Isaiah 37 2

Isaiah 37:2 kjv

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

Isaiah 37:2 nkjv

Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.

Isaiah 37:2 niv

He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

Isaiah 37:2 esv

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz.

Isaiah 37:2 nlt

And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 2 Meaning

This verse describes a message from King Hezekiah of Judah, directed towards Isaiah the prophet. Hezekiah is relaying a plea for divine intervention concerning the Assyrian king Sennacherib's threats. He is sending his own officials and elders, a delegation of trust and importance, to communicate his deep distress and reliance on God for salvation from the imminent danger. The act of sending such a significant group emphasizes the gravity of the situation and Hezekiah's earnest desire for a prophetic response.

Isaiah 37 2 Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah and his siege of Jerusalem. The Assyrian king had already conquered many fortified cities in Judah and was now directly threatening the capital. King Hezekiah, a righteous ruler, was facing an overwhelming military power. The preceding chapter (Isaiah 36) details the Assyrian officials’ blasphemous taunts and threats, delivered in Hebrew to intimidate the people of Jerusalem. This verse marks the turning point where Hezekiah, rather than engaging in political or military solutions, turns to the prophet Isaiah for divine counsel and intervention, highlighting the religious and spiritual dimension of the conflict. The chapter as a whole recounts Hezekiah's faith-filled response to God through Isaiah, which leads to miraculous deliverance.

Isaiah 37 2 Word Analysis

• And (וְ / ve): Conjunction, connecting the actions of sending and the content of the message, emphasizing the sequence and purpose.
• He sent (שָׁלַח / shalach): Imperfect tense, indicating a completed action in the past narrative, denoting the act of dispatching. The root conveys sending, commissioning, or letting go.
• and (וְ / ve): Conjunction.
• his (וְ / ve): Possessive suffix.
• officers (שָׂרַי / sarai): Plural of שַׂר (sar), meaning prince, chief, ruler, captain. It refers to high-ranking officials or commanders within the kingdom, underscoring the seriousness of the delegation.
• and (וְ / ve): Conjunction.
• his (וְ / ve): Possessive suffix.
• elders (זְקֵנִים / zekenim): Plural of זָקֵן (zaken), meaning elder, old man. This group represented wisdom, experience, and the collective leadership of the community, making the delegation comprehensive and significant.
• of (בְּ / be): Preposition, indicating association or belonging.
• Wisdom (תְּבוּנָה / tevunah): Understanding, discernment, intelligence. This is not referring to wisdom possessors, but rather indicating the quality or nature of the elders sent – they were chosen for their discernment. However, in some textual interpretations, it might imply that the purpose of sending them was to gain understanding. More directly, it is a characteristic attributed to the group sent.
• to (אֶל / el): Preposition, indicating direction or recipient.
• Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ / Yesha‘yah): Name meaning "Yahweh saves." The prophet is the designated intermediary between God and the king.
• the (הַ / ha): Definite article.
• prophet (נָבִיא / navi): Speaker for God, one who receives and delivers divine messages.
• to (אֶל / el): Preposition.
• him (וְ / ve): Suffix pronoun, referring to Isaiah.
• saying (לֵאמֹר / le’mor): Infinitive absolute used to introduce direct speech or a message.

Group of Words Analysis:

• his officers and his elders of wisdom: This phrase highlights a carefully chosen delegation. They were not just any officials but those possessing "wisdom" or "discernment," indicating Hezekiah was seeking counsel from those with insight, not just authority. This emphasizes Hezekiah's understanding of the need for wise spiritual leadership in crisis.
• to Isaiah the prophet: The direct commissioning of a prophet as the recipient of the king's urgent plea signifies that the solution was understood to be beyond human means and resided with God. The prophet acted as God's mouthpiece.
• saying, "This day is a day of distress, and of rebuke, and of presumption...": The quote itself reveals the psychological and spiritual state of the kingdom – intense pressure, facing divine displeasure (rebuke), and the perceived insolence or audacity of the enemy. The collective use of "day" (יוֹם / yom) emphasizes the immediate and overwhelming nature of the crisis.

Isaiah 37 2 Bonus Section

The phrasing "his officers and his elders of wisdom" can also be interpreted, though less commonly, as those elders who were known for their wisdom. However, the grammatical structure in Hebrew often links the possessive with "elders," with "wisdom" serving as a descriptor for those elders or perhaps indicating the quality of their counsel. This delegation represents the totality of the kingdom's responsible leadership turning to spiritual leadership. This emphasis on spiritual consultation during national crises is a recurring theme in Israel's history and a crucial lesson for all who lead. The immediate distress conveyed also mirrors David's psalms where kings cried out to God in times of peril.

Isaiah 37 2 Commentary

Hezekiah's action of sending his highest officials and wisest elders to Isaiah underscores a critical leadership principle: when facing overwhelming human opposition or dire circumstances, the ultimate recourse is to seek God's counsel through His appointed prophets. The king understood that Sennacherib's blasphemy and military might were not merely a political or military threat but a direct challenge to God. Therefore, the answer must come from God. The composition of the delegation emphasizes that prayer and divine wisdom are not for the ignorant or powerless but for those with authority and understanding. This moment reflects a dependence on the divine that was characteristic of Hezekiah's reign, leading to extraordinary deliverance as detailed in subsequent verses. It serves as a profound example for believers facing trials, directing them to seek spiritual guidance and trust in God's intervention rather than solely relying on human strength or strategy.