Isaiah 37 36

Isaiah 37:36 kjv

Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Isaiah 37:36 nkjv

Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses?all dead.

Isaiah 37:36 niv

Then the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning?there were all the dead bodies!

Isaiah 37:36 esv

And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

Isaiah 37:36 nlt

That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 36 Meaning

Isaiah 37:36 describes a sudden, overwhelming divine intervention by God to protect Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. In response to King Hezekiah's prayer and prophet Isaiah's declaration, an angel of the Lord struck down a vast number of Assyrian soldiers—one hundred and eighty-five thousand—in their camp overnight. The scene unfolds as the surviving Assyrians awoke the next morning to discover their camp filled with dead bodies, a clear sign of God's direct and miraculous judgment, ensuring Jerusalem's deliverance without human military engagement.

Isaiah 37 36 Context

Isaiah 37:36 is the climax of a crucial narrative in Israel's history. Chapters 36 and 37 recount the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, King of Assyria, one of the most formidable empires of the ancient world. Sennacherib had already conquered much of Judah, leading to a desperate situation for King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. The Assyrian general (Rabshakeh) mocked Judah, their God, and their King, asserting Assyria's unstoppable power and claiming that Judah's God was no different from the gods of the nations Assyria had already defeated. In response, Hezekiah tore his clothes, went to the temple, and sought advice from the prophet Isaiah, asking him to pray for the remnant. Isaiah then delivered a prophecy directly from the LORD, assuring Hezekiah that God Himself would turn Sennacherib back and cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. This verse (37:36) immediately follows Isaiah's assurance and Hezekiah's faithful prayer, providing the dramatic fulfillment of God's promise and vindication of His name against the taunts of the Assyrians. Historically, the event shattered Assyria's momentum and confirmed Judah's reliance on their unique God, establishing Him as the sovereign deliverer against all earthly powers.

Isaiah 37 36 Word analysis

• Then the angel of the LORD: (Hebrew: Mal'akh Yahweh) - This is not merely 'an angel' but 'the' specific, divine messenger. In Old Testament theology, Mal'akh Yahweh is often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of God Himself (a theophany or Christophany), manifesting God's presence and authority. It signifies direct, unparalleled divine action.
• went forth: Indicates deliberate action and dispatch. The angel was sent specifically for this purpose and carried out the divine will.
• and smote: (Hebrew: vay-yakh - a root verb meaning to strike, to beat, to kill). Implies a swift, decisive, and destructive blow. It was not a battle or siege, but a singular act of judgment.
• in the camp of the Assyrians: Pinpoints the location of the judgment. God targeted the heart of the enemy's strength, showing His omnipresence and power even in enemy territory.
• a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: (185,000) - A staggering number, representing an enormous, nearly unimaginable loss for an ancient army in a single night without any human combat. This scale emphasizes the supernatural magnitude of God's power and the completeness of the destruction. It would cripple any invading force.
• and when they arose early in the morning: Highlights the suddenness and unexpected nature of the event. The Assyrians went to sleep expecting to conquer Jerusalem, only to wake to catastrophe.
• behold: An exclamation inviting immediate attention to a dramatic and shocking revelation. It underscores the astonishment of those who witnessed the scene.
• they were all dead corpses: (Hebrew: pə·gā·rîm mê·tîm - pə·gā·rîm specifically refers to unburied corpses, carcases; mê·tîm emphasizes they are dead). This redundant phrase (dead corpses) is for emphatic effect. It stresses the totality and undeniable reality of death. Not wounded, not ill, but unequivocally dead and beyond revival. The word pə·gā·rîm also carries a sense of defilement or disgrace, befitting the judgment upon God's enemies.

Words-Group analysis

• "Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote...": This phrase identifies the divine agent and the specific action taken. The immediate sequential nature ("Then...") highlights direct cause-and-effect: Hezekiah's prayer, Isaiah's prophecy, then God's immediate response.
• "...in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand:": This group defines the target and the massive scope of the divine judgment. It underscores the physical, visible devastation meted out upon a specific, arrogant enemy.
• "and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.": This concluding phrase vividly depicts the shocking aftermath witnessed by the survivors. The transition from sleep to discovery of mass death emphasizes the supernatural and terrifying nature of God's judgment, occurring without warning or human involvement.

Isaiah 37 36 Bonus section

The incident described in Isaiah 37:36, also recounted in 2 Kings 19:35 and 2 Chronicles 32:21, had profound geopolitical implications. Sennacherib's inscription, known as the "Sennacherib Prism" (Taylor Prism), boasts of shutting Hezekiah up in Jerusalem "like a bird in a cage" but conspicuously does not claim to have conquered Jerusalem, demanded tribute after the siege (only before), or even mentioned a major battle at its walls, unlike his detailed accounts of other conquests. This silence from an otherwise boastful monarch is often interpreted as archaeological confirmation of a disastrous, unexplained reversal of fortunes, lending external credibility to the biblical account of the divine intervention. The Angel of the LORD in this context operates with the swiftness and decisiveness typical of such divine agents throughout scripture, not merely as a bringer of death, but as an executor of God's protective will for His chosen people and city. This event deeply influenced later Jewish tradition, affirming Jerusalem's status as a specially protected city by divine decree.

Isaiah 37 36 Commentary

Isaiah 37:36 is a powerful testament to God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and ultimate power over human kingdoms and military might. It stands as a pivotal moment where the true God of Israel demonstrates His uniqueness and invincibility against the hubris of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, who challenged Him directly. The instantaneous, nocturnal, and overwhelming destruction of 185,000 elite Assyrian soldiers by a single angelic agent of the LORD utterly silenced Assyrian boasting and provided an unshakeable assurance of divine protection for Jerusalem. This event fulfilled earlier prophecies about Assyria's downfall and underscored that salvation ultimately comes from God alone, not through human strength or strategic alliances. It cemented Hezekiah's faith and the faith of his people, teaching generations that in dire straits, earnest prayer to God elicits a mighty and miraculous response. It also serves as a polemic against the idolatry and pride of surrounding nations, proving that their gods were impotent compared to the living God of Israel.

Practical examples:

• Reminds us that God is actively involved in history and capable of dramatic intervention.
• Encourages believers to pray fervently in seemingly impossible situations, trusting in God's power.
• Illustrates that human threats, no matter how great, are subject to divine limits.