Isaiah 37 24

Isaiah 37:24 kjv

By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

Isaiah 37:24 nkjv

By your servants you have reproached the Lord, And said, 'By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter its farthest height, To its fruitful forest.

Isaiah 37:24 niv

By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. And you have said, 'With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost heights of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its junipers. I have reached its remotest heights, the finest of its forests.

Isaiah 37:24 esv

By your servants you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon, to cut down its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses, to come to its remotest height, its most fruitful forest.

Isaiah 37:24 nlt

By your messengers you have defied the Lord.
You have said, 'With my many chariots
I have conquered the highest mountains ?
yes, the remotest peaks of Lebanon.
I have cut down its tallest cedars
and its finest cypress trees.
I have reached its farthest heights
and explored its deepest forests.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 24 Meaning

Isaiah 37:24 conveys God's direct indictment of Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, for his audacious blasphemy and pride, communicated through his representatives. The verse records Sennacherib's boast, declaring that through his overwhelming military power, especially his chariots, he has effortlessly conquered the most formidable natural barriers, such as towering mountains and the remote parts of Lebanon. He arrogantly proclaims his intention to decimate its most magnificent trees—the tallest cedars and choicest cypresses—and to penetrate its most inaccessible regions and densest forests. This statement exemplifies extreme human hubris, presuming absolute dominion over both nature and nations, and overtly challenging the ultimate sovereignty of the Lord.

Isaiah 37 24 Context

Isaiah 37 chronicles a pivotal moment in Judah's history: the Assyrian invasion under King Sennacherib. Jerusalem is besieged, and Hezekiah, king of Judah, receives a blasphemous letter from Sennacherib, challenging YHWH's power by listing the conquered gods of other nations. Hezekiah responds with humility, laying the letter before the Lord in the Temple and fervently praying for deliverance. This verse is part of God's immediate and reassuring reply through the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah. God assures Hezekiah that He has heard the prayer and knows Sennacherib's boasts. Isaiah 37:24, therefore, serves as God's direct quoting and denunciation of Sennacherib's profound arrogance and defiance, highlighting the very words that warrant divine judgment and setting the stage for Judah's miraculous deliverance.

Isaiah 37 24 Word analysis

• By your servants: בְּיַד־עֲבָדֶיךָ (b'yad-'avadeykha). The phrase "by the hand of your servants" emphasizes that Sennacherib is fully accountable for the mocking words delivered through his messengers (like Rabshekah, in the preceding chapter). These representatives were acting on his behalf and spoke with his authority, making their blasphemy his own.
• have you mocked: חֵרַפְתָּ (kheraf'ta). From חָרַף (kharaph), meaning to reproach, taunt, defy, blaspheme, revile. It's a strong verb signifying deliberate, insolent contempt and open insult. It's not merely speaking against, but scornful degradation.
• the Lord: יהוה (YHWH). This is the divine, personal, covenant name of God. Mocking YHWH carries far greater gravity than mocking any other deity, signifying an attack on the God of Israel who had revealed Himself intimately.
• and you have said: וַתֹּאמֶר (vatomer). Introduces Sennacherib's direct words, conveying the specific content of his proud boasting that prompted God's indignation.
• With my many chariots: בְּרֹב רִכְבִּי (b'rov rik'bî). "Multitude of my chariots." Emphasizes Assyria's vast military strength and the king's reliance on his human resources, particularly their formidable chariotry, renowned for speed and destructive power in ancient warfare.
• I have gone up: אֲנִי עָלִיתִי (anî 'ālîtî). "I, I have ascended." The redundant "I" emphasizes self-aggrandizement. עָלָה ('alah) here is perfect tense, suggesting an accomplished feat. It reflects an arrogant confidence based on past military successes, boasting of overcoming natural obstacles.
• the heights of the mountains: מְרוֹם הָרִים (m'rôm hārîm). Literally, "height of mountains." Symbolizes overcoming the most challenging geographical barriers and perceived impregnable defenses. It expresses a sense of dominion over the very topography of the land.
• to the farthest recesses of Lebanon: יַרְכְּתֵי לְבָנוֹן (yark'tê l'vanôn). יַרְכָּה (yarkah) denotes "extremity, remotest part, interior." Lebanon was famous for its high mountain ranges and valuable cedar forests, often seen as a symbol of strength and glory. Penetrating its "farthest recesses" implies deep, thorough, and unchallenged conquest.
• I will cut down: אֶכְרֹת (ekrôt). Future tense of כָּרַת (karat), meaning "to cut off, cut down, fell." It denotes a determined destructive action, indicating not just conquest but despoilment and obliteration of the land's prime assets.
• its tallest cedars: אֲרָזֶיהָ קָּמַת ('arazeyhā qāmat). "Its standing cedars" or "its tall cedars." Cedars (אֶרֶז - 'erez) of Lebanon were prized for their strength, beauty, and scent, used in temples and palaces. They were also symbols of national strength and pride (e.g., in Ps 29; Ezek 31). Cutting them down symbolizes stripping the land of its glory and resources.
• its choicest cypresses: בְּרוֹשׁ (berôsh). Also translated as fir or juniper. Similar to cedars, they represented valuable resources and natural majesty. "Choicest" underscores the intention to take the best, reflecting predatory exploitation.
• I will enter: אֲבוֹא ('avô). Cohortative verb from בּוֹא (bo'), meaning "to come, go, enter." It signifies a determined, resolute intention to penetrate and occupy.
• its farthest lodging place: מְלוֹן קִצֹּה (m'lōn qiṣṣōh). מָלוֹן (malon) means "lodging place, encampment," and קִצָּה (qiṣṣah) means "extremity, border." Figuratively, it denotes the innermost or remotest, most secret stronghold or dwelling place. The imagery suggests penetrating to the very heart and essence of the land, leaving nothing unconquered.
• its densest forest: וְיַעַר כַּרְמִלּוֹ (v'ya'ar karmilô). יַעַר (ya'ar) is "forest, thicket." כַּרְמִל (karmil) literally refers to "garden land, fruitful land" or the region of Mount Carmel, known for its fertility and dense vegetation. "The forest of its Carmel" suggests the richest, most formidable, and wildest parts, seen as impenetrable. This phrase encapsulates a boast of absolute, comprehensive conquest and domination.

Isaiah 37 24 Bonus section

• Ancient Near Eastern Propaganda: Sennacherib's boast resonates with common themes found in Assyrian royal inscriptions, which frequently exaggerated the king's strength, military prowess, and the unconquerable nature of the territories subdued. Such rhetoric aimed to intimidate enemies and legitimize rule by claiming divine favor (though ironically, he mocks the true God here).
• God's Omniscience: God's direct quoting of Sennacherib's words, even those likely spoken within the Assyrian camp or through messengers without specific divine address, underscores His omniscience. He is privy to all human boasts, plans, and blasphemies, even those spoken in supposed secrecy or pride.
• Irony of God's Control (Foreshadowed): Later in Is 37:26, God reveals the profound irony: He himself had "planned it long ago" that Sennacherib would lay waste to fortified cities. Sennacherib boasted of what he believed he had accomplished, completely unaware that he was merely an instrument in God's sovereign hand. This verse is key to setting up that grand divine revelation.
• Symbolic Defilement: Entering Lebanon's "farthest lodging place" and "densest forest" can also be understood as a form of symbolic defilement. These are pristine, majestic parts of creation, often seen as metaphors for untouched sanctity or hidden strength. Sennacherib's boast signifies a complete conquest that respects no boundaries.

Isaiah 37 24 Commentary

Sennacherib's self-glorifying boast, meticulously recounted by God Himself, stands as a chilling testament to human hubris. He arrogantly attributes his extensive military conquests, including the surmounting of imposing natural barriers like mountains and Lebanon, solely to his own power—his chariots and might. The imagery of cutting down Lebanon's majestic cedars and cypresses, then penetrating its remotest lodges and densest forests, symbolizes a king's perceived total dominance, not just over human adversaries but over nature itself. This portrayal highlights his intent to strip the land of its glory and resources, believing no part to be beyond his reach or exploitation. God, however, is setting the record straight: this profound blasphemy, voiced by His "servants," is not directed merely at an earthly kingdom but squarely at YHWH. The verse is a potent declaration of the conflict between finite human ambition and infinite divine sovereignty, foreshadowing God's imminent, dramatic intervention to humble the proud king. It reveals that what man boasts of doing by his strength, God not only sees but uses to orchestrate His own purposes and ultimately demonstrate that true power belongs only to Him.