Isaiah 37 26

Isaiah 37:26 kjv

Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.

Isaiah 37:26 nkjv

"Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins.

Isaiah 37:26 niv

"Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.

Isaiah 37:26 esv

"'Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,

Isaiah 37:26 nlt

"But have you not heard?
I decided this long ago.
Long ago I planned it,
and now I am making it happen.
I planned for you to crush fortified cities
into heaps of rubble.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 26 Meaning

Isaiah 37:26 declares God's absolute sovereignty over the rise and fall of nations. God tells Sennacherib, the arrogant Assyrian king, that his formidable military successes and the desolation he brought upon fortified cities were not a result of his own might or gods, but were divinely orchestrated and pre-determined by God "long ago" and "in ancient times." God had planned and initiated these events, making Assyria merely an instrument in His hands to bring about His predetermined judgments, specifically turning strongholds into heaps of ruins.

Isaiah 37 26 Context

Isaiah chapter 37 forms a crucial part of the Assyrian crisis narrative during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, had already conquered many cities in Judah and was besieging Jerusalem. He had sent a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah, ridiculing God and boasting of his invincible might, asserting that no god of any nation had been able to deliver their people from his hand. This verse, Isaiah 37:26, is part of God's direct reply, delivered through the prophet Isaiah, to Sennacherib's arrogance. God explicitly asserts His unparalleled authority and agency over Sennacherib's past victories, revealing that the Assyrian conquests were not feats of Assyrian power but the direct execution of God's pre-ordained will. It serves as a strong rebuttal to human pride and an affirmation of divine control over world history.

Isaiah 37 26 Word analysis

• Hast thou not heard (Hălō’ šāma‘tā - rhetorical question, "Have you not heard?"). This is an accusatory and rhetorical question, implying that Sennacherib should have known this truth. It suggests not just passive hearing, but an understanding and recognition of historical patterns or divine revelation available even to pagan kings. It serves as a profound indictment of his spiritual ignorance and pride.
• long ago (mērāḥôq) / ancient times (mîmê-qedem): These phrases emphasize the timelessness and eternity of God's planning. The divine decree was not a recent or reactive decision but was established from an infinite past. It points to God's immutable foresight and wisdom.
• how I made it (‘āśîṯî - from ‘āśâ, "to make, do, accomplish"). Refers to God's active involvement in originating and orchestrating the events. God isn't merely observing but is the ultimate agent bringing things into being.
• and... formed it (wə’ăşaṛtî - from yāṣar, "to form, fashion," like a potter). This metaphor suggests a deliberate and skillful design behind the Assyrian campaigns. God is portrayed as the divine shaper, molding historical events with precise intention, rather than them being random occurrences or purely human achievements.
• Now have I brought it to pass (‘aṯāh hăb̄ê’eṯîhā - from bô’, "to bring, come to pass"). This signifies the transition from the ancient decree and formation to its concrete and present manifestation. God is not only the planner but also the active fulfiller of His own words and designs in the course of history.
• that thou shouldest be to lay waste (lihyôṯ ləḥarāḇôṯ - literally, "to be for desolations"). This defines Assyria's predetermined purpose and role. Sennacherib and his empire, despite their perceived power, were mere instruments appointed by God to cause destruction, aligning with God's will, not their own autonomous ambition.
• fenced cities (‘ārîm bəṣûrôṯ - "fortified cities"). These represent human strength, security, and pride. Even seemingly impregnable strongholds, built by human ingenuity and might, are defenseless before God's pre-ordained purpose.
• into ruinous heaps (galim niṣṣîm - "heaps of ruins/rubble"). This depicts the utter and complete destruction and desolation achieved, visually demonstrating the extent of God's judgment carried out through Assyria. It is the visible outcome of God's predetermined will.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Hast thou not heard long ago how I made it, and in ancient times formed it?": This combined rhetorical question challenges Sennacherib's presumption, highlighting God's timeless and proactive design of history. It emphasizes that the current events are not arbitrary but stem from an eternal divine counsel. God's knowledge precedes and governs all existence.
• "Now have I brought it to pass": This phrase dramatically connects God's eternal plan with its present execution. It underscores the unshakeable certainty and active fulfillment of divine prophecies, demonstrating God's direct involvement in bringing His intentions to fruition in the present moment.
• "that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps": This defines the precise role and outcome assigned to Sennacherib and Assyria within God's larger plan. Their role as conquerors and destroyers was not an independent conquest but a predetermined function as instruments for divine judgment, leading to the humbling of proud human strongholds.

Isaiah 37 26 Bonus section

• The divine irony in this verse is palpable. Sennacherib believes he acts solely by his own will and strength, yet God reveals he is nothing more than a puppet, an axe wielded by the true power.
• This statement highlights the stark contrast between God's "making" and "forming" from "ancient times" and the contemporary actions of the Assyrian king, diminishing human endeavors to the execution of a pre-established divine script.
• Theological scholars often refer to this concept as God's "providence" – His active intervention and superintendence of all creation and historical events to fulfill His divine purposes.
• The fact that God directly addresses Sennacherib through Isaiah's prophecy underlines that even those outside the covenant community are held accountable to a foundational understanding of God's power and sovereignty.
• The judgment delivered through Assyria foreshadows greater judgments to come, always serving to reveal God's glory and His ultimate control over history.

Isaiah 37 26 Commentary

Isaiah 37:26 is a cornerstone declaration of divine sovereignty in history. It dismantles any human pride in military prowess or political power, revealing all such strengths as merely tools in God's eternal hand. God's question to Sennacherib—"Hast thou not heard?"—is deeply ironic and convicting; it implies a truth so foundational that even powerful pagan rulers should grasp it. God affirms that He is the true architect of world events, carefully "forming" the trajectory of empires and battles "long ago." The devastating conquests by Assyria were therefore not the unchecked ambition of a cruel king, but the exact "bringing to pass" of God's judgment against nations, turning their strongest defenses ("fenced cities") into piles of debris. This verse underscores that while human agents make choices and execute actions, God is the ultimate primary cause, orchestrating even the wickedness of humanity to achieve His righteous, ancient purposes. The theologically profound implication is that no earthly power, however formidable, can operate outside the scope of God's comprehensive, all-encompassing plan. For instance, Pharaoh's hardened heart ultimately served God's greater purpose of demonstrating His power (Exo 9:16), just as Joseph's brothers' evil intentions were woven into God's plan for salvation (Gen 50:20).