 | The hills melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. | |
| Jer 10:7 | Who would not fear you, O King of nations? For that is your due! Among all the nations' wise men and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. | Isa 44:24, Deut 3:24, Psa 47:2, 83:18 |
| Isa 45:5-6 | I am the LORD, and there is no other... so that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. | Deut 4:35, 4:39, 6:4, 1 Kings 8:60 |
| 1 Kings 8:60 | so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. | |
| Exod 15:11 | Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, terrible in praises, doing wonders? | Psa 77:13-14, 89:6-8, Mic 7:18 |
| Psa 83:18 | that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth. | |
| Psa 47:2 | For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. | |
| Ps 96:10 | Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." | Isa 24:23, Rev 11:15 |
| Jer 23:23-24 | Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God from afar? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. | Psa 139:7-10, Amos 9:2-3 |
| Isa 14:24, 27 | The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand... For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who can annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” | Isa 46:10, 14:26-27, Acts 4:27-28 |
| Acts 4:28 | to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to happen. | |
| Rev 19:6 | Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” | 1 Cor 10:26 |
| 1 Cor 10:26 | For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." | |
| Isa 6:1 | In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. | John 12:41 |
| John 12:41 | Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. | |
| Eze 10:1-22 | Detailed description of the cherubim and the glory of God. | Exod 25:18-22, Psa 80:1 |
| Psa 80:1 | To the choirmaster: according to Lilies of Testimony. A Psalm of Asaph. Rouse your power and come to save us! | |
| Isa 37:14-15 | Hezekiah received the letter... and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. |
Isaiah 37 verses
Isaiah 37 16 Meaning
The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim, is the one true God. He alone has sovereign power over all the nations and the created order. This declaration is a powerful assertion of God's unique deity and his supreme authority, particularly in response to the arrogant claims and threats of Assyria against Judah. He is not like the idols of the nations that Assyria worships and boasts about.
Isaiah 37 16 Context
This verse is spoken by Hezekiah, king of Judah, in response to the blasphemous taunts of the Assyrian commander (Rabshakeh) who had threatened Jerusalem. Assyria, a vast empire, had already conquered many nations and now boasted of its invincibility, implying their gods were more powerful than the God of Israel. Hezekiah, facing an overwhelming military threat, turned to prayer and a direct appeal to God. The chapter records this prayer, which forms the core of the theological response to Assyria's challenge. Isaiah the prophet then conveys God's reassurance to Hezekiah, reiterating this statement of God's sovereignty.
Isaiah 37 16 Word analysis
- O LORD of hosts (Adonai-Tzevaot):
- Adonai: Lord, Master, owner. A title of authority and sovereignty.
- Tzevaot: Hosts, armies, companies. Refers to heavenly armies (angels) and earthly armies, signifying God's command over all powers.
- God of Israel: A specific covenantal designation, highlighting God's relationship and promises to His chosen people.
- enthroned on the cherubim: The cherubim were symbolic representations of God's throne and presence, seen in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and Temple. This emphasizes His divine majesty, holiness, and omnipresence, even in the midst of His people. It connects to the imagery from Exodus and Ezekiel.
- you are he who is God: A strong affirmation of God's singular and absolute deity.
- alone: Emphasizes uniqueness, singularity, and exclusion of any other god.
- of all the kingdoms of the earth: Declares His supreme rule not just over Israel, but over every nation and political entity, asserting universal sovereignty.
Isaiah 37 16 Bonus section
The imagery of God enthroned on the cherubim is central to the Davidic dynasty and the Temple's significance, representing God's active rule from His earthly dwelling place. Sennacherib, by his advance and the Rabshakeh’s words, directly challenged this claim, by implication accusing God of being weak or absent. Hezekiah’s response reasserts this foundational truth about God’s supreme authority and active presence. The theological argument is clear: if God rules all kingdoms, He can certainly deliver Judah from the Assyrian threat. This verse serves as a prelude to God's direct response, where He dramatically vindicates His name and His people.
Isaiah 37 16 Commentary
Hezekiah’s prayer in this chapter is a masterclass in confronting impossible situations with faith in God's ultimate power. He doesn't dismiss the threat but frames it within God’s ultimate control. The verse encapsulates the essence of Israel’s monotheism against the polytheistic empires surrounding them. God is presented not merely as the God of Israel but as the sovereign ruler over all earthly kingdoms, the supreme commander of all forces, celestial and terrestrial. This declaration of divine uniqueness is meant to debunk the arrogance of empires and reassure the faithful that their hope is in the One who created and controls everything. It highlights that the battle is fundamentally theological, and God’s power is absolute, rendering the might of human armies secondary.