Isaiah 37:18 kjv
Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
Isaiah 37:18 nkjv
Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,
Isaiah 37:18 niv
"It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands.
Isaiah 37:18 esv
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,
Isaiah 37:18 nlt
"It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations.
Isaiah 37 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 2:4 | The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. | God mocks earthly rulers. |
| Psa 33:10 | The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. | God's sovereignty over nations' plans. |
| Isa 10:5-19 | Assyria, the rod of My anger... Yet it does not so intend, nor does it so plan... | Assyria as God's instrument, judged for pride. |
| Nahum 1:1, 3:1 | An oracle concerning Nineveh... Woe to the city of blood! | Prophecies of Assyria's eventual fall. |
| Job 12:23 | He makes nations great, and He destroys them... | God's ultimate control over nations' destiny. |
| Dan 2:44 | The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... | God's eternal kingdom superior to all earthly. |
| 2 Kgs 19:15-19 | Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying: "O LORD... the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations..." | Parallel account of Hezekiah's prayer. |
| Psa 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. | Trust in God over human power. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD... | God controls the will of rulers. |
| Jer 1:10 | See, I have appointed you this day over nations... to uproot and to pull down... | God's sovereignty over rise and fall of nations. |
| Hab 1:6 | I am stirring up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people... | God using nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Psa 46:6 | The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered; he uttered his voice, the earth melted. | God's power quiets nations' fury. |
| Psa 76:12 | He breaks the pride of princes; he is to be feared by the kings of the earth. | God's triumph over proud rulers. |
| Isa 37:20 | So now, LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms... | Hezekiah's specific plea to God for salvation. |
| Psa 96:5 | For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. | Distinction between false gods and the Creator. |
| 1 Sam 2:2 | "There is no one holy like the LORD... there is no Rock like our God." | Uniqueness and incomparable nature of God. |
| Isa 44:6-8 | I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God... | God declares His sole deity and supremacy. |
| Exod 14:13-14 | The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. | Divine intervention in overwhelming circumstances. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | "Do not be afraid or discouraged... For the battle is not yours, but God's." | God's victory in battles of His people. |
| Isa 40:23 | He reduces rulers to nothing and makes the judges of the earth meaningless. | God's power over human authorities. |
| Zec 4:6 | "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty. | Divine power over human effort. |
| Rev 11:15 | The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord... | Ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. |
| Psa 22:28 | For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. | God's universal sovereignty. |
Isaiah 37 verses
Isaiah 37 18 Meaning
Isaiah 37:18 acknowledges the stark reality of Assyria's military power and its extensive, devastating conquests. It is part of King Hezekiah's prayer, where he recognizes the undeniable historical fact that the kings of Assyria had indeed ravaged many nations and their territories. This declaration serves as a realistic and factual preface to his heartfelt plea to the LORD, setting the stage for a dramatic contrast between human might and divine intervention.
Isaiah 37 18 Context
Isaiah chapter 37 details King Hezekiah's response to Sennacherib's threatening message against Judah and blasphemous challenge to the LORD. Earlier in chapter 36, the Assyrian field commander had tried to demoralize Jerusalem's defenders, claiming no god could deliver any nation from Assyria's hand. In Isaiah 37, Hezekiah receives Sennacherib's letter directly, which reiterates these boasts and insults against the LORD. Deeply troubled, Hezekiah goes to the Temple and spreads the letter before the LORD. Verse 18 is an integral part of his prayer, where he first articulates the known facts of Assyrian dominance—that their kings indeed destroyed many nations—before appealing to God to demonstrate His unique power and save Jerusalem. Historically, Sennacherib's campaign in 701 BCE against Judah resulted in the capture of many fortified cities, creating an immense pressure on Jerusalem, which was the last stronghold. This context underscores the dire situation and the stark realism of Hezekiah's acknowledgment of Assyrian might.
Isaiah 37 18 Word analysis
Indeed (כִּי, ki): This particle often introduces a statement of fact or strong affirmation. Here, it lends emphasis, confirming the undisputed truth of the Assyrian conquests. It doesn't question the reports but rather acknowledges them as fact.
O LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God. Hezekiah addresses God directly by His personal, revealed name. This signifies an appeal to God based on His character, faithfulness, and relationship with Israel, standing in stark contrast to the unnamed, defeated gods of other nations.
the kings of Assyria (מַלְכֵי אַשּׁוּר, malkey Ashshur): The use of the plural "kings" is significant. It implies a long, successive history of Assyrian aggression and destruction, extending beyond just Sennacherib. This emphasizes the pervasive and established nature of the Assyrian threat and its consistent success against multiple kingdoms over time, rather than a single ruler's isolated campaign.
have laid waste (הֶחֱרִֽיבוּ, hecherivu): From the root חָרַב (charav), meaning to be desolate, ruined, or laid waste. This strong verb describes a comprehensive, utterly destructive act. It signifies complete desolation, not just conquest, but a stripping away of resources and population.
all the lands (כָל־הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת, kol-ha'aratzot): Refers to the various nations, countries, or kingdoms conquered by Assyria. The term "all" highlights the wide-ranging and overwhelming scale of Assyrian dominance, leaving virtually no kingdom unchallenged or unconquered.
and their country (וְאַרְצָֽם, ve'artzam): This phrase further emphasizes the completeness and totality of the devastation. It refers to the specific territories, lands, or homelands of those conquered nations. It reiterates that the destruction wasn't merely military defeat but extended to the physical possession and habitability of their very territories, underlining the severity of the Assyrian campaign.
"Indeed, O LORD, the kings of Assyria...": Hezekiah acknowledges human power and addresses divine power in the same breath. This sets up the fundamental theological tension: earthly might against divine sovereignty. He acknowledges the truth of Sennacherib's boast regarding the historical facts, but not the theological implications of God's power being limited.
"...have laid waste all the lands and their country.": This phrase collectively portrays the relentless and total destructive power of the Assyrian Empire. It is a factual statement confirming the successful military campaigns and devastating impact of Assyria on the geopolitical landscape of the Ancient Near East, making Judah's situation seem utterly hopeless from a human perspective.
Isaiah 37 18 Bonus section
The rhetorical strategy of Hezekiah in stating the obvious (the destruction caused by Assyria) is noteworthy. It is an honest appraisal of the current political and military landscape. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the might of an empire like Assyria was often interpreted as evidence of its gods' superiority. By first affirming Assyria's human strength, Hezekiah clears the ground to then emphatically argue for YHWH's supernatural strength and uniqueness. This realistic assessment makes God's subsequent miraculous intervention (Isa 37:36) all the more dramatic and irrefutable, proving that YHWH is not merely another local deity among many, susceptible to earthly powers, but the sovereign Lord over all. His prayer acts as a pattern for us: to first be realistic about our challenges and then, with that understanding, bring them before God, expecting Him to act beyond human capacity.
Isaiah 37 18 Commentary
Isaiah 37:18 is a pivotal statement in Hezekiah's prayer, marked by a sober and realistic acknowledgment of historical facts. Hezekiah, in addressing YHWH, validates the undeniable military success and widespread destruction wrought by successive Assyrian kings across various nations. This verse is not an expression of despair but a foundation for his petition. By stating what is known and visible—Assyria's unparalleled power to utterly devastate "all the lands and their country"—Hezekiah subtly elevates the plea for divine intervention. It magnifies the power of God needed to overcome such a formidable, proven enemy. He is essentially saying, "We all see what Assyria has done; now show us what only You can do." It sets up the theological confrontation between the boasted power of Assyrian deities (or lack thereof) and the unique, unmatched power of YHWH, whom Sennacherib has directly challenged.