Isaiah 37 6

Isaiah 37:6 kjv

And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Isaiah 37:6 nkjv

And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: "Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

Isaiah 37:6 niv

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard?those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Isaiah 37:6 esv

Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me.

Isaiah 37:6 nlt

the prophet replied, "Say to your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king's messengers.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 6 Meaning

The verse relays Isaiah's response to King Hezekiah's question concerning the prophet Jeremiah's (in the parallel account, Isaiah himself) message delivered by the emissaries of the King of Babylon. The essence of the message was a prophecy of Babylon's future judgment and the eventual return of the Judean exiles from Babylon. Isaiah reassures Hezekiah that the king's prayer has been heard, and God will bring peace and a deferred judgment upon Judah, meaning the devastation would not occur in Hezekiah's lifetime.

Isaiah 37 6 Context

This verse occurs within the narrative of King Sennacherib's invasion of Judah, specifically the siege of Jerusalem as detailed in Isaiah chapters 36-39 and 2 Kings chapters 18-20, and 2 Chronicles chapters 32. The chapter begins with Sennacherib sending envoys, including Rabshakeh, to threaten King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. Hezekiah, in distress, turns to the prophet Isaiah for guidance. This particular verse (Isaiah 37:6) is Isaiah's direct response to Hezekiah, conveyed through a message to the king, reassuring him after he had received dire threats from the Assyrians. The immediate historical backdrop is the palpable threat of the Assyrian empire, the dominant superpower of the era, and Jerusalem's vulnerability.

Isaiah 37 6 Word analysis

• אָמַר (amar): "said" or "spoke." This verb introduces the communication of the divine message.
• יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yəšʿyāhû): "Isaiah." The prophet's name, meaning "Yahweh saves."
• אֶל (’el): "to." Indicates the recipient of the words.
• הֵם (hēm): "them." Refers to the messengers sent by the King of Assyria.
• לֵאמֹר (lēʾmōr): "to say." A common infinitive construct indicating the purpose or content of speech.
• כֹּה (kōh): "Thus" or "So." Introduces a direct quotation of God's word.
• אָמַר (amar): "says." Present tense, signifying the living and active word of the Lord.
• יְהוָה (YHWH): "the Lord." The covenant name of God.
• אֲמַרְתֶּם (ʾamartem): "you have said" or "you have heard." In this context, referring to the message received from the enemy.
• לֹא (lōʾ): "not." A strong negation.
• תִּירָא (tîrʾā): "fear." Imperative verb, conveying a command to cease being afraid.
• מִפְּנֵי (mippənê): "from before" or "because of." Indicates the source of the fear.
• דְּבַר (dəḇar): "the words" or "the speech." Refers to the intimidating message delivered by the Assyrians.
• הָאֹתֶיהָ (hāʾōṯîyāh): "which came" or "that you have heard." A participial form emphasizing the received message.
• לַעֲבָדֶיךָ (laʿăḇāḏeyḵā): "your servants." This refers to the priests and officials Hezekiah sent to Isaiah, or possibly even referring to Isaiah and his companions as servants of God.

Group analysis: The phrase "Say this to your master" (אָמַר אֶל הֵם לֵאמֹר) establishes the role of the messengers as intermediaries for the prophetic message. The core directive, "Do not be afraid," (לֹא תִּירָא) is a divine reassurance designed to counter the fear generated by the enemy's "words which came to your servants."

Isaiah 37 6 Bonus section

The specific wording "from before the words which came to your servants" highlights the impact of the Assyrian taunts, which were meant to break the spirit of Jerusalem's defenders. Isaiah’s role as the prophet and deliverer of God’s word is reinforced here, emphasizing the importance of relying on divine communication in times of crisis. This assurance is foundational to understanding faith as an active trust in God's promises rather than an absence of external challenges. The parallel accounts in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 32 confirm the historical context and the miraculous deliverance that followed this prophecy.

Isaiah 37 6 Commentary

This verse serves as a pivotal moment of divine intervention and reassurance. The Assyrian threat was not merely political or military, but an existential crisis designed to instill paralyzing fear. God's message, delivered through Isaiah, directly addresses this fear. The imperative "Do not be afraid" is central, immediately dispelling the terror instigated by the enemy's words. The fact that God has "heard" implies His attentive listening to Hezekiah's prayer. The promise is not to prevent the words from being spoken, but to negate their power over the faithful. This message highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His protective covenant with His people. It underscores the principle that even in the face of overwhelming opposition, God's faithful receive His comfort and intervention.