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 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 37:24 | You have insulted the Lord with your messengers. | Isa 37:24 (Introductory clause) |
| 2 Kings 19:23 | You have insulted the Lord through your messengers. | 2 Kings 19:23 (Parallel account) |
| Psalm 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. | Psalm 76:10 (God's restraint) |
| Proverbs 16:4 | The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. | Proverbs 16:4 (God's purpose) |
| Jeremiah 50:25 | The Lord hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation. | Jeremiah 50:25 (God's judgment) |
| Daniel 4:32 | And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What hast thou done? | Daniel 4:32 (God's sovereignty) |
| Revelation 18:7 | How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her of. | Revelation 18:7 (Divine retribution) |
| Isaiah 14:13-15 | For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. | Isaiah 14:13-15 (Sennacherib's pride) |
| Ezekiel 28:2-10 | The oracle against the king of Tyre echoes Sennacherib's pride and fall. | Ezekiel 28:2-10 (Pride leads to fall) |
| Luke 10:16 | He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. | Luke 10:16 (Insulting messengers) |
| Isaiah 10:12 | Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. | Isaiah 10:12 (God punishes Assyria) |
| Psalm 46:6 | The nations made a noise, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. | Psalm 46:6 (God's powerful voice) |
| Job 40:2 | And shall the dust contend with the clay? or shall the creature say to his maker, thou makest me wrong? | Job 40:2 (Respect for the Creator) |
| Romans 9:20 | Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? | Romans 9:20 (Against questioning God) |
| Jeremiah 51:36 | Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. | Jeremiah 51:36 (God pleads cause) |
| 2 Chronicles 32:9 | Thus saith Sennacherib, king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye may abide in the siege? | 2 Chronicles 32:9 (Assyrian challenge) |
| Isaiah 37:34-36 | God declares his intention to defend Jerusalem and destroy the Assyrian army. | Isaiah 37:34-36 (Vindication) |
| Psalm 50:20 | Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. | Psalm 50:20 (Slander) |
| Proverbs 18:13 | He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. | Proverbs 18:13 (Rash answer) |
| Psalm 74:22 | Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. | Psalm 74:22 (God to plead cause) |
Isaiah 37 verses
Isaiah 37 24 Meaning
This verse signifies divine judgment and vindication. God directly addresses the boasting king of Assyria, declaring that His anger towards him and his presumptuous attack is only permitted and has a divinely appointed limit. He reveals that the king's pride and aggressive actions were anticipated by God and will ultimately lead to his downfall and the destruction of his army. It's a statement of sovereign control over history and nations.
Isaiah 37 24 Context
This verse occurs in Isaiah chapter 37, which is a parallel account to 2 Kings chapter 19. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, has besieged Jerusalem and sent his messengers with arrogant taunts and blasphemies against God (Yahweh), challenging Hezekiah and the people of Judah to stand firm. King Hezekiah, instead of succumbing to fear, humbles himself, prays to God, and seeks guidance from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah relays God's message directly back to Sennacherib, and verse 24 is part of that divine rebuttal. The broader context is the powerful geopolitical tension between the expanding Assyrian empire and the kingdom of Judah, set against a backdrop of divine sovereignty over national destinies. It also contrasts the true God with the lesser deities of surrounding nations, which Sennacherib had implicitly credited with his successes.
Isaiah 37 24 Word Analysis
“Why” - This opening indicates a rhetorical question, expressing God's exasperation and judgment over the king's actions and insolence.
“hast thou done” - Implies the king's self-sufficient pride and self-attribution of his achievements, failing to recognize God's overarching control.
“this” - Refers specifically to Sennacherib's audacious campaign, his presumptuous boasts, and his blasphemous messages.
“hast thou arrogantly raged” -
- "arrogantly" ( Hebrew: גָּדֹל - gadol) - While primarily meaning "great" or "large," here it carries the sense of haughtiness, pride, and presumption, indicating inflated self-importance. It can also be translated as "greatly" or "highly" in reference to his rage.
- "raged" ( Hebrew: זָדָה - zadah) - This verb signifies proud or presumptuous sinning, acting defiantly and arrogantly against God or divine order. It is a willful and conceited act of rebellion.
“against me” - Directly points to God as the target of Sennacherib's pride and actions, highlighting the ultimate spiritual dimension of the conflict.
“thy pride” - Refers to Sennacherib's excessive self-esteem, boastfulness, and confidence in his own might, which led him to defy God.
“thy loftiness” - Signifies his arrogance, high-mindedness, and his elevated, self-imposed status that disregarded God. It describes his elevated thoughts and demeanor.
Words Group Analysis:
- “hast thou arrogantly raged against me, thy pride, thy loftiness” - This group of words encapsulates Sennacherib's sin: a proud, defiant opposition against God Himself, driven by an inflated sense of self and greatness. It’s the articulation of his god-like ambition.
Isaiah 37 24 Bonus Section
The prophecy of Isaiah 37, which includes this verse, is a classic example of "sign" literature in the Old Testament, pointing to God's direct intervention to save His people when they cry out to Him. Scholars note the vivid language used by Isaiah, which was designed to inspire confidence in God amidst dire circumstances. The threat from Assyria was real and terrifying; many nations had fallen before its might. By directly addressing Sennacherib's boastful words and limiting his reach, God demonstrates His unique power over all earthly rulers and forces. The theme of God hearing the prayers of the humble (Hezekiah) and rebuking the proud is a recurring motif throughout Scripture. Sennacherib's ultimate destruction (described in the subsequent verses) was not accidental but a direct consequence of his defiance, echoing the fate of many proud rulers throughout biblical history. The passage also reflects on the nature of true faith: trusting in God even when human circumstances appear hopeless.
Isaiah 37 24 Commentary
This verse is a direct divine indictment against Sennacherib. God, through Isaiah, calls out the Assyrian king's excessive pride and aggressive actions not merely as political threats, but as personal affronts. The Hebrew word for "raged" ( zadah) highlights the sinfulness of his arrogance, emphasizing a presumptuous act against divine authority. God declares that the king's boasts and actions have reached the heavens (figuratively), challenging the divine order. This is God asserting His supreme sovereignty and reminding the arrogant ruler that his power and actions are not independent but are permitted and ultimately limited by the Almighty. The verse underscores that true power and security come from obedience to God, not from military might or proud boasts.