Isaiah 37 7

Isaiah 37:7 kjv

Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

Isaiah 37:7 nkjv

Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." ' "

Isaiah 37:7 niv

Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'?"

Isaiah 37:7 esv

Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.'"

Isaiah 37:7 nlt

Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.'"

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 7 Meaning

Isaiah 37:7 is a direct prophecy from God, delivered through the prophet Isaiah, to King Hezekiah, assuring him of divine intervention against the Assyrian king Sennacherib. It declares that God will cause Sennacherib to hear a distressing rumor, leading him to retreat to his own land, where he will ultimately meet his end by the sword. This verse encapsulates God's immediate response to Hezekiah's prayer in the face of Sennacherib's blasphemous threats, promising both deliverance for Judah and specific judgment for the Assyrian aggressor.

Isaiah 37 7 Context

Isaiah 37:7 is situated during one of the most dire periods for the Southern Kingdom of Judah under King Hezekiah. Assyria, the dominant world power, had already conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and most of Judah. King Sennacherib, renowned for his military might and brutality, besieged Jerusalem and sent intimidating, blasphemous messages to Hezekiah, challenging the power of Yahweh. These messages, recorded in Isaiah 36:4-20, mock God's ability to protect Judah, claiming Yahweh is no different from the gods of the nations Assyria had already subdued. Overwhelmed and heartbroken, Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and sent his officials to the prophet Isaiah for counsel and prayer (Isa 37:1-4). Isaiah's response, commencing in Isa 37:6, is a direct divine message of comfort, assurance, and prophecy, with verse 7 specifically foretelling Sennacherib's downfall. It sets the stage for God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem in the subsequent verses.

Isaiah 37 7 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): This is an emphatic interjection, often used in Hebrew to draw immediate attention to a significant declaration, typically from God. It signals the gravity and certainty of the following prophetic statement.
• I will send (אֲנִי נוֹתֵן - ʾǎnî nōṯēn): The first-person singular pronoun "I" clearly identifies God as the active agent. "Nōṯēn" (lit. "giving" or "placing," here "sending" or "putting") is a participle, indicating an active, ongoing, or impending divine act with certainty. It underscores God's direct and personal involvement.
• a spirit (רוּחַ - rûaḥ): This term is multifaceted in Hebrew, referring to wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, it implies a divine influence, an impulse, or a psychological state induced by God. It is not necessarily an evil spirit, but rather an agent or inclination originating from God, used to direct events as He wills. This "spirit" would predispose Sennacherib's mind or his court to act in a certain way, leading to the "rumor."
• upon him (בּוֹ - bô): Clearly specifies Sennacherib as the recipient of this divine influence.
• and he shall hear (וְשָׁמַע - wəšāmaʿ): Indicates the direct consequence of the divine spirit's work. The hearing is linked directly to God's action.
• a rumor (שְׁמוּעָה - shĕmûʿāh): Refers to a report, a piece of news, or hearsay. This rumor, though appearing to be natural, is orchestrated by God's "spirit." Historical context points to the rumor of Tirhakah's advance (Isa 37:9) as a key element.
• and return (וְשָׁב - wəšāv): Conveys the act of turning back or going away. This denotes Sennacherib's strategic retreat, a surprising and uncharacteristic act for such a formidable conqueror, especially from a siege.
• to his own land (אֶל־אַרְצוֹ - ʾel-ʾarṣô): Specifies Assyria as the destination. This is crucial as it fulfills a significant part of the prophecy that he would not succeed in conquering Jerusalem.
• and I will make him fall (וְהִפַּלְתִּיהוּ - wəhippalttîhû): This is a Hifil (causative) conjugation, explicitly stating "I will cause him to fall" or "I will bring about his downfall." It emphasizes God's direct agency in his death, not merely his natural end.
• by the sword (בַּחֶרֶב - baḥerev): Specifies the precise manner of death, directly tying to the eventual assassination.
• in his own land (בְּאַרְצוֹ - bəʾarṣô): Reiterates the location of his death, reinforcing that he would indeed return to Assyria, but not in victory, and there he would die. This contrasts with his prior boasts of conquering other lands.

Words-group analysis:

• "Behold, I will send a spirit upon him": This phrase highlights God's immediate and supernatural intervention. The "spirit" here is a divinely directed impulse or disposition, not necessarily a personal entity, but a means by which God influences events and the mind of a ruler. It is a sovereign act to orchestrate circumstances.
• "and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land": This prophesies the immediate turn of events. A seemingly mundane "rumor" becomes the catalyst for the powerful Assyrian king's withdrawal, demonstrating how God uses even commonplace occurrences to achieve His divine purposes. Sennacherib's retreat to "his own land" signifies the failure of his campaign against Jerusalem.
• "and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land": This seals Sennacherib's fate with a clear divine judgment. God declares His direct role in his assassination ("I will make him fall"), specifying the method ("by the sword") and location ("in his own land"), revealing absolute sovereignty over even the mightiest and most blasphemous kings. This specific detail proves the truthfulness and accuracy of God's prophecy.

Isaiah 37 7 Bonus section

The fulfillment of Isaiah 37:7 provides strong evidence for the divine inspiration and historical reliability of the biblical text. The prophecy was remarkably specific concerning Sennacherib's retreat due to a rumor, his safe return to his capital (Nineveh), and his subsequent death by assassination in his own land, decades after the events against Jerusalem. The precision with which these details materialized (see Isa 37:9, 37-38) goes beyond mere coincidence and serves as a powerful testimony to God's foreknowledge and active governance of human history. This account also showcases a form of divine intervention where God uses secondary means – a "spirit" influencing perception, and a "rumor" – to achieve His ultimate goal, rather than always resorting to direct, overtly miraculous acts in battle.

Isaiah 37 7 Commentary

Isaiah 37:7 is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty over earthly powers, delivering an immediate and highly specific prophecy in response to a desperate plea. At its core, the verse reveals that no king, no matter how powerful, is beyond God's control. Sennacherib, who had challenged Yahweh directly, would not fall by a direct military confrontation from Judah, but by divinely orchestrated circumstances. The "spirit" sent by God isn't necessarily a physical entity, but a powerful divine influence upon Sennacherib, causing him to perceive or react to the "rumor" (historically, the news of Tirhakah's advance) in a way that leads to his withdrawal. This shows God's control over information, psychology, and the decision-making of leaders. His return to Assyria wasn't an escape to safety, but to the very place where God had decreed his end. The pronouncement "I will make him fall by the sword" signifies God's direct, causative role in the eventual assassination of Sennacherib by his own sons (as recorded in 2 Kgs 19:37 and corroborated by Assyrian historical records). This demonstrates that God's judgments are precise and unavoidable, occurring exactly as prophesied, thereby validating Isaiah's prophetic ministry and reinforcing the unique power of Yahweh above all false gods.