Isaiah 37 38

Isaiah 37:38 kjv

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

Isaiah 37:38 nkjv

Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Isaiah 37:38 niv

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.

Isaiah 37:38 esv

And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Isaiah 37:38 nlt

One day while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with their swords. They then escaped to the land of Ararat, and another son, Esarhaddon, became the next king of Assyria.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 38 Meaning

This verse details the fulfillment of the Lord's prophecy concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria. While Sennacherib was worshipping in the temple of his god Nisroch, two of his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, assassinated him with a sword. The two murderers then fled to the land of Ararat. Following this act, another son, Esarhaddon, succeeded Sennacherib as king. This event underscores God's absolute sovereignty, judging a proud king who had blasphemed Him, and demonstrating the futility of pagan deities.

Isaiah 37 38 Context

Isaiah chapter 37 focuses on the Assyrian invasion of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah (c. 701 BC). Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, had conquered many fortified cities of Judah and now threatened Jerusalem. He sent messengers to Hezekiah with a blasphemous message, mocking the Lord and equating Him with the gods of other conquered nations. Hezekiah brought these messages to the Temple and prayed earnestly to God for deliverance. The prophet Isaiah, through the word of the Lord, then assured Hezekiah that God would defend Jerusalem and that Sennacherib would hear a rumor, return to his own land, and fall by the sword there. Verse 38 provides the direct historical fulfillment of this prophecy, immediately following the miraculous destruction of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers by the Angel of the Lord (Isa 37:36).

Isaiah 37 38 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי, wa-yĕhî): A common Hebrew narrative transition, signaling the start of a new, consequential event. It emphasizes the direct fulfillment of what was foretold.
• as he was worshipping (כְּהִשְׁתַּחֲוָתוֹ, kə-hištachăwāṯōw): From the root shachah (שָׁחָה), meaning "to bow down, prostrate oneself, worship." This highlights the ironic and humiliating circumstance: Sennacherib, who defied the God of Israel, met his end while engaged in an act of deep reverence to his own, impotent god.
• in the house (בֵּית, bêt): Literally "house of," meaning temple or shrine. It refers to a sacred place of cultic devotion.
• of Nisroch (נִסְרֹךְ, Nisrōk’): An Assyrian deity mentioned only here and in 2 Kings 19:37. Its exact identity is debated among scholars, potentially a localized god or a corrupted form of a known deity like Nusku or Ashur, or perhaps linked to an eagle-headed figure. Its obscurity further contrasts with the omnipotent Yahweh.
• his god (אֱלֹהָיו, ’ĕlōhāyw): Clearly designates Nisroch as Sennacherib's object of worship, in stark opposition to the Living God, Yahweh, whom he blasphemed.
• Adrammelech (אַדְרַמֶּלֶךְ, ’Adrammeleḵ): One of Sennacherib's sons. The name potentially means "Adar is king" or "Glory of the king," possibly linked to an Assyrian deity Adar (Ninurta).
• and Sharezer (וְשַׂרְאֶצֶר, wə-Śar’eṣer): Another of Sennacherib's sons. The name likely means "prince of the treasury" or "prince protect."
• his sons (בָּנָיו, bānāyw): Emphasizes the betrayal came from within his own household, making his demise both personal and humiliating, an internal breakdown.
• smote him (הִכֻהוּ, hikuhu): From the root nakah (נָכָה), "to strike, smite, kill." Indicates a violent and decisive action.
• with the sword (בַחֶרֶב, va-ḥerev): The weapon used for the assassination, directly fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that he would "fall by the sword."
• and they escaped (וְהֵמָּה נִמְלְטוּ, wə-hēmmâ nimlāṭū): From malaṭ (מָלַט), "to escape, flee." The murderers fled justice from their brother.
• into the land of Ararat (אֶרֶץ אֲרָרָט, ’ereṣ ’Arārāṭ): Geographically, ancient Urartu, located north of Assyria, in present-day Eastern Turkey/Armenia. It was a common place of refuge for Assyrian rebels or exiles. This detail adds historical and geographical precision to the account.
• And Esarhaddon (אֵסַר־חַדֹּן, ’Ēsar-ḥaddōn): Another son of Sennacherib, who legitimately succeeded him. Esarhaddon's inscriptions corroborate the assassination of Sennacherib and his own ascension to the throne after a struggle.
• his son (בְּנוֹ, bĕnô): Reiterates his lineage and rightful claim to the throne after his father's death.
• reigned in his stead (תַּחְתָּיו, taḥtāyw): "In his place." Denotes the smooth continuation of the kingship after the upheaval, an important detail for the stability of Assyria, though it meant God's immediate instrument of judgment (Sennacherib) was removed.

• "as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god": This phrase dramatically illustrates the central theological point. Sennacherib, the arrogant king who blasphemed Yahweh and relied on his false gods, is utterly failed by his deity. Nisroch provides no protection for its worshipper, highlighting the complete powerlessness of idols in the face of the living God. It's a vivid demonstration of divine irony and a polemic against paganism.
• "Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword": The agency of the assassination is particularly significant. It's not an external enemy or battle, but internal betrayal from his own offspring, fulfilling the specific prophecy of falling "by the sword in his own land" and not in battle against Jerusalem. This family treachery further compounds Sennacherib's humiliation.
• "they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead": This portion provides the immediate aftermath of the assassination: the flight of the perpetrators and the subsequent establishment of a new monarch. These details align well with non-biblical historical records, grounding the divine judgment in verifiable events. It completes the narrative sequence following the previous judgment on Sennacherib's army.

Isaiah 37 38 Bonus section

The details surrounding Sennacherib's assassination by his sons, their flight, and Esarhaddon's succession are corroborated by various Assyrian historical texts, such as Esarhaddon's own inscriptions. While these extra-biblical sources might differ on the precise number of sons involved or specific location within the temple, the core facts of his patricide and subsequent succession are consistently confirmed. This alignment of biblical and secular historical accounts strengthens the reliability of the Bible's historical claims and demonstrates its accuracy concerning the fate of even its adversaries. The narrative presents a profound theological statement: even when God allows human treachery to be the instrument, the outcome serves His ultimate purpose and confirms His prophecies. This event stands as a permanent reminder that no human power, no matter how vast or boastful, can stand against the decree of the Almighty God.

Isaiah 37 38 Commentary

Isaiah 37:38 concludes the divine narrative against Sennacherib with a resounding declaration of God's sovereignty. The king, who audaciously mocked the Lord and trusted in the might of his armies and the protection of his idols, met his demise in a deeply ignominious manner. He was not overthrown in battle by a formidable foe, but was treacherously slain by his own sons within the confines of his god Nisroch's temple—the very place where he might have sought ultimate refuge and blessing. This act powerfully underscores the impotence of false gods and confirms the living God's control over human affairs, including the fates of the most powerful rulers. God’s Word is precisely fulfilled, demonstrating His authority not just over armies, but over individual lives, family dynamics, and the successions of earthly kingdoms.